Inside one county's big casino bet: economic boom or Atlantic City bust?

MGM's National Harbor resort opened in Maryland last December with the aim of building strong ties to the local community and encouraging local business

When Toya Mitchell first learned MGM Resorts International had won a contract to build a new casino down the street from her house in Prince George's County, Maryland, she was cautiously optimistic. Mitchell, the owner of Lord & Mitchell, a small, women-run business specializing in customized promotional and printed materials, was excited about the possible jobs and business opportunities the casino could bring, not to mention the much-needed boost to the county's economy.

But she was also wary. Casino developers aren't exactly known for their community spirit, and cities that have authorized casinos in the hope of reviving their economy in the past have not fared well. Atlantic City's storied and troubled past is probably the best example of this - despite rigorous economic investment resulting in a strip of glitzy casinos and hotels, the local community suffered long and hard - high taxes, failing infrastructure the loss of tens of thousands of jobs - before it all came crumbling down.