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Read Full BioOklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer has attempted to brush off allegations that he engaged in sports gambling by claiming it was “inside jokes” among friends.
A post on social media went viral on Monday showing Mateer had tagged Venmo transactions as “sports gambling,” with one detailing a payment related to apparent bets on a UCLA vs. USC college football game in November 2022.
Mateer has since cleared his Venmo history and took to X on Tuesday to deny the rumors that he had engaged in illegal betting.
ESPN reported that the school was aware of the allegations and was investigating the matter. Still, a statement issued by Oklahoma University (OU) Athletics said it is unaware of any NCAA investigation.
The statement noted: “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.”
ProhiBet Highlighting Illegal Gambling Activity on Campuses
ProhiBet, the system that OU uses to monitor and block athletes, coaches, and staff from placing unauthorized wagers, was launched in September 2023. This was well after the Venmo transactions from November 2022, so it would not have flagged any illegal betting by Mateer.
Payments to a fellow student would also be unlikely to be covered by the system, which partners with some of the country’s leading sportsbooks to monitor betting activity.
The NCAA expanded its use of ProhiBet this year during March Madness, and the tool has helped to identify college students who have engaged in gambling. In one instance, five students from the University of Texas, including two unnamed football players, were caught spending nearly $15,000 on the daily fantasy sports platform, PrizePicks.
Mystery Surrounds Source of Story
The screenshots of the Venmo transactions were first posted on X by an account with the handle @Bryan_Aguada, who claims to be a reporter at Valley News Live.
However, another user on X highlighted that the profile picture of the account is actually of Northeastern hockey player Zach Aston-Reese. The post also states that Valley Live News has never employed anyone by the name of Bryan Aguada.
The claim by Mateer that the Venmo tags were “inside jokes” and the subsequent deletion of his account history suggest that the screenshots are genuine. The NCAA has not yet commented on the matter, and whether there is sufficient evidence to pursue an investigation remains to be seen.
