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Host state home to $2bn in annual gaming revenue
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Legal sports betting launched in Missouri in December 2025, with operators including bet365, FanDuel and BetMGMnow active in the state.
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Missouri sportsbooks handled more than $543 million in wagers during their first month following launch.
England’s World Cup home for at least the group stage is Kansas City, Missouri – a city famous for elite sport, barbecue, jazz and now one of America’s fastest-growing gambling industries.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are staying at the Inn at Meadowbrook and training at the Swope Soccer Village and leading online betting community OLBG has done a deep-dive into the city that will play host to the Three Lions stars for their World Cup campaign.
Gambling growth in Kansas
While not necessarily carrying the same global profile of New York, Miami or Los Angeles, Kansas City has become one of the biggest sports and entertainment hubs in the US and a particularly attractive destination for casino enthusiasts.
Missouri currently operates 13 fully licensed casinos across the state with the industry generating close to $2 billion annually in gaming revenue.
Legal sports-betting was only launched back in December 2025 but demand exploded almost instantly with reports that Missouri sportsbooks handled more than $543 million in wagers during their first month after launch.
There are several brands familiar to UK bettors that are now licensed or operating in Missouri following the launch of legal sports betting.
Missouri’s newly regulated sports betting market features some familiar brands to England fans with several major UK-facing operators now licensed in the state. bet365, FanDuel (owned by Flutter) BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook are all part of the state’s sportsbook rollout.
The soccer capital of America
Kansas City will offer up a different flavour of World Cup experience for England fans compared to Qatar and Russia.
The City has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into football infrastructure over the past 15 years and has become one of FIFA’s most important US host cities.
Arrowhead stadium, home to the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs will host six World Cup matches including a quarter-final. The stadium is regarded as one of the loudest stadiums in world sport for atmosphere and will host over 70,000 fans for World Cup fixtures.
Along with Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs, the city is home to MLS side Sporting Kansas City, NWSL club KC Current and MLB franchise Kansas City Royals.
OLBG’s top five experiences for visitors
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Bally’s Kansas City – A two-level riverboat casino with 900 slots and a 45,000 sq ft casino
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Arrowhead Stadium Experience – The home of the Kansas City Chiefs one of America’s most iconic sporting venues
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Kansas City Barbecue – Embrace the barbecue culture with iconic restaurants including Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Gates Bar-B-Q and Q39
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Jazz District – Visit the historic 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District, home to the American Jazz Museum and legendary live music venue The Blue Room.
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National WWI Museum and Memorial – The Liberty Memorial area will also host Kansas City’s official FIFA Fan Festival during the tournament.
With elite sporting infrastructure, billion-dollar casinos and one of America’s fastest-growing betting markets, England’s World Cup base could become one of the tournament’s biggest off-pitch attractions.
