ACTION NETWORK: Fanatics Sportsbok Officially Opens for Business

The most anticipated new player in the sports betting game took its training wheels off on Wednesday. That's when Fanatics Sportsbook moves from beta testing to full speed ahead in four states — Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio and Tennessee.

Although Fanatics' entry into the sports betting space comes more than five years into the legalized sports betting space in the U.S., there’s optimism that the company — the world’s largest officially licensed apparel maker and huge player in the sports collectibles market — can take a meaningful share.

In the last 45 days, Fanatics agreed to buy PointsBet for $225 million, while the market saw FOX Bet cease operations and WynnBET shutter in eight markets. PENN also made the move to wind down its Barstool Sportsbook in favor of a 10-year, $2 billion alliance with ESPN…