45 Millionen Franken verschwunden: Schweizer Family-Offices verzocken sich mit Algorithmus-Sportwetten

In Swiss Family-Offices, 45 million Swiss francs have disappeared due to an algorithm-based sports betting scheme. Former Deutsche Bank managers and investors have been desperately seeking their lost funds. The investigation led to the "Geldspiel-König" of Lake Constance and another potentially connected to the Turkish betting mafia.

The story sounds too good to be true, but it appears to be a secure investment transformed by an algorithm developed by scientists from Romandie. The claim was confirmed by KPMG, a company that helped acquire clients. The acquisition was driven by a former top Deutsche Bank manager. The Zurich investment firm that made the product investable was under supervision by Finma.

Around several dozen Swiss investors were eager to take advantage of this opportunity, but their identities remain confidential. A complaint against Eleven Peaks, the company in Malta where the investments were supposed to be invested, emerged in which 45 million Swiss francs allegedly evaporated between 2021 and 2023. Where the money ended up is disputed.

One investor, who wants to remain anonymous, says it was his biggest loss in his life, losing over 2 million Swiss francs. A legal dispute is brewing. In summer, a complaint was filed with the Thurgau State Prosecutor's Office for document falsification, organized fraud, and wrongful business management, initiated by individuals associated with the investment firm PMG Solutions, which now controls Eleven Peaks.

PMG was also mainly involved in the construction of the structure surrounding Eleven Peaks and is now being accused of being victims of fraud. Charged are Heinz Haunschild and Giancarlo Tottoli, who have been active in the betting business for many years and their associates. The bank manager, who previously worked at the Swiss subsidiary of Deutsche Bank, also faces accusations.

He contributed significantly to investors' funds going to Eleven Peaks through his recommendations. PMG Solutions' employees deny the accusations, stating they lack the complaint and cannot comment on its content. Tottoli also emphasizes that he was not involved in Haunschild's business structure around his company GPG and has not held any managerial position for a long time.

They all claim to be victims themselves and lost their money through their own investments. The missing million presumably went to the Turkish company Brokerstarz, over which the bets were placed, which had issues with local authorities. Reports on a blow to a Turkish gambling ring or, more accurately, the Turkish mafia cannot be confirmed.

The plaintiffs, however, doubt this. Haunschild and Tottoli believe that repayment of the investments is still possible, as there are indications that a high two-digit million amount has reached a Turkish authority. All parties maintain their innocence, and it is unclear whether the Thurgau State Prosecutor's Office will initiate proceedings.

The prosecutor's office merely confirms the receipt of the complaint and states that proceedings against Haunschild and Tottoli are ongoing in another matter. Further details are not provided by the authorities. The activities of Haunschild and Tottoli have caused controversy before. A few years ago, they were in the headlines with the controversial payment card Antepay, whose logo featured FC Zürich's kits.

However, according to SRF and the "Reflekt" magazine, it was primarily used for anonymous betting on illegal gambling sites. In 2024, four Turkish men received conditional and unconditional prison sentences between two and four years in connection with this issue. Haunschild is also known as the "Geldspiel-König vom Bodensee" (the "King of the Lake Constance Gambling Game") by SRF. The exact role of Haunschild and Tottoli in the Antepay case remains unclear.