MGM National Harbor is a full-service casino resort in Oxon Hill, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., with two casino floors, poker, BetMGM sports betting, a hotel, restaurants, and a major theater. Its strongest draw is convenience: dinner, a show, gambling, and an overnight stay can all happen at one property. I think it makes more sense as a planned evening out than a bargain gambling stop. Dining, tickets, and a room can push the total well beyond your gambling budget, and the location requires transportation planning for Washington sightseeing.
MGM National Harbor at a glance
| Feature | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Location | Oxon Hill, Maryland, in the National Harbor area |
| Published address | 101 MGM National Avenue, National Harbor, MD 20745 |
| Property type | Full-service casino resort |
| Minimum gambling age | 21 |
| Casino layout | Two casino floors |
| Gaming | Slots, live table games, and poker |
| Poker room | Yes |
| Retail sportsbook | Yes, BetMGM |
| Hotel | 308 rooms and suites |
| Entertainment | The Theater, advertised with 3,000 seats |
| Outdoor pool season | Memorial Day through Labor Day |
| Rewards program | MGM Rewards |
| Phone | 844-346-4664 |
| Official website | MGM National Harbor |
Location and resort overview
This is a destination resort, not simply a place to park, play a few machines, and leave. The restaurants, hotel, spa, and theater give nonplayers reasons to come along, too. One person can make poker the main event while someone else cares more about dinner and a performance.
The location deserves thought before booking. MGM is in Maryland, not central Washington, and the resort is separate from National Harbor’s waterfront restaurant district. If the casino and theater are your destinations, staying here is convenient. If your plans involve daily museum visits and repeated trips across Washington, I would compare hotels closer to those activities.
For alternatives around the state, see our guide to Maryland casinos.
Casino floor and games
MGM spreads its gambling offerings across two casino floors, with slots, live tables, and poker, plus on-property BetMGM sports betting. The variety is the useful distinction: this is not a slots-only casino.
For a dated sense of scale, Maryland Lottery and Gaming’s June 2026 report listed MGM National Harbor with 2,228 slot machines and 214 table games. Treat those figures as an inventory snapshot, not a promise that every table will be open during your visit.
I would not plan around a remembered table minimum or an old machine list. Availability and limits change, and a large selection does not guarantee your preferred game at your preferred price.
Slots and video poker
Slots are a central part of the casino’s offering. If you are traveling for a particular title, denomination, or video poker game, ask about its current availability first.
My first check at a slot machine is the total wager, not the denomination on the cabinet. A penny game can require a much larger bet once its lines and features are included. Decide what a comfortable spin costs before getting caught up in the animation.
For video poker, read the pay table: machines carrying the same game name can offer different payouts. Disregard claims that a machine is hot, cold, or due. Somebody else’s session is not a useful forecast for yours.
Table games
The table-game selection includes blackjack, craps, roulette, baccarat, and poker-style games. Open tables, rules, and minimum wagers can change with the shift and demand.
Before buying in, read the sign and ask about anything unclear. At blackjack, the payout for a natural matters. At roulette, the wheel format matters. The minimum bet is only one part of what a table costs to play.
If low-limit play is essential to your evening, check what is running before settling in.
Poker room
MGM National Harbor has a dedicated player-versus-player poker room, separate from video poker and casino-banked poker games.
For a poker-focused trip, running games and waiting lists matter more than advertised capacity. Check current stakes, game availability, tournaments, and registration arrangements before traveling.
I would also avoid tying a dinner reservation to an assumption about when a seat will open. A poker wait and a fixed restaurant booking do not always cooperate.
BetMGM sportsbook
BetMGM provides on-property sports betting. The resort advertises three betting locations and 33 wagering kiosks, with the kiosks available around the clock.
That does not mean round-the-clock counter assistance, lounge seating, or food service. If watching a major game is the purpose of your visit, check arrangements for that event.
Retail betting and a mobile betting app are separate services. Bring identification, and do not assume an existing account eliminates eligibility or location requirements.
Hotel: is an overnight stay worth it?
The published hotel inventory lists 234 guest rooms and 74 suites, totaling 308 accommodations. Compare the actual category when evaluating offers: the hotel-wide count does not mean every booking buys the same space or configuration.
Gamboool original analysis
We assembled the comparison below from published information and our calculations. These are selected examples, rather than measured gambling sessions or a representative survey.
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Hotel: Guest-room and suite inventory | The property lists guest rooms and suites separately, making the accommodation mix more informative than a single hotel-room count. |
| Pool: Published operating season | The outdoor pool has a published Memorial Day–Labor Day season, unlike the fitness center’s round-the-clock schedule. |
| Pool: Optional purchases and reservations | The brochure advertises an additional-purchase day package and reservable pool seating but does not publish prices or establish general admission terms. |
| Fitness center: Hours and eligibility | The fitness center is open around the clock but restricted to hotel guests; casino visitors should not assume access. |
| FedEx Office: Weekday versus weekend availability | Business services have limited weekday hours and are closed on weekends, rather than matching the fitness center or sportsbook kiosks. |
| BetMGM: Kiosk availability versus staffed service | The brochure explicitly advertises round-the-clock wagering at 33 kiosks; that statement does not establish staffed-counter or lounge hours. |
| The Theater at MGM National Harbor: Published seating capacity | The property advertises a 3,000-seat theater, providing a concrete sense of venue scale without implying that every performance uses the same seating configuration. |
| Dining: Dinner-only steakhouse versus lunch-and-dinner restaurant | The brochure lists Voltaggio Brothers Steak House for dinner, while Ginger is listed for lunch and dinner. |
| Osteria Costa: Published meal periods | Osteria Costa is listed for brunch and dinner, offering a different meal-period option from the dinner-only steakhouse. |
| National Market: Published meal periods and format | National Market is listed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with multiple fast-casual concepts rather than a single full-service restaurant. |
| Dining: Where to confirm operating hours | The brochure directs visitors to the dining website for operating hours; meal-period labels should not be treated as exact opening or closing times. |
| MGM Rewards: Enrollment location | The published enrollment location is the MGM Rewards desk on the first casino level, a useful distinction in a property advertising two casino floors. |
| Calculation | Result | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel accommodation inventory: guest rooms plus suites | 308 hotel accommodations | The published inventory includes both guest rooms and suites; compare the booked accommodation category rather than treating every unit as a standard room. |
Method: Published inputs collected 2026-10-16. Illustrative assumptions are labeled, and the full calculation inputs remain in the saved research record. These examples support planning; they do not predict a particular session.
My strongest argument for staying here is straightforward: after dinner, a performance, drinks, and gambling, you do not have to drive home or arrange a late pickup. An overnight stay also makes it easier to use the spa or spend time beyond the casino floor.
The argument is weaker if the room is mainly a base for Washington sightseeing. Compare the accommodation cost and transportation needs with a hotel closer to your daily destinations.
Price the complete reservation, not just the first nightly rate displayed. Check taxes, any applicable resort fee, deposits, cancellation terms, and optional services. If a particular view or room configuration matters, book a category that explicitly includes it rather than relying on a request.
I would treat the outdoor pool as a seasonal bonus, not a year-round reason to book. Its published season runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Restaurants and bars
Dining is one of MGM’s stronger reasons to turn a short visit into a full evening. The useful comparison is which restaurant fits your timing and appetite.
| Option | Best fit | Published meal periods or format |
|---|---|---|
| Voltaggio Brothers Steak House | Dinner as the main event | Dinner; full-service steakhouse |
| Ginger | A sit-down Asian meal with a broad menu | Lunch and dinner |
| Osteria Costa | Pizza, pasta, and seafood | Brunch and dinner |
| TAP Sports Bar | Burgers, pub fare, and sports viewing | Lunch and dinner |
| National Market | A quicker meal or a group with different preferences | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner; fast-casual concepts |
| Bellagio Patisserie and Shake Shack | Pastries, sandwiches, burgers, or a simpler stop | Quick-service alternatives |
Diablo’s Cantina adds another dinner option with cocktails and a livelier evening atmosphere. For drinks, the property also lists Lobby Bar, Blossom Cocktail Lounge, and Felt Bar & Lounge, with live music among Felt’s offerings.
My pick depends on the occasion. Reserve the steakhouse when dinner is part of the attraction. Choose National Market when everyone wants something different or you would rather avoid a long meal. TAP is the natural fit when watching sports matters as much as eating.
Meal periods are not exact opening hours. Check kitchen schedules, especially after a performance, and leave breathing room between a sit-down dinner and curtain time.
Entertainment, pool, and amenities
The Theater is advertised as a 3,000-seat venue, making live entertainment a substantial part of MGM’s appeal. Check the event’s seating plan and ticket terms before buying.
The resort also has a spa and salon, shopping, the Heritage Collection of art, and meeting facilities. Spa appointments, purchases, and tickets need their own budget.
- Outdoor pool: Published season of Memorial Day through Labor Day. Day packages and reservable seating are advertised separately, so confirm prices and access terms.
- Fitness center: Open 24 hours, but restricted to hotel guests. A casino visit alone does not provide access.
- Spa and salon: Plan around appointment availability and treatment charges rather than assuming services are included with a room.
One part of a resort being open does not mean every amenity is open or included.
Parking, transportation, and visit costs
Use 101 MGM National Avenue when planning the drive. A short distance on a map does not guarantee a quick trip through Washington-area traffic.
Check current self-parking and valet arrangements, particularly for an event visit. Photograph your parking level and section when you get out. That is easier than reconstructing the route several hours later.
For rideshare trips, follow the designated pickup instructions and allow extra time after a large performance. If flying in, arrange transportation independently unless your reservation explicitly includes it. Do not build an itinerary around an assumed airport shuttle.
For an outing beyond the resort, National Harbor’s transportation guide describes a roughly 25-minute water-taxi ride between National Harbor and Alexandria. This is a waterfront connection, not a casino-door pickup. Plan the trip between MGM and the dock separately, and check sailing times.
I would divide an overnight budget into four parts: the room’s complete booking total, transportation, food and entertainment, and gambling. Keeping those categories separate makes it harder for an appealing room offer to disguise an expensive weekend.
You must be at least 21 to gamble. Bring valid government-issued photo identification. If an accessible room, specific bed configuration, or assistance reaching a venue matters, arrange it directly with the property before arrival.
MGM Rewards
MGM National Harbor participates in MGM Rewards, with an enrollment desk on the first casino level. Ask how play and qualifying resort purchases should be credited, since earning rules can differ.
I consider a rewards card useful for a visit you already intended to make, not a reason to increase your gambling budget. A future offer is no bargain if obtaining it requires spending more than you wanted today.
Strengths and limitations
Reasons to choose MGM National Harbor
- A complete evening in one place: Restaurants, a theater, gambling, and overnight accommodations work together.
- Different ways to play: Slots, live tables, poker, and retail sports betting accommodate different interests.
- Flexible dining: A steakhouse dinner and a quick food-hall meal are both options.
- Alternatives for nonplayers: Shows, dining, art, and spa appointments can be the main attraction.
Trade-offs to weigh
- The total bill: A room, dinner, drinks, and tickets are separate from gambling money.
- The location: This is not a central Washington hotel, so sightseeing requires transportation planning.
- The seasonal pool: It is not a winter-stay amenity.
- Separate access and charges: A room does not automatically cover treatments, show tickets, or every pool option.
Who MGM National Harbor is best for
I would choose MGM National Harbor for a casino-and-concert outing, a dining-focused evening, or an overnight stay where the resort itself is the destination. Its gambling, restaurants, and entertainment let a group split up without changing properties. For a low-frills gambling stop or daily Washington sightseeing, I would compare alternatives: transportation takes planning, and optional extras can turn a modest outing into a much larger bill.
Frequently asked questions
Is MGM National Harbor in Washington, D.C.?
No. It is in Oxon Hill, Maryland, in the National Harbor area. Its published mailing address uses National Harbor as the locality.
Does MGM National Harbor have a poker room?
Yes. It offers player-versus-player poker. Check current games, stakes, waiting lists, and tournaments before a poker-specific trip.
Does MGM National Harbor have a sportsbook?
Yes. BetMGM provides on-property sports betting. Advertised round-the-clock kiosk access is separate from staffed-counter and lounge hours.
How many hotel rooms does MGM National Harbor have?
The published inventory totals 308 accommodations: 234 guest rooms and 74 suites.
Is the outdoor pool open all year?
No. The published season is Memorial Day through Labor Day. Confirm access arrangements and optional charges for your dates.
Can you visit without booking a hotel room?
Yes. A room reservation is not required for a casino visit, restaurant meal, or ticketed performance. Individual amenities have separate requirements, including the hotel-guest-only fitness center.
What is the minimum gambling age?
You must be at least 21 to gamble at MGM National Harbor.