Star Quarterback from Oklahoma denies engaging in sports betting, following the emergence of suspicious Venmo transactions
Oklahoma Quarterback John Mateer Denies Allegations of Sports Gambling
John Mateer, the highly-rated quarterback who transferred to the University of Oklahoma last winter, is under scrutiny following the surfacing of Venmo memos labeled "sports gambling." However, Mateer has vehemently denied any wrongdoing, stating that the labeling was an "inside joke" and he has never bet on sports.
Mateer, who threw for 29 touchdowns and rushed for 15 more last year in his first season as the starter at Washington State, is now at the centre of a controversy that threatens to overshadow Oklahoma's attempts at a college football revival after a pair of 6-7 seasons since 2022.
The allegations stem from transactions that were allegedly sent to a Venmo account for Richard Roaten, with one transaction labeled "sports gambling (UCLA vs USC)" - the two teams played each other on Nov. 20, 2022. Screenshots from Mateer's personal Venmo account showing these transactions surfaced on social media.
The NCAA prohibits student-athletes and staff members from betting on sports at any level. Breaking these rules can cost athletes their remaining eligibility. The NCAA surveyed more than 500 on-campus athletic department employees in 2023, and the survey found that 27% of Division I schools had dealt with a sports betting problem among their athletes or staff within the past year.
Oklahoma University states it is unaware of any NCAA investigation and has no reason to believe one is pending. Mateer's statement emphasized his understanding of NCAA rules and his commitment to compliance. Oklahoma officials are aware of the social media circulation of screenshots but have also expressed no evidence that Mateer engaged in gambling activities.
The university has publicly supported Mateer's denial and is internally looking into the matter. Oklahoma's athletic department provides ongoing education on sports gambling and uses ProhiBet for monitoring. The school learned of the matter late on August 11, 2025, and is conducting an internal review but has not indicated any formal disciplinary action or confirmation of NCAA involvement.
It's important to note that neither the NCAA nor Washington State University immediately responded to requests for comment. The NCAA announced it was seeking to relax some of its former sports gambling regulations in June 2023, with the Division I Council proposing a change that would allow both student-athletes and staff members to bet on pro sports. Mateer announced his transfer to Oklahoma in December.
As of August 21, 2025, no official NCAA inquiry has been announced publicly, and the situation remains primarily an internal matter for Oklahoma University to resolve.
Despite the surfacing of Venmo memos labeled "sports gambling," John Mateer insists they were part of an "inside joke" and he has never engaged in sports-betting activities. Mateer's football career at Oklahoma University could be tainted if the NCAA were to find evidence of sports-betting violations, given their strict prohibition against student-athletes betting on sports at any level.
