Every year, companies like PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy collect millions of dollars from Californians who love sports, competition, and the thrill of daily fantasy contests. And every year, California does almost nothing to capture a share of that revenue money that could and should be funding our kids’ schools, sports programs, and educational resources.
The Problem: No Regulation, No Revenue
Unlike traditional gambling, daily fantasy sports (DFS) operators like PrizePicks and Underdog offer games of skill have allowed them to avoid regulation in California for nearly a decade.
States like New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia have stepped up and started taxing DFS operators, generating millions for public services. California, despite being the largest DFS market in the country, still hasn’t passed laws to regulate or tax these platforms.
That means platforms like PrizePicks and Underdog get to profit massively off Californians with almost zero return to the communities they’re making money from.
How Much Are We Losing?
It’s not hard to do the math:
- Californians are some of the most active DFS users in the country.
- PrizePicks and Underdog both reported record growth in 2024, much of it coming from California players.
- If California taxed DFS operators at even 10% of gross revenues similar to other states it could funnel tens of millions of dollars each year back into schools, sports fields, arts programs, and classrooms.
Instead, that money is leaving heading straight into corporate bank accounts, not kids’ futures.
Time for Parents to Take Back Control
Without regulation, parents, educators, and community leaders can’t wait for politicians to fix this.
We have to take control.
We can support platforms and initiatives that put money back where it belongs directly into our schools, booster clubs, and local programs not into the pockets of DFS billionaires.
Imagine if every fantasy pick you made didn’t just go toward corporate profit, but also helped:
- Fund your child’s team uniforms
- Pay for better classroom supplies
- Keep after-school activities alive
That’s what’s possible when we rethink how daily fantasy works for our communities and it’s a movement that’s already starting.
Conclusion: They Had Their Chance. Now It’s Ours.
PrizePicks, Underdog, and other DFS giants have built fortunes off the backs of everyday Californians.
Meanwhile, our public schools face budget cuts, sports programs are underfunded, and parents are left selling candy bars and raffle tickets to make up the difference.
It’s time to say enough is enough.
If lawmakers won’t step in, parents will.
We’ll make sure our kids, not corporate America, are the real winners.