John Mateer releases statement denying gambling allegations
OU quarterback John Mateer released a statement on Tuesday regarding the recent internet allegations of him “sports gambling.”
On Monday, Mateer was trending on social media after several of his Venmo transactions from 2022 went viral for being labeled as “sports gambling.” OU was made aware of the situation late Monday night, with Mateer denying any involvement with gambling in his past.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mateer released the following statement regarding the situation.
“The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false,” said Mateer on social media. “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.”
Mateer, who was a true freshman at Washington State at the time, had several transactions that led people on the internet to believe he was possibly gambling. He has since deleted all of his Venmo transactions. It’s not clear where the screenshots originated. College athletes are prohibited from betting on any sport offered by the NCAA, with penalties up to loss of eligibility.
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SoonerScoop has spoken to several people inside the school and program and can tell you that Mateer has been in contact with the athletic department and compliance. The school is aware of the situation and is handling it. Mateer made it clear to the school that he has never gambled.
OU statement
The OU athletic department released its own statement Tuesday afternoon as well, concerning the allegations against Mateer.
“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.”
