Oklahoma QB Denies Gambling Claims After Venmo Screenshots Emerge

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has denied betting on sports after screenshots of Venmo payments with gambling references started going around.

John Mateer Explains 2022 Venmo Descriptions as ‘Inside Jokes,’ Not Bets

The pictures, which spread on social media this week, show two payments from November 2022. Both had the words “sports gambling,” and one mentioned the UCLA vs. USC game that happened that month. Back then, Mateer was a freshman at Washington State University. NCAA rules do not allow college athletes to bet on college sports.

Mateer tackled the issue on August 12 with a post on X (formerly Twitter). He explained that the payment descriptions were just friendly jokes, not proof of illegal acts. He said that while the words might seem confusing without context, he had never bet on any sport. He also said he knew how serious these claims were and wanted to tell his teammates, coaches, and NCAA officials that he had not broken any gambling rules.

The University of Oklahoma also spoke up. They said they knew about the situation and were serious about monitoring and teaching athletes about betting limits. The school pointed out that they use ProhiBet, a system that tracks sports betting. They also said that right now, the NCAA is not looking into this.

Mateer Stays Focused on Upcoming Season While Gambling Rumors Swirl

NCAA rules state that athletes who bet on their own sport might lose up to half a season of playing time. Those who gamble on games involving their own team could face being kicked out for good. Recent examples show how serious this is. For instance, Hunter Dekkers, who used to play quarterback for Iowa State, lost his chance to play in 2023 because of betting.

Mateer, one of the players teams wanted most in last season’s transfer portal, came to Oklahoma earlier this year. He followed offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle from Washington State. His 2024 season ranked among the most productive in the country, according to CBC Sports.

He threw for 3,139 yards, 29 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also ran for 826 yards and scored 15 times on the ground. His 44 total touchdowns tied him with former teammate and top NFL draft pick Cam Ward for the national lead.

The Sooners, who start the new season at No. 18 in the AP Top 25, hope Mateer will bring stability to a team that ended up 6-7 last year with head coach Brent Venables. The Venmo issue has grabbed attention just before kickoff, but Mateer and the university insist there is no proof of any wrongdoing. They are keeping their eyes on getting ready for the season opener against Illinois State on August 30.