Sports Gambling Investment Fund
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced fraud charges against two individuals and six entities relating to an ongoing, Nevada-based $29 million sports betting investment scheme impacting over 600 investors from more than 40 states, as well as other charges against three individuals and a company who sold investments.
The SEC's complaint alleges that convicted felons, John F. Thomas and Thomas Becker, and several entities they control, promised investors 250% to 600% returns from pooled investments in sports betting, using what they claimed was a proprietary handicapping system. The complaint, however, alleges that they used the majority of investor money to fund their lifestyles, pay commissions to brokers and agents, or make Ponzi-like payments to other investors. The complaint further alleges that they misrepresented to investors the investment performance of the funds that were actually invested in sports betting. The complaint also alleges that Douglas Martin, Paul Hanson, Damian Ostertag, and a company owned by Martin sold unregistered securities without being registered as brokers or associated with a registered broker.
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BETZ Fund Description. BETZ tracks a tier-weighted index of global companies selected by committee that are involved in the sports betting & iGaming industry. The complaint, however, alleges that they used the majority of investor money to fund their lifestyles, pay commissions to brokers and agents, or make Ponzi-like payments to other investors. The complaint further alleges that they misrepresented to investors the investment performance of the funds that were actually invested in sports betting. Answer: Sports hedge funds are companies that bet on sports markets for a profit, treating them exactly the same as traditional asset classes like shares or currencies. Roundhill Sports Betting & iGaming ETF historial options data by MarketWatch. View BETZ option chain data and pricing information for given maturity periods.
Sports Gambling Investment Funds
The SEC's complaint, which was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada on August 30, 2019, charges Thomas, Becker, Einstein Sports Advisory, LLC, QSA, LLC, Vegas Basketball Club, LLC, Vegas Football Club, LLC, Wellington Sports Club, LLC, and Welscorp, Inc. with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 ('Securities Act') and Section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and the registration provisions of Section 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act. The complaint also charges Martin, Hanson, Ostertag, and Executive Financial Services, Inc. with violating the broker-dealer registration provisions of 15(a) of the Securities Act and the registration provisions of Section 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act.
The SEC's investigation was conducted by Matthew Montgomery and Deborah Russell, and was supervised by Robert Conrrad. The SEC's litigation will be handled by Lynn M. Dean and Matthew Montgomery, and supervised by Amy Longo.
Sports Betting Investment Fund
Carefully consider the Fund's investment objectives, risk factors, charges, and expenses before investing. This and additional information can be found in the Fund's prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Risks include those related to investments in the highly-competitive sports betting industry, including from illegal or unregulated companies. Expansion of sports betting (both regulated and unregulated), including the award of additional licenses or expansion or relocation of existing sports betting companies, and competition from other leisure and entertainment activities, could impact these companies' finances. Small and midcapitalization companies may be more volatile and less liquid due to limited resources or product lines and more sensitive to economic factors. Fund investments are concentrated in an industry or group of industries, and the value of Fund shares may rise and fall more than more diversified funds. Investments in foreign securities involve social and political instability, market illiquidity, exchange-rate fluctuation, high volatility and limited regulation risks. Emerging markets involve different and greater risks, as they are smaller, less liquid and more volatile than more develop countries. Depositary Receipts involve risks similar to those associated with investments in foreign securities, but may not provide a return that corresponds precisely with that of the underlying shares. Please see the prospectus for details of these and other risks.