A 12-foot chocolate fountain is the centerpiece of a European-inspired pastry shop, called Bellagio after the MGM casino in Las Vegas. Bars and restaurants feature local, national and international chefs, including a Voltaggio Brothers Steak House. High-end branded retailers include the first SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker boutique. There's also a spa, salon, outdoor pool and 50,000 square feet of meeting space. An intimate 3,000-seat arena already has lined up well-known acts like Bruno Mars, Sting, Cher and Boys II Men. MGM National Harbor's casino floor is about 125,000 square feet, with table games and more than 3,300 slot machines. 'This was designed and is programmed to draw people into the state and not simply to be a casino,' Murren said. This will be Maryland's sixth and biggest casino, but Murren said there are only a handful of casino-resorts on the East Coast that have as much to offer as this one. tourists coming to see their nation's capital, particularly those from the Southeast.

With three major airports nearby, MGM hopes to attract international travelers visiting Washington as well as U.S.