John Mateer issues statement on viral ‘sports gambling’ Venmo transactions
Published:
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has issued a statement regarding the “sports gambling” Venmo saga that began on Monday evening.
Screenshots of Mateer’s Venmo account hit social media late Monday night. They showed Mateer made multiple payments to someone with the phrase “sports gambling” in the memo line back when he was a freshman at Washington State in 2022.
Mateer denies ever betting on sports and says the Venmo transactions were simply “inside jokes between me and my friends.” Here’s his statement in full:
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.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Tuesday morning that Oklahoma officials will be looking into the matter independently. So far, OU coach Brent Venables has not addressed this matter publicly.
NCAA rules prevent student-athletes from betting on sports. It’s unclear at this time if the NCAA will launch its own investigation into this matter.
Oklahoma will begin the 2025 season later this month when it hosts Illinois State on Aug. 30.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
