A wave of scam apps imitating Pragmatic Play's popular slot Sweet Bonanza — and falsely linked to YouTuber MrBeast — is circulating across iOS, Android, and social media ads. This is a deliberate fraud targeting casual players. Here's what to look out for.
The "Luxury Bonanza" app is a scam impersonating Pragmatic Play's Sweet Bonanza slot and falsely associated with MrBeast through AI-generated promotional content. Neither Pragmatic Play nor MrBeast are involved. Sweet Bonanza itself is a legitimate slot offered at UK-licensed casinos.
What Is the Luxury Bonanza Scam?
"Luxury Bonanza" is the name of a fraudulent app circulating on the App Store, Google Play, and via paid social media ads. It deliberately mimics the look, name, and theme of Sweet Bonanza — the legitimate, high-RTP slot developed by Pragmatic Play and offered at UKGC-licensed casinos.
The scam works by drawing users in with the familiar Sweet Bonanza branding, then either:
- Charging fake "deposit" fees that never credit to a real casino account.
- Collecting payment card details for downstream fraud.
- Showing fabricated "winnings" that can never be withdrawn.
Despite the supposed app store review process, multiple variants have slipped through onto Apple's App Store and Google Play. App store presence alone isn't a guarantee of legitimacy.
Why MrBeast Is Being Used
Fraudsters have been using AI-generated voice and video clips to make it appear that MrBeast is endorsing the Luxury Bonanza app. He is not. The unauthorised use of his name, likeness, and AI-cloned voice is part of a wider trend of celebrity-impersonation crypto and gambling scams targeting his enormous audience.
MrBeast does not promote gambling apps. Any social ad implying he does — particularly any showing him "winning big" on a slot or "giving away" thousands of pounds — is fake.
How to Tell a Real Slot Bonus from a Scam Offer
- Check the operator's UKGC licence:
- every legitimate UK casino displays a UK Gambling Commission licence number in the footer linked to
- the public register
- . Apps that don't link to a real casino are scams.
- Look for HTTPS + matching domain:
- legitimate casinos run on their own verified domain (e.g. casino.com), not a generic app store-only product.
- Verify celebrity endorsements:
- check the celebrity's official social channels. Any genuine gambling endorsement is rare and well-documented.
- Avoid Telegram/WhatsApp "winners groups":
- these are scam funnels designed to extract deposits.
- Never pay to "unlock winnings":
- real casinos never charge fees to withdraw legitimate balance.
Where to Play Sweet Bonanza Safely
Sweet Bonanza is a legitimate slot from Pragmatic Play, with a published RTP of 96.51% and max win of 21,100× stake. Play it only at casinos licensed by the UK Gambling Commission. For our list of trustworthy UK operators see the best UK online casinos by rating.
Reporting the Scam
If you spot the Luxury Bonanza app or a MrBeast-impersonation gambling ad:
- Report the app inside the App Store or Google Play (Settings → Report).
- Report the ad to the social platform (Meta, TikTok, YouTube).
- Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk.
- File a fraud report at actionfraud.police.uk if you've lost money.
