Fanatics, the $18 billion conglomerate that is the leader in sports merchandise, licensing and recently trading cards, is expected to soon close on a deal to buy a sportsbook operation.

Sources say meetings with Rush Street Interactive (RSI) and Swedish company Betsson have been productive and the company might buy one of them soon.

After Fanatics hired FanDuel CEO Matt King and The Action Network Chief Operating Officer Ari Borod, they began to build out a team, but sources said it would be impossible for them to start from scratch. Initial talks were with DraftKings in a mega deal, but things faltered.