Oklahoma star QB denies gambling on sports after Venmo transactions surface
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Oklahoma star QB denies gambling on sports after Venmo transactions surface
University of Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has been under the spotlight for different reasons. screenshots from his personal Venmo account surfaced on social media showing two transactions labeled “sports gambling” Both transactions were from Nov. 20, 2022, when Mateer was a freshman at Washington State University. The NCAA prohibits student-athletes and staff members from betting on sports, no matter whether at the collegiate, professional or amateur level, and breaking those rules can cost athletes their remaining eligibility. Mateer: “I have not engaged in any sports gambling” and characterized the labeling of the transactions as “inside jokes between me and my friends”
This week, Mateer has found himself under the spotlight for different reasons after screenshots from his personal Venmo account surfaced on social media showing two transactions labeled “sports gambling.” Both transactions were from Nov. 20, 2022, when Mateer was a freshman at Washington State University, and were allegedly sent to a Venmo account for Richard Roaten. One transaction was labeled “sports gambling (UCLA vs USC)”; UCLA and USC had played one another the day prior.
The NCAA prohibits student-athletes and staff members from betting on sports, no matter whether at the collegiate, professional or amateur level, and breaking those rules can cost athletes their remaining eligibility.
Mateer published a statement to social media Tuesday denying wrongdoing, saying that “I have not engaged in any sports gambling” and characterized the labeling of the transactions as “inside jokes between me and my friends. I have never bet on sports.”
Oklahoma did not respond to questions by NBC News into whether it was launching an inquiry into Mateer. In a statement, the university said its athletic department “provides ongoing education to its student-athletes, coaches, and staff on matters related to sports gambling. The department utilizes ProhiBet, which is an industry-standard service offering comprehensive monitoring of sports gambling activities. OU takes any allegations of gambling seriously and works closely with the NCAA in any situations of concern. OU Athletics is unaware of any NCAA investigation and has no reason to believe there is one pending.”
The NCAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Washington State University spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mateer threw for 29 touchdowns and rushed for 15 more in 2024 during his first season as the starter at Washington State, and in December he announced his transfer to Oklahoma, a longtime power in college football attempting a revival after a pair of 6-7 seasons since 2022.
Since 2018, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act and effectively opened the floodgates for regulated, legal sports betting in the country, the NCAA has joined other major sports leagues in wrestling with the change.
When the NCAA in 2023 surveyed more than 500 on-campus athletic department employees who are tasked with ensuring compliance with NCAA rules, it found that although more than 95% of Division I schools were teaching sports-betting education, 27% of schools “had dealt with a sports betting problem among their athletes or staff within the past year, a substantial increase from a survey in 2019,” according to an NCAA release.
In June, the NCAA announced it was seeking to relax some of its former sports gambling regulations when the Division I Council, which oversees regulations for the NCAA’s largest schools, proposed a change that would allow both student-athletes and staff members to bet on pro sports.
Oklahoma QB Mateer denies gambling allegations after Venmo transactions surface
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer was placed into the social media spotlight Monday night. Alleged screenshots of his Venmo transactions dated back to 2022, referencing “Sports gambling” Under NCAA rules, college athletes are barred from engaging in betting on any sport under the organization. Any athlete caught being involved in betting could face losing their eligibility to compete. Mateer has since denied “consistently” to OU officials ever being involved with any gambling. He released the following statement to social media Tuesday afternoon: “The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false. I have never bet on sports.”
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Mateer has since denied “consistently” to OU officials ever being involved with any gambling.
Under NCAA rules, college athletes are barred from engaging in betting on any sport under the organization. Any athlete caught being involved in betting could face losing their eligibility to compete.
Mateer entered the NCAA transfer portal following the 2024 season, transferring from Washington State before committing to the University of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer at Spring Practice. Image courtesy, the University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer at Spring Practice. Image courtesy, the University of Oklahoma.
He began his college career as a redshirt freshman for the Cougars, appearing in one game.
The alleged Venmo transactions show the date “November 20, 2022,” with the memos saying “Sports Gambling” and “Sports Gambling (UCLA vs USC).”
On November 19, 2022, the USC Trojans faced off against the UCLA Bruins in a rivalry football game, where USC came out on top, 48-45.
Officials with the school say they are aware of Mateer’s Venmo activity that has surfaced in screenshots around social media and are looking into the situation. They plan to be “proactive and exhaust every avenue,” according to Thamel.
Mateer released the following statement to social media Tuesday afternoon.
The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false. My previous Venmo descriptions did not accurately portray the transactions in question but were instead inside jokes between me and my friends. I have never bet on sports. I understand the seriousness of the matter, but recognize that, taken out of context, those Venmo descriptions suggest otherwise. I can assure my teammates, coaches, and officials at the NCAA that I have not engaged in any sports gambling. Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer via X.
News 4 reached out to OU Athletics on Tuesday regarding the allegations, and they provided the following statement.
OU Athletics provides ongoing education to its student-athletes, coaches, and staff on matters related to sports gambling. The department utilizes ProhiBet, which is an industry-standard service offering comprehensive monitoring of sports gambling activities. OU takes any allegations of gambling seriously and works closely with the NCAA in any situations of concern. OU Athletics is unaware of any NCAA investigation and has no reason to believe there is one pending. OU Athletics spokesperson