MGM National Harbor Explains Decision to End Free Self-Parking for Non-MGM Rewards Members

MGM National Harbor says its decision to end free self-parking for visitors who aren’t MGM Rewards members has long been in the works and has little to do with recent violence inside the casino resort’s parking structure.

Casino.org reported earlier this week that MGM National Harbor will begin charging $15 per 24 hours of self-parking for non-rewards members starting Monday, July 13. Enrollees in MGM Rewards, which is free, will continue to receive complimentary self-parking.

Reports had surfaced that MGM’s decision to implement charged self-parking was linked to the deadly road rage shooting inside the resort’s parking garage on June 25. It was the second deadly shooting inside the MGM garage since 2024.

MGM, however, tells Casino.org that the casino resort had been planning to roll out charged parking before the latest violent incident.

Sphere Construction Cited

A mini-version of the Las Vegas Sphere is coming to MGM National Harbor, with the 6,000-seat immersive building planned for an existing eight-acre site situated just northeast of the existing casino resort. Sphere National Harbor will sit between MGM National Avenue and Monument Avenue.

MGM National Harbor tells us that the self-parking charge is to ensure that guests of the casino and hotel have sufficient parking in light of the upcoming Sphere construction and other events that will disrupt the garage’s existing capacity.

This change is about making sure our guests have a smooth, reliable arrival experience, especially during peak transit times, major events, and as nearby construction projects begin to affect parking capacity in our area.”

Melonie Johnson, president and COO at MGM National Harbor

Construction on Sphere National Harbor is set to begin in early 2027. Funded with up to $200 million in state and local incentives, billionaire James Dolan’s Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. is behind the Sphere National Harbor project.

Sphere National Harbor is projected by Ernest & Young (EY) to generate a $1.6 billion economic impact during construction and a $1.3 billion annual economic impact thereafter. The Sphere is expected to create 1,250 permanent jobs and $63 million in annual taxes paid to Prince George’s County. EY estimates that more than two million people a year will attend an event at Sphere National Harbor.  

Though Sphere National Harbor remains in the planning phase, the county’s pledged contribution includes $40 million in bonds for a parking garage dedicated to the venue.

Could Live! Benefit?

Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland is MGM National Harbor’s primary competitor, though MGM has long led the state gaming industry.

In 2025, MGM National Harbor generated gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $823.2 million from its slot machines and table games. Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland was second among the state’s six casinos with GGR of $711.5 million.

Live! offers both free garage and surface parking. The casino is roughly 30 air miles northeast of MGM, though an hour’s drive during rush hour.