Drive times are from the Washington Monument.
MGM National Harbor
location_on Oxon Hill
language Website
A Las Vegas–like mini Sphere may be coming to National Harbor in a few years. That’s still in the proposal phase, but you can channel Sin City at the casino in the meantime: table games; slot machines; betting counters and kiosks; horserace betting; and an outdoor gaming space spanning more than 6,400 square feet. Recent renovations to the splashy High Limit area doubled the number of slot machines and updated the table games. The property’s luxe hotel means you can stay up late within walking distance of your bed, and the large spa and salon is a destination for daytime relaxation. A theater hosts concerts and comedians, and the ten bars and eateries range from a steakhouse by Top Chef alums Bryan and Michael Voltaggio to casual Shake Shack.
Drive time from DC: 15 minutes
The Rose Gaming Resort
location_on Dumfries, Va.
language Website
Just two years old, this destination is best known for having over 1,500 historical horseracing terminals that use results from past races and feature large jackpots. In fact, a February win of $1,014,879 on a 25-cent bet at the Rose is believed to be the largest-ever historical horseracing jackpot in the country. While there’s no table play, you can find other games as well as smoking and nonsmoking areas. Restaurants include a surf-and-turf spot, Southern fare, and a sports bar that hosts weekly trivia, karaoke, and salsa nights. After an evening of wagers, you can crash at the casino’s hotel, with more than 100 rooms.
Drive time from DC: 40 minutes
Live! Casino & Hotel
location_on Hanover, Md.
language Website
More than 3,000 slot machines fill the casino floor with colorful lights and sit amid nearly 200 table games. A poker room hosts the annual Maryland State Poker Championship, and when the stakes are high, you can get a massage at the table to decompress. The casino has a FanDuel Sportsbook with a massive 100-foot wraparound screen, a cigar-friendly gaming lounge, and a concert venue. Restaurants are undergoing a multiyear revamp—including a planned makeover for the Prime Rib—and a recent addition is a branch of the Vietnamese spot Truong Tien, an Eden Center favorite. The 310-room hotel features 50 suites plus a spa for massages, facials, and other pampering. There’s also a Live! Casino location in Petersburg, Virginia, half an hour south of Richmond.
Drive time from DC: 45 minutes
Horseshoe Baltimore
location_on Baltimore
language Website
Though smaller than some of the other options, this casino tends to be less crowded. Beyond blackjack, roulette, and 1,400-plus slot machines, sports fans can check out the Caesars Sportsbook, with 22.5-foot-tall screens, plus over a dozen betting kiosks. The casino also has a dedicated poker room that hosts a World Series of Poker tour stop and off-track horse betting. There are a few restaurants—including a steakhouse from Gordon Ramsay—but no affiliated hotel.
Drive time from DC: One hour
Hollywood Casino Charles Town Races
location_on Charles Town, W. Va.
language Website
The standout feature at this spot? A live racetrack. The no-frills course is a fun chance to watch wagers in action. In the casino, the gaming area has poker tables, 1,400 slots, and a sportsbook with pub fare and a Jumbotron. The Inn at Charles Town, the casino’s official lodging, offers free shuttles between the racetrack, club, and other hotels. For more to do, the theater calendar is packed with standup acts, tributes to icons such as Dolly Parton and Elvis, and even a live version of The Price Is Right.
Drive time from DC: One hour and 15 minutes
Daniella Byck joined Washingtonian in 2022. She was previously with Outside Magazine and lives in Takoma.
