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MGM Casino Opens $48 Million Expansion

creative commons

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) - Maryland's biggest casino is getting even bigger.

MGM National Harbor opened a $48 million expansion Sunday, less than two years after opening its doors in December 2016.

The Baltimore Sun reports the expansion includes a new, second-floor poker room, off-track horse betting offered in partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club, 285 slot machines and a new terrace overlooking the Potomac River.

Casino officials say the expansion is driven by higher-than-anticipated demand.

The expansion comes as MGM's biggest competitor, the Live Hotel and Casino in Anne Arundel County, recently added a 310-room hotel that now stands as the county's tallest building.

State regulators report that June revenue at the MGM casino totaled $59 million, compared to $48 million at Live casino.

Don Rush is the News Director and Senior Producer of News and Public Affairs at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.