MGM National Harbor unveiled Sunday a nearly $50-million expansion of its gaming floor to respond to growing demand for additional gambling services. The expansion project was completed a year and a half after the hotel and casino resort opened doors in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
The move saw the addition of a larger poker room, 285 slot machines, and off-track horse betting, which MGM National Harbor will conduct in partnership with the state Jockey Club. New food and beverage options were too included in the expansion project. A new expansive terrace with a view of the Potomac River and a smoking area was also unveiled yesterday.
Commenting on the completion of the $48-million expansion, property President and Chief Operating Officer Melonie Johnson told local news outlet the Baltimore Sun that they wanted to untap unused space at the resort as their operation was going really well. The casino official further dwelt that they had never anticipated the volume of patrons they would have and that the addition of more gaming space and the relocation of poker to the second floor were a necessary step to respond to the demand for more gaming options.
Since it opened doors in late 2016, MGM National Harbor has been drawing high-end gambling customers from its domestic market as well as from surrounding Virginia and Washington. Ms. Johnson also said that aside from the casino portion of the resort, its convention facility and its 3,000-foot theater, which has hosted the likes of Bruno Mars, Britney Spears, Jill Scott, and other top performers, were too among the major draws for customers not only from the region but from the rest of the country.
June Casino Revenue
Including MGM National Harbor, the state of Maryland has six operational casinos. The six properties recorded a year-on-year revenue increase of 14.1% in June to over $148.9 million. MGM’s Maryland resort generated the amount of $59.3 million last month, up 18.3% from June 2017. The property operates 2,961 slot machines and 180 table games.
While rival property Live! Casino & Hotel operates a larger number of both slot machines (3,997) and table games (198), MGM National Harbor has quickly established itself as the state’s highest grossing casino since it was launched. Live! reported gaming revenue of $48.1 million last month, up 15.1% year-on-year.
Live!, which opened doors in Anne Arundel County six years ago, is too in the middle of a multi-million expansion. The property recently cut the ribbon of a 310-room luxury hotel as part of the casino complex. The expansion also included the addition of an event space, a space, and of new restaurant as part of the gambling floor. The casino thus aims to attract more visitors, particularly high roller casino patrons, and to bring back business it lost when MGM National Harbor opened doors a year and a half ago.
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