PrizePicks has entered its first California team partnership, announcing Wednesday that it is now the official daily fantasy sports partner of the San Diego Padres. The deal includes in-stadium branding at Petco Park and digital integration across Padres platforms during the 2025 MLB season.
The agreement gives PrizePicks visibility in one of the country’s most sports- and fantasy-engaged markets, California, which remains the largest US market without legal sports betting. It also comes as the state attorney general continues to review whether pick’em-style fantasy games constitute illegal gambling under state law.
“The Padres are one of the most dynamic franchises in Major League Baseball, and we’re proud to be part of their journey,” Mike Quigley, chief marketing officer at PrizePicks, said in a press release. “We look forward to creating new ways to engage and connect with fans both in San Diego and across the country.”
PrizePicks promos at Petco Park
As part of the agreement, PrizePicks will receive LED signage and concourse banners throughout Petco Park, as well as banner ads on Padres.com and pregame reads on Padres.TV. The company is also launching a text-to-enter promotion for fans: If the Padres score 10 or more runs in a home game, one fan will win a $10,000 PrizePicks lineup and future game tickets.
PrizePicks does not currently offer licensed sports betting and continues to operate daily fantasy contests in California, a state where the legal status of such games remains under review. The state attorney general’s office began evaluating the legality of fantasy sports offerings in 2023 following a request from state Sen. Scott Wilk.
California sports betting uncertainty persists
California is the largest market for daily fantasy sports, accounting for an estimated $200 million in annual entry fees. PrizePicks has seen rapid growth there and nationwide, with mobile app downloads up more than 100% year-over-year through the NFL season, according to data from Citizens JMP Securities.
Still, PrizePicks and similar operators face increasing scrutiny. Regulators in New York and Michigan recently banned pick’em-style games that closely resemble fixed-odds sports betting. Tribal gaming leaders in California have also raised concerns, arguing that such games infringe on their exclusive rights to Class III gaming under state law.
Efforts to restart discussions around California sports betting have resumed in 2025, with tribes and commercial operators exploring a model that would give tribal governments full control of the online market. However, tribal leaders have emphasized that any agreement remains far off.
