MrBeast Launched Casino App ‘The Beast Plinko’ Legit or Scam?

In May 2024, Instagram users were targeted by scam ads claiming that the renowned YouTuber MrBeast, real name Jimmy Donaldson, had launched a casino game app called “The Beast Plinko.” These ads, approved and displayed by Meta, featured videos using deepfake technology and AI-generated audio to falsely suggest endorsements from MrBeast and other celebrities, including Andrew Tate and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

However, no such app exists on either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. MrBeast has never created or endorsed any gambling mobile apps.

How the Scam Ads Operated

The scam videos typically began with a recognizable cable news host, like CNN’s Laura Coates or Fox News’s Laura Ingraham or Sean Hannity, seemingly discussing the fake MrBeast casino app. These videos used deepfake visuals and AI-generated audio to create the illusion that these hosts were reporting on the app. Following the hosts’ segments, the videos featured fake interviews with celebrities, such as Dwayne Johnson, Andrew Tate, or Tyler Toney from Dude Perfect, endorsing the app.

Fake Endorsements and Claims

In the ads, deepfakes and AI-made vocals falsely showed Coates, Ingraham, or Hannity saying, “The richest man on the internet, who has paid the bills of hundreds of thousands of people around the world, decided to open his own online casino where everyone wins.” They further claimed that MrBeast displayed a safe with funds for all players and discussed his motives in an interview.

Celebrities like Johnson, Tate, and Toney were falsely shown endorsing the app, with statements such as, “I installed an app from MrBeast on my phone. I didn’t put more than $50 into it. One hour after installing it, I earned $4,000. And here’s the interesting thing: I almost never lost.”

MrBeast’s Fake Testimonial

The videos also included a manipulated clip of MrBeast supposedly saying, “It’s already become a problem. No one believes that such a game exists. But in the past, people didn’t believe it when I gave them a bag with $10,000. I just show everyone this game on my phone and say, ‘Look, it’s true. I just invented a new way to give away money.'”

Scam Ad Outcomes and Warnings

The scam ads concluded with the fake news hosts encouraging users to download the app from a link below the video. This link directed users to pseville.fun, a deceptive website designed to mimic the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, promoting the non-existent “The Beast Plinko” game.

Downloading files from such scam websites can have harmful consequences for users and their devices. Those who fell for this scam should refer to resources like the FTC’s article, “What To Do if You Were Scammed,” or the BBB’s guide, “BBB Tip: Recovering from a Scam.”

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