Photo by Terry Lemons
Washington-area high rollers will have a little more breathing room after MGM National Harbor expanded the casino’s high limit gaming area.
Washington-area high rollers will have a little more breathing room after MGM National Harbor expanded the casino’s high-limit gaming area.
The Oxon Hill casino, just across the Potomac River from Alexandria, has raised the stakes for top-tier gamblers, upping the high-limit space by 40 percent to 14,000 square feet. The number of slot machines in the premium area has doubled to 110 games, with 19 table games including black jack, poker and roulette.
The updated gambling area marks the first major redesign of the high-stakes area since MGM opened 10 years ago.
“The goal is to elevate comfort and excitement,” explained Alexander Alvarado, MGM National Harbor’s vice president of casino operations.
Alvarado and other dignitaries launched the updated gaming experience in a Feb. 5 ceremony just off the main casino floor. The festive event included a traditional lion dance blessing designed to bring prosperity and good fortune in advance of the Lunar New Year.
Photo by Terry Lemons
Washington-area high rollers will have a little more breathing room after MGM National Harbor expanded the casino’s high limit gaming area.
The updated high limit slots and gaming area will provide more amenities for gamblers, including an expanded bar area with premium spirits as well as more flexibility to add more tables for peak periods or special events, said Joe Pudlick, the casino’s communications director.
The reimagined area also includes new crystal ceiling fixtures and a chandelier, designed with an eye toward attracting and retaining well-heeled clients, coveted customers in the casino industry.
National Harbor isn’t just betting on high rollers to retain its spot as the Maryland’s top grossing casino. The 24-story, 308-room resort has a variety of special events coming up this month, including:
- In honor of the Lunar New Year, National Harbor will have a month-long celebration of the Year of the Horse. Special events will include a lion and dragon dance at 6 p.m. Feb. 15.
- The debut of a pop-up
Photo by Terry Lemons
Washington-area high rollers will have a little more breathing room after MGM National Harbor expanded the casino’s high limit gaming area.
- cocktail lounge in the style of a Chinese tea house. The Lunar Lounge will feature specially-designed signature Hennessy cocktails, said Anastasiia Hehelska, the casino’s food and beverage director. The lounge will be open Fridays and Saturdays in February.
- The Poker Room will chip in with the return of the Potomac Winter Poker Open. Poker players from across the country will compete in 23 trophied events across 13 days from Feb. 11-23. To entice players further, entrants will receive complimentary meal vouchers and $25 bonus bets for use at other table games.
Terry Lemons, a veteran communicator in the Washington area, oversaw IRS media operations for more than 25 years. Previously, Lemons covered Congress and the White House as Washington bureau chief for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Since retiring from government in 2025, Lemons has resumed writing with stories appearing in publications ranging from Forbes.com to The Hill. His first book – on baseball – will be published this summer.
