$1B slot parlor gaining traction in the DC area. Can poker be far behind? Its going to be expensive to finance that $1B casino and I am sure they will be looking for extra income down the road.

$1 billion casino at National Harbor proposed by Prince George’s Executive Baker
By John Wagner and Miranda S. Spivack, Published: February 16

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III said Thursday that he wants to see a billion-dollar casino on the banks of the Potomac River, arguing that a “high-end” gaming destination at National Harbor would be a catalyst for economic development and generate much-needed tax revenue.

The announcement, which carries considerable political risk for Baker (D), is certain to shake up a debate in Annapolis over legislation to expand Maryland’s gambling program — and add fuel to one in Prince George’s about what kind of development the county should embrace.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...OIR_story.html

***FAQ added 2016.11.15 by JohnnyGroomsTD***

POKER DIRECTOR- Johnny Grooms


WEB SITES- mgmnationalharbor.com


DIRECTIONS AND PARKING- Essentially, all directions end in the Oxon Hill Road Exit. The local exits of 495 north will lead to MGM National Harbor, while southbound exits on 495 should exit to Oxon Hill Rd.
Parking is available on levels 1-4 of the parking garage. Valet parking and availability is TBD

Public Transport- Metro line running to National Harbor

MGM Shuttle- yes, runs regularly from National Harbor.

Valet parking- YES

Self Parking - Free

NUMBER OF TABLES- 39


GAMES- Any game legal in MD. Limit-No Limit Hold’em, Pot Limit Omaha, Limit Omaha 8 or Better, Badugi, Badeucey, Badacey, Stud Variants, 5 Card Omaha and Big O. Mixed Games

BUY IN -
1/3 NL- $100-$500
2/5 NL- $300-$1000
5/10NL- $600-$2500
10/25NL- $1,500 Min Uncapped
25/50 NL- $3,000 Min Uncapped
50/100NL $5,000 Min Uncapped

1/2PLO- $200-$700, $5 Bring in
5/5PLO- $500-$2,500
5/10PLO- $1,000 Min Uncapped
10/25 PLO- $2,500 Min Uncapped
25/50 PLO- $5,000 Uncapped
50/100 PLO- $10,000 Min Uncapped

All 5 card Omaha buy ins same as PLO

Mixed games and other games/limits on Request? Only Those legal in MD

If you voluntarily transfer to another game, you must comply with the min/max buy-in? Min Yes, Max NO. All chips will move on voluntary transfers. Transfers will be limited on new games.

If you come from a broken game or a must move game, you take all your chips? Yes.

RAKE ? 10% 5 max with $2 jackpot on smaller games. $7 per half hour and higher on $5-10 and above No Limit, PLO games w no jackpot.


No flop, no drop? Correct

Timed rake starts at? $5-$ 10PLO and NL games and above, $15-$30 and above for limit games

Reduced rake when 6 players or less? Yes

BAD BEAT JACKPOT ? Yes

Pot must be 10$ to be BBJ eligible and must be 4 players dealt into the hand.

PROMOTIONS? TBD.


VARIOUS RULES

10 Players to a table up 2-5 NL, 9 at all higher limits
9 players to a table at all PLO
10 players to a table at all limit games up to 10-20. 9 players at all higher limits

betting line? NO, a racetrack line for decoration purposes only.

A bet plus half again is a raise? Correct for limit, not for NL

Substantial action in CASH games is 3 players acting or 2 players putting money in the pot? Correct

When hand is down to 2 players, those players can talk and/or turn over cards? Talk yes, turn over cards, no.

UTG straddles only and it's double the BB except $5 on the $1/$2 games and $25 on $5/$10 games? NL, UTG only, PLO MS Straddle

Running it twice is allowed in time raked/non jackpot eligible games? Non jackpot games only, pending current MLGCA reg change.

Four raise max in limit games? Correct

New players do not have to post? Post only in limit games and higher.

At showdown, players do not have the right to see mucked cards from losing hands? Only players with a live hand. If winner requests and the hand is the winning hand, it will get the pot.

Winning hands at showdown can be seen upon player request? Only by players who called last bet and still have cards in front of them.

CARDS- Kem

BOXES? Hundreds of boxes available. $100 deposit, $100 annual fee. Requires access at least once every 90 days. Annual fee may be waived per play.



COMPS? $2 per hour in all games. $3 in time raked games


FOOD
Yes, all outlets in food market, entire menu. Dedicated food service staff.

WIFI? Free and plenty

Use of devices? Yes, as long as it doesn’t slow game pace.


TOURNAMENTS
Rules: http://www.pokertda.com/poker-tda-rules/ ? Yes, with limitations

Tax documentation- On tournament winnings $5,000 above buy in (W2-G)
Promos and jackpots, $600 and above gets a 1099


MASSEUSES –Yes. A Touch of Luck Massage will be the Vendor

**********

read this on google news yesterday. Upsetting that its happening as im graduating from college and heading back home this summer. But Del Park has been good to me minus tolls/gas

From what I've heard table games must first pass this November when it will be up for a ballot. If and when that happens then state legislators must agree to the proposal so there are a few hurdles to say the least.

Yeah, Penn National bought the Rosecroft Raceway and is pushing for an amendment in the table games bill to allow a company to own more than one casino in Maryland (since they already own Perryville), and if it goes through, to get the license that'll basically make them the Washington DC casino.

Arundel Mills is fighting it since their location right now will pretty much siphon the majority of DC action away from Charles Town (and get a good chunk of Baltimore as well until Harrahs Baltimore is built) and having a casino at that racetrack will be major competition and potentially cut-off a majority of DC and NoVa from them with people not wanting to fight Northern Beltway/95 traffic.

Looks like a Casino at National Harbor will be completed in 3 years:

http://dc.about.com/od/touristattrac...r-Maryland.htm

I don't think it's too early to start chatting about what may be the biggest poker change here on the East Coast when Maryland's final casino opens in Prince George's County projected for July 2016.

PG County approved plans earlier this year and construction started this month. Some articles of interest below.

Other rumors on hiring, how many tables the poker room will have, etc. will be appreciated!

http://www.mgmnationalharbor.com/news/default.aspx

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/...778_story.html

http://www.law360.com/articles/53612...or-925m-casino

Very much looking forward to this. I hope they take MDL's opening strategy and tweak it to have much more strict enforcement of game lists and seating. CT's opening was an unmitigated disaster, so that's where they should look if they need examples of what not to do.

What's going on at national Harbor did they break ground yet?

went there the other day, grounds flat and there's MGM signs around it looks like its getting started

My part time job is at the harbor.. I will post pictures every few weeks once ground is broken.. Should make for a great photo diary

Maryland Live! 500 million already falling apart, Horseshoe Baltimore 400 million, Revel AC 2.4 billion.
Sure it's going to be hi-end?

Went by today after work for a quick peek: I will update with pictures periodically, but here are two quick snaps. In this photo photo 1, a picture entering the Harbor with the wheel in the background. In pic 2 plenty of crew on the land behind the fence. I assume they are leveling the land? It's extremely flat and straight in the area directly behind the gate. Either way, more pics in a few weeks.

Was approved on July 21 2014 by PG County, which was the last hurdle.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washingto....html?page=all

Supposed to be open by July 2016.

zero

Definitely subscribed to this thread. Interested in any poker dealer schools/hiring.

Passed by on the way home from the part time... About 14 steel beams are up, rustic in color and visible from oxon hill road. Will snap a couple of pictures tomorrow.

Heard a random rumor it might be 80+ tables now for poker. Anyone?

I've heard anywhere from 25-80. I wonder what the real number will be.

The most recent stuff I've read online (late 2014) said 140 tables for table games, which I doubt would be a 60/80 pit v. poker split. So if I had to guess I'd say it'll be a 35 out of 140 split much like MDL has 52 of 189 dedicated to poker.

EDIT to add: HB is 25 of 153.

http://www.mgmnationalharbor.com/nat...enderings.aspx

Less than a year to go!

See the link for renderings of the plans for the complex.

1. I heard that you are going to have 20 tables at the new MGM National Harbor. I realize that the opening is one year away, but when I heard that discussion, I had to see if there was any news of the room on 2+2.

2. For the last three rooms in my area, I compiled a list of questions to which most everyone will want to know the answers. Since I am here, the questions are posted on this hype thread. To the MGM staff, whenever you are hired, please answer these questions. If you answer then all at once, you will not have to answer them 1000 times AND you may want to incorporate the answers in whatever information you give out at the MGM.


Just wondering what the variable rules for poker will be as they pertain to the MGM. This is a comprehensive list of ?s used twice in the past. I tried to make sure each of the points presented is a question, hopefully I got 100% of the points needed. Thanks in advance for this information.

POKER DIRECTOR


WEB SITES


DIRECTIONS AND PARKING
From the North

From the South

From the East

From the West

Public Transport

MGM Shuttle???

Parking ?

Valet parking ?

NUMBER OF TABLES


GAMES ?


Mixed games and other games/limits on Request?

If you voluntarily transfer to another game, you must comply with the min/max buy-in?

If you come from a broken game or a must move game, you take all your chips?

RAKE ?


No flop, no drop?

Timed rake starts at ?

Reduced rake when 6 players or less?

BAD BEAT JACKPOT ?

Pot must be $ to be BBJ eligible and must be 4 players dealt into the hand.

PROMOTIONS? to include information on honoring cards from other casinos.


VARIOUS RULES

____ Players to a table

betting line?

A bet plus half again is a raise?

Substantial action in CASH games is 3 players acting or 2 players putting money in the pot?

When hand is down to 2 players, those players can talk and/or turn over cards?

UTG straddles only and it's double the BB except $5 on the $1/$2 games and $25 on $5/$10 games?

Running it twice is allowed in time raked/non jackpot eligible games?

Four raise max in limit games?

New players do not have to post?

At showdown, players do not have the right to see mucked cards from losing hands?

Winning hands at showdown can be seen upon player request?

If you voluntarily transfer to another game, you must comply with the min/max buy-in?

If you come from a broken game or a must move game, you take all your chips?

CARDS


BOXES?

accounts would be really nice, it is not safe in too many areas in the casino and DC.

COMPS?


FOOD
Available at the table?

WIFI ?
Use of devices ?


TOURNAMENTS
Rules: http://www.pokertda.com/poker-tda-rules/ ?

Tax documentation


MASSEUSES -?

Again, do not feel pressured, when the opening date of the room is known, if you could answer this set of questions, then hopefully there will be fewer questions once the room opens.

Thanks again

To the board, if there are any other pertinent questions, please let me know and I will add them to the list. This will save a lot of time for all concerned.

Source?

You know, 'they' told him.

I've heard all kinds of rumors about it while sitting at Live. Until there's an official source, I'm not listening.

However, if for sake of argument they DO only open 20 tables, I don't think they'll pose much threat to Live! for a few reasons:

1) That's less than Baltimore Horseshoe opened and so far the Shoe has been struggling to compete. (Promotions being the major factor here but IMO if Shoe just got some bloody competent waitresses it would help tremendously...)

2) MGM's location is more convenient to a relatively narrow segment of the overall Baltimore-Washington metro area. If I lived in Montgomery Co (the wealthiest county in Maryland), faced with the choice of hopping the ICC to get to Live!, or going around the DC beltway 180 degrees or THROUGH DC as the alternate route? ICC, here I come.

This isn't to say I think MGM won't make a dent, I'm sure it will, but I think that when you consider just how long those waiting lists get at Live! on weekends and esp. holidays, that Live's poker room shouldn't be terribly worried.

So lets talk about what matters - COMPS AND FOOD! Any notions on how MGM will operate?

I think you're underestimating just how big a pain in the butt traffic is going from DC to Live. I believe anything less than 40 tables will have a full poker room every day. I think Live will be flanked on both sides, which is the worst position to be in (see Delaware). People will drive past Horseshoe to go to Live (higher limits, better promos, etc), but I don't think a lot of people will choose Live over National Harbor.

All that said....who knows. The room still needs to be managed properly, or they may all go to Live. Who knows.

No, not at all. I know very well how big a pain traffic is from DC to Live. I've lived in Roslyn, Rockville and also commuted from Baltimore to the Langley Park area for a few months (gawd awful that was).

I was speaking ONLY about that lucrative Montgomery Country, which has direct access to the ICC and thus a comparatively easy ride to Live.

No I can't imagine anyone living in NoVa, or downtown DC, or even NE for that matter, picking traffic to Live over traffic to the GW bridge area.

So money from NoVa - MGM, money from Montgomery, Howard, AA counties - Live, money from Baltimore... Live (like now). Broke folks who are bad at math around DC, MGM, and broke folks bad at math from Baltimore, the shoe.

A dealer I"ve known for five years who is now at MDL. Several folks around the table seemed to know the same thing, so I went looking for a source and could not find one.

I told them that MGM runs the best poker rooms, and I doubted they would have just 20.

I would make it about 28 with convention center space for the WPT and other tournaments.

Va, and DC will go to National Harbor, it is closer, and in fact, National Harbor is very close for a lot of Virginia. Now, DC is a different story, and the better residential parts of DC start to become a different story, and then there is Montgomery County. In DTSS, I am probably CLOSER to MDL than National Harbor based on traffic, or for most of the times you would go.

I doubted the number of 20, but they insisted. So we will see.

I noted the number to be a rumor and it is just that.