Washington D.C. Casinos – Map & Closest Ones

While the nation’s capital doesn’t have legalized gambling, there are two large, Vegas-style casinos within thirty miles of the District of Columbia.

These two are contemporary, spacious casino resorts in Maryland – one north of the District, the other south, but both offering thousands of slot machines, numerous table games, poker, a variety of entertainment venues, and dining options that range from fast-food to high-end.

Here’s a look at the closest casinos to the District of Columbia. There are several horse racing tracks in the region as well, but the focus here is just on traditional casinos.

Map of Casinos Near Washington D.C.

(The black star represents MGM National Harbor, while the red star to the north is Live! Hotel & Casino Maryland)

Casinos near Washington D.C.

MGM National Harbor

Opened in late 2016, this resort just off the banks of the Potomac River is the closest thing the District of Columbia has to its own casino, being just 11 miles south of D.C.

The drive from downtown on I-295 to this spacious resort at Oxon Hill takes twenty to thirty minutes most times, but up to an hour during weekday afternoon rush hours.

MGM National Harbor has beautiful grounds, waterfalls, artwork and décor. It’s gorgeous – both inside and out.

And in terms of customers, it’s also been a huge hit.

With over 12 million annual visitors to National Harbor, the MGM gets a good chunk of those. In fact, MGM says they receive six million visitors a year.

While that’s great for the casino, it’s not necessary advantageous for the lower limit player. Recently the minimums for the lowest limit craps game was $25. And that was on a Monday night!

Slot Machines & Table Games

The 125,000 square foot gaming floor makes the MGM National Harbor bigger than many of the casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

On this floor you’ll find over 3,100 slot machines and video poker machines. While there is electronic roulette, they do not offer bubble craps machines.

The casino’s selection of 140 table games include plenty of the favorites, (blackjack, craps, roulette), along with Spanish 21, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Pai Gow, and Four Card Poker (among others).

There’s mini baccarat here, but also midi-baccarat, where the players get to handle the cards.

Either way, please let me reiterate that the table games here have higher limits than you may be used to.

You’re not going to find easy-going, fun $5 tables here. In fact, on weekend nights, you’re not likely to find a table under $50 minimum. I recently heard of $75 blackjack minimums on a weekend night. Those looking for lower limit table games will have to play the electronic versions.

Poker

It’s not hyperbole to say MGM National Harbor’s poker room is one of the biggest and best in the United States.

No smoky, old outdated joint here.

In fact, shortly after its opening in December 2016, the room became so popular, MGM added tables into a new and expanded renovated room on the second floor.

As such, there are now 37 tables in this beautiful room. The usual limit and No-Limit Texas Hold’em are spread, as well as Omaha games. Seven Card Stud and other poker games are available upon request. There’s also a healthy selection of daily tournaments.

Bet MGM Sportsbook and Race Book

The new 8,000 square foot Bet MGM Sportsbook has a 360 degree jumbotron and capacity for 350 guests. There are seven live betting windows, along with another 15 kiosks. There are also betting kiosks at TAP Sports Bar as well as others scattered around the resort.

The race book has off-track betting and 24 screen showing races.

Restaurants

MGM National Harbor’s numerous dining options cover all cuisines, ranging from a Shake Shack franchise to the Voltaggio Brothers Steak House, (from TV’s “Top Chef” fame).

Oddly enough, this is the rare casino to not offer a buffet.

The resort’s “National Market” is their version of a food court, but don’t think you’re at the mall. This is much more pretty and upscale, with nine different options, including Pappas Crab Cakes, Bento Sushi Bar, Memphis Q Barbecue, and Honey’s Fried Chicken, among others.

The resorts bars include Felt, a lobby bar, and the Blossom Cocktail lounge.

MGM National Harbor Hotel

The beautiful 24 story glass and steel hotel tower has 308 rooms – 74 of which are suites. Many offer gorgeous views of the Potomac.

First though, you’re greeted by an impressive, multi-story light filled lobby, or as they call it, the “oval conservatory.” It’s illuminated (in the day at least), by a giant wall of windows and, (for lack of a better word), a gigantic skylight.

Similar to the conservatory at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, the décor here changes with the season.

There is a modest, but pretty, outdoor pool and lounge area.

With two stories covering 27,000 square feet, the spa and salon has eleven treatment rooms, a barber shop for the guys, and a pretty decent fitness center.

Entertainment

Simply named, “The Theater,” the resort’s 3,000 seat venue hosts everything from famous singers, to comedians to Cirque shows and everything in-between.

There’s also live music on weekends at the Felt bar.

Shopping

MGM National Harbor gives you 18,000 square feet of retail space with shops all over the circular walkway. The retail landscape is always subject to change, but as of the time of this writing, stores here include Swagg Boutique by Nene Leakes, and a shoe/handbag store by Sarah Jessica Parker.

MGM National Harbor Address, Phone & Website

101 MGM National Avenue
Oxon Hill, MD. 20745
Phone: (301) 749-7500

Website: MgmNationalHarbor.com

One last note: parking at MGM National Harbor is free in one of the resort’s thousands of underground spaces. There is a fee for valet parking however.

Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland

Located 27 miles northeast of the city, located just south of the Baltimore Washington International Airport, the Live! Hotel & Casino is the second closest casino to the center of Washington D.C.

However it terms of size, it’s number one in Maryland, in terms of square footage, slots, and table games. In fact, with 160,000 square feet of casino floor space, Live! is one of the biggest casinos in the United States.

Live! (don’t ever forget the exclamation mark), has 4000 slot machine/video poker machines.

There are 200 table games here, including all the usual suspects, along with Mississippi Stud, Three card Poker, Four Card Poker, Criss Cross Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and Pai Gow Poker.

In addition to these, there are several of the E-tables, where you place your bets electronically while a live dealer spins the roulette wheel or deals the cards.

While several other casinos around the country have e-table roulette and blackjack, Live! is the rare one to offer this electronic betting/live dealer combination on craps and mini-baccarat.

In 2021, the resort opened their FanDuel Sportsbook, complete with a 100 foot TV wall and 10 live betting windows (in addition to numerous self-serve kiosks).

Gaming Smoking Patio

Another unique feature of Live! is the spacious and elegantly designed Orchid Gaming Smoking Patio, which offers a variety of slots, some table games and e-table games.

While the rest of the casino is non-smoking, this outdoor gaming space is nicely decorated, and covered, with basically the feel that you are inside. For you smokers, it’s a nice reprieve from the token, concreted walled-off smoking areas offered by many casinos.

Poker

As big as the MGM National Harbor’s poker room is, the one at Live! is even bigger. The spacious room boasts 50 tables.

In addition to hosting a stop on the World Poker Tour, Live!’s poker room hosts at least two tournaments a day, every day of the week.

Hotel

Live! opened in 2012 without accommodations, however a newer 17 story hotel tower, (completed in 2018), now gives the resort 310 hotel rooms and 52 suites.

Restaurants

Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland’s ten different dining options include a New York style deli, the Prime Rib steakhouse, fast casual Mexican, a Bobby Flay hamburger restaurant, as well as a Cheesecake Factory.

Entertainment

The newly expanded Live! Events Center seats 4,000 for concerts, comedians and more. A more intimate venue, the Live! Center State, seats 400. There’s also live music at many of the casino bars.

Live! Casino Hotel Maryland Address, Phone & Website:

7002 Arundel Mills, Circle #7777
Hanover, Maryland 21076
Phone: (443) 445-2929

Website: Maryland.LiveCasinoHotel.com

What is the Closest Casino to Washington D.C.?

The MGM National Harbor is by far the closest casino to D.C. From Dupont Circle, it’s exactly 11.8 miles to the casino.

Closest Casino to Various Washington Metropolitan Area Cities & Counties

Depending on your origination point in the Washington metropolitan area, the MGM may not be the closest gaming option.

Here then are the respective distances from various cities and counties to the MGM National Harbor and Live! Casino Hotel Maryland.

* The Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is just 27 miles from Frederick and 26 miles from Loudon County, VA.

Other

• The third closest casino to Washington D.C. is a casino in Baltimore. Specifically, it’s the Horseshoe Baltimore which clocks in at 39 miles from the center of the District.

• Another option further west is the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia, 64 miles to the northwest of D.C.

This casino/resort boasts 2,500 slot machines, numerous table games (all the favorites: blackjack, roulette, craps, etc.), a 16 table poker room, sportsbook, and event center.

In addition to the live racing schedule, you can bet on simulcast races from around the country here. However if you’re looking to bet on simulcast races, you can do that much closer to D.C. at the MGM National Harbor.

MGM National Harbor FAQ

(By Steve Beauregard. Photos courtesy of the MGM National Harbor Hotel & Casino and the Live! Casino & Hotel)