A sports bettor from Texas has been indicted in Kentucky for allegedly making threats of violence toward members of the University of Louisville football team.
GamblingHarm.org exclusively learned from Rocco Gasparro, Louisville’s Director of Media Relations, that the threats were related to gambling.
“Threats of violence have no place in our community or in sports, and we will continue to work closely with authorities to ensure a safe environment for all,” Gasparro said. “The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community remain our highest priority. Our student athletes and coaches deserve to compete, learn, and grow without fear.”
A widely reported indictment didn’t mention gambling as a motive in the alleged threats.
Who is the sports bettor?
Brian S. Mandel, 38, of Corpus Christi, Texas, is the alleged sports bettor who threatened members of the Louisville Cardinals football team, along with family members. It’s unclear how Mandel made the alleged threats.
He faces six counts of second-degree terroristic threatening and one count of attempted theft by extortion of more than $10,000, according to court documents.
Online records indicate Mandel works in real estate and home building.
His father is a Texas congressional candidate for the 2026 election, according to KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi.
According to Wave3.com, Brian Mandel is the vice president of Corpus Christi’s planning commission. His now-disabled LinkedIn profile listed him as chief technology officer of Asset Protection & Security Services, his father’s security company.
Per the report: “That company does business for ICE and the Department of Homeland Security. Federal records show it has been paid hundreds of millions of dollars for its work.”
Who was threatened?
Mandel made alleged threats on Nov. 8 and 9 toward:
- Head coach Jeff Brohm
- Offensive coordinator Brian Brohm
- Members of the Brohm family
- Quarterback Miller Moss
What game was involved?
The alleged threats involved a game between Louisville and the California Golden Bears.
Louisville lost to California in overtime, 29-26, at L&N Stadium in Louisville.
Traditional sports gambling is not legal in Texas; however, Texans can use offshore sportsbooks and prediction markets, such as Kalshi. It can also be possible to find so-called local bookies to wager on sports.
What did Brian Mandel plead?
Mandel pleaded not guilty on Wednesday and released a statement on the charges.
“Upon learning of the indictment, I promptly traveled to Kentucky yesterday to resolve the situation with the authorities, and I am remaining here while working through the active legal process,” Mandel said in a statement. “I was not contacted by the University of Louisville or law enforcement prior to learning of the indictment in the press. We anticipate a complete resolution in the coming weeks.”
Mandel posted $100,000 bond. According to reports, the judge in the case ordered him to stop placing any sports bets while the case proceeds.
Bigger picture
A recent U.S. News survey found that about 20% of sports bettors admit to verbally abusing athletes in person or online. Sports betting can play a significant role in severe anger issues.
Betting addiction statistics show that half of online sports bettors chase losses. Sports betting is among the most addictive forms of gambling, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling.
Due to the growing harm from online sports betting, the public’s perception of legal gambling has worsened in recent years, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
In October, a former manager of the San Diego Padres cited threats from sports bettors as a reason for his early retirement.
Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay
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