South entranceHotel entrance and lobbyConservatory, decorated in autumn decor
MGM Resorts International received a license in December 2013 to develop a $925-million resort (later increased to $1.2 billion[1][2]) in National Harbor.[3][2] The company received the license after competing with bids from Penn National Gaming to develop a $700-million facility at its Rosecroft Raceway and Greenwood Racing to develop a $761-million facility near Maryland Route 210.[2]
Construction on MGM National Harbor began in April 2014. It opened on December 8, 2016.[4][1]
In September 2017, MGM Growth Properties purchased the land and buildings of MGM National Harbor from MGM Resorts International for $1.2 billion in a leaseback transaction.[5][6][7]Vici Properties acquired MGM Growth, including MGM National Harbor, in 2022.[8]
Design and features
The white exterior of the building is in keeping with the marble used in many of the buildings in Washington DC. The organization of the casino is along a central axis, similar to the arrangement for the National Mall.[9] The design was provided by HKS, Inc. while the architect of record for the project is SmithGroupJJR.[10]
MGM National Harbor includes a 23-story hotel with 308 rooms, 135,000 square feet (12,500 m2) in gaming space, retail space, a spa, seven restaurants, a 3,000-seat theater with seven VIP suites, 27,000 square feet (2,500 m2) of meeting and event space, and a parking garage for 4,800 cars.[3][1]
On June 26, 2018, a seven-year-old girl suffered traumatic brain injury while visiting the casino. Due to a faulty installation of a device meant to control the electrical flow to the rail lighting, Zynae Green suffered an electric shock and was left requiring the use of a wheelchair. Despite the family's pleas for help, MGM security did not initiate resuscitation, MGM stating "the guards followed protocol responding to the incident and determined that Zynae was breathing and did not need CPR". Prince George's County Police Officers started resuscitation upon arrival. The incident prompted an FBI investigation and the family has not been compensated more than a year after the incident.[17]
Cheating
In 2019, a baccarat dealer who worked at the casino was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a cheating scheme. Ming Zhang showed his co-conspirators cards before they were dealt, who split the winnings with him.[18]
Boxing death
Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev died on July 23, 2019, from injuries suffered during a July 19 boxing match at the Theater at MGM National Harbor.[19]
Brawls
Multiple brawls have been reported at the facility, including on the casino floor. During the casino's first night of operations, video emerged of an attendee who was beaten while on the floor, while another person grabbed a stool.[20] In 2022, brawls were reported in the dining area between multiple patrons, with no security visible. The casino canceled the Thursday event where the incident occurred.[21]
Robbery of winners
In 2020, two winners were robbed of more than $40,000 in winnings after leaving the casino and shot during the crime. The victims were followed by the assailants from the casino and robbed in Woodbridge, Virginia, where one of them lived and the other was shot.[22]
In another 2020 incident, a casino patron and hotel guest was shot and robbed of his casino winnings. After returning to his room in the hotel portion of the facility, Nathaniel Nagbe opened the door to find two armed men accompanied by a woman he knew. After he refused to open the hotel safe that contained more than $60,000 in winnings, Nagbe was shot in his stomach and fled down 17 flights of stairs before a valet called 911.[23]
