MGM National Harbor: Casino And Sports Betting Overview
MGM National Harbor is the largest and most successful Maryland casino. Its excellent location on the harbor, just across the river from Alexandria and a short drive from Washington, DC, certainly helps. However, what keeps customers coming back is the state’s largest selection of slots and table games.
With a massive 125,000 square-foot gaming floor, MGM National Harbor has space for thousands of slot titles and an astonishing 200 table games. More than just casino gaming, the property offers a little something for everyone. Think of it less as a regional casino and more as a Las Vegas-style destination resort. There are several restaurants, high-end shopping, harbor access, and a hotel with a spa and other amenities.
Let’s look at the Maryland mega-casino and what makes it such an excellent location for Maryland gamblers.
MGM National Harbor info
Address: 101 MGM National Avenue, Forest Heights, MD 20745
Phone number: (844) 646-6847
Opened: 2016
Retail sportsbook: Yes
Online sportsbook: Yes
Gaming floor: 125,000 square feet
Slots: Over 3,000
Table games: 200
Poker room: Yes, 46 tables with a high limit area
Off-track betting: Yes
Hotel: Yes, with 300 rooms
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BetMGM Sportsbook at National Harbor
MGM Resorts was a little late to the sports betting game during the initial wave of states introducing legal sports betting. However, thanks to a significant marketing push, BetMGM is now one of the bigger sportsbook app brands in the country.
BetMGM had an easy path to a sportsbook license in Maryland, thanks to the MGM National Harbor property. There is a specific Class A category of licenses for casinos, sports teams and venues, and horse racing facilities. For a $2 million upfront cost and a $500,000 renewal fee every five years, BetMGM has a Class A-1 license for both retail and online sports betting. This licence would also allow them to operate online casinos in Maryland once they have been made legal.
MGM National Harbor started planning once the November 2020 voter referendum ensured sports betting in Maryland would happen. In March 2020, the casino started requesting and filing the necessary building permits to start construction on a brick-and-mortar sportsbook at the casino.
That retail sportsbook was up and running in time for fall football betting in 2021. Meanwhile, the BetMGM Maryland betting app launched in November 2022.
When it comes to the position of MGM in the DMV area, few are in a more high-profile situation. BetMGM was one of the first apps to launch in Virginia. Additionally, a BetMGM Sportsbook opened at Nationals Park in early 2022.
MGM National Harbor gaming
There is arguably no casino in the state that rivals MGM National Harbor for a wide range of gambling options. The most extensive choice of slot machines, the most table games and a massive poker room offer a little something for everyone.
MGM slots games
The volume of slot machines available at MGM National Harbor is pretty astonishing. There are over 3,000 machines on the floor.
Visitors will find many hugely popular titles from penny stakes to high limits. Stakes range from $0.01 to $100. The 48 machines in the high limit area can also easily accommodate big wins. Each high-limit slot has QuickPay, which means big winners can quickly process and receive a W-2G, the gambling winnings tax form for wins over $5,000.
There are opportunities to win big prizes on the main slot floor, too. There are progressive slots in addition to regular titles from Scientific Games, Bally, Aristocrat, IGT and others. Here is a look at some of the more popular slot titles at MGM National Harbor:
- 88 Fortunes
- Dancing Drums Explosion
- Dragon Link
- Rakin Bacon
- Wheel of Fortune 4D
There are also electronic versions of table games like roulette as well as video poker.
Table games at National Harbor
Most Maryland casinos offer around a dozen table games. MGM National Harbor has over 200. Not all may be open at the same time, but the number of tables means you will likely not be stuck waiting for a seat very often.
Casino customers have their choice of all the standard table games like blackjack and craps. There are also less popular titles like Casino War, Crapless Craps and Spanish 21.
MGM National Harbor additionally offers something few other casinos do, Quartz Hybrid Electronic Table games. These games feature a live dealer, but an electronic interface for players that allows them to play multiple hands of a game at once. There are 32 of these tables at the property.
Unlike in Las Vegas, drinks are generally not free at Maryland casinos. However, there is a benefit for table games play. Players can get their own version of a happy hour with $4 drinks.
MGM National Harbor poker room
The poker room is on the second floor of MGM National Harbor, away from the noise and bustle of the casino floor. For the high rollers, there is also a special section of tables just for them. They can access safety deposit boxes as well.
In theory, the poker room offers no-limit hold ’em, Omaha, stud and mixed games. Like any poker room, though, the non-flop games generally do not have enough interested players to run.
The poker room also host tournaments from time to time, with most of the promotions for cash game players like lucky seat promos and high-hand jackpots. For instance, MGM National Harbor hosts the Potomac Winter Poker Open each January.
Off-track betting at MGM National Harbor
Sometimes off-track betting gets a bad rap as a run-down facility with low-grade tech. The National Harbor racebook certainly bucks that trend. There are 24 screens throughout the 1,500 square-foot book along with 21 individual carrels with TVs.
The racebook works with The Maryland Jockey Club and is open from 11 a.m. to 12 midnight every day.
MGM National Harbor entertainment and amenities
As mentioned, MGM National Harbor has many of the same amenities you usually find at a casino on the Las Vegas Strip.
The hotel at MGM National Harbor
The hotel connected to MGM National Harbor has 234 rooms as well as 74 suites. Since the hotel is relatively young, the rooms and amenities still feel very modern and upscale.
There are occasional promotions for room rates. Additionally, AARP members and members of the military get a discount. Members of the M Life Rewards program can also use their points for discounts and free rooms and enjoy special rates depending on what their M Life Rewards level is.
The venue additionally features a spa and salon, which can be handy for parties using the event space for celebrations like weddings.
MGM National Harbor nightlife
It is very easy to have fun on the casino floor at MGM National Harbor, but if you aren’t much of a gambler, there are several bars and clubs to choose from. Mixology is such a huge part of the culture at the casino that the property even offers mixology classes. Bars on the property include:
- Felt
- Blossom
- Lobby Bar
MGM National Harbor restaurants
There are arguably more restaurants at National Harbor than most Vegas casinos. Here is a rundown of all eight dining options:
- Ginger: Mid-priced Asian cuisine
- Bellagio Patisserie: Sit-down breakfast restaurant
- National Market: The casino food court which features quick-service restaurants Bento Sushi Bar, Zizi’s pizza, George Washington Beer & Wine, Pappas Crabcakes, and Honey’s
- Shake Shack: Upscale burgers
- Saigon Street: Vietnamese food
- Voltaggio Brothers Steak House: Upscale steak house
- TAP Sports Bar: Mid-priced American fare
- Osteria Costa: Upscale Italian
History of MGM National Harbor
MGM Resorts developed the $1.2 billion property after successfully bidding for one of the available Maryland commercial casino licenses in 2013. Construction broke ground on the facility in April 2014 and opened more than two years later on Dec. 8, 2016. The property is currently owned by Vici Properties and operated by MGM Resorts International.
MGM National Harbor pays homage to its DC proximity with a marble building designed to look similar to the many federal buildings in the capital city. There are also numerous art installations honoring local artists.
The property was an immediate hit, attracting 6 million visitors during its first year of operation. The casino quickly became one of MGM’s top five revenue-producing properties, even exceeding that of several of its Las Vegas casinos.
Today MGM National Harbor often tops the Maryland monthly reports with the highest revenue of the six Maryland casinos, just ahead of Live! Casino and Hotel. Most months MGM National Harbor enjoys around 40% of market share in MD, with Live! typically around 35% and the other four casinos splitting the remainder.