When Maryland voters first approved casinos in 2008, only five casinos with just slot machines were allowed. MGM National Harbor has been in the works for years.

The Taj Mahal was Atlantic City's fifth casino to close since 2014 amid rising casino competition in surrounding states. MGM National Harbor's opening comes about two months after the Taj Mahal, which was built by Trump, closed in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 'Moving forward to have somebody that's been experienced in this industry is, you know, a positive from a travel and tourism perspective, and I certainly look forward the next several years for our company,' Murren said.īut as Trump knows, success in the casino industry can be elusive. This touch of Las Vegas opens about six weeks before the inauguration of Donald Trump, whose businesses have included hotels, casinos and other hospitality industry properties. Docent tours are planned, and descriptions of the art can be downloaded on smartphones. The collection also contains work by local artists. 'I viewed art from the inception of National Harbor as not an amenity, but as an integral part of the narrative and experience to the resort,' said Murren, who majored in art history in college. It is the singer and Nobel laureate's first work of art for a public space on permanent display. Bob Dylan's 'Portal,' a metal collage with an aquatic theme including a Maryland blue crab, arches over an entrance to the casino floor. Seventy-two works of art are displayed inside and outside the casino. A 12-foot chocolate fountain is the centerpiece of a European-inspired pastry shop, called Bellagio after the MGM casino in Las Vegas. Bars and restaurants feature local, national and international chefs, including a Voltaggio Brothers Steak House. High-end branded retailers include the first SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker boutique. There's also a spa, salon, outdoor pool and 50,000 square feet of meeting space. An intimate 3,000-seat arena already has lined up well-known acts like Bruno Mars, Sting, Cher and Boys II Men. MGM National Harbor's casino floor is about 125,000 square feet, with table games and more than 3,300 slot machines. 'This was designed and is programmed to draw people into the state and not simply to be a casino,' Murren said. This will be Maryland's sixth and biggest casino, but Murren said there are only a handful of casino-resorts on the East Coast that have as much to offer as this one.

tourists coming to see their nation's capital, particularly those from the Southeast. With three major airports nearby, MGM hopes to attract international travelers visiting Washington as well as U.S.

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