Hanover, Maryland; 443-842-7000

Distance from DC: 29 miles

Best reasons to go: Maryland Live! is a slot player’s paradise, with nearly 5,000 of the newest, hottest, most colorful slot machines, including The Hangover and American Idol. It also now features live table games.

Other bets: With the change in state law, Maryland Live! has ditched the computerized gaming tables and now features human dealers, something most players would expect from a casino. The casino has more than 100 table games, everything from blackjack to roulette to craps. No more futzing with electronic buttons to clear your bets or not having a dealer to jeer if he turns over a bust card. While originally known for the slots, the option of live table games means the casino is no longer a one-trick pony.

The scene: Maryland Live!—with a floor the size of three football fields—crackles with excitement 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On weekends and during busy times, you may have trouble getting a seat at an table—there can be a scrum for an empty one. There’s no smoking in the casino.

Take a break: The casino is next to the upscale outlet mall Arundel Mills, which has such stores as Coach and Last Call by Neiman Marcus, a 24-screen movie theater, and a dozen informal places to eat. Among the restaurants in the casino are the Cheesecake Factory and Bobby’s Burger Palace.

What you should know: Maryland Live! gets the nod as DC’s nearest casino. In the coming years the Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore and a casino in Prince George's County will be other gambling options, but for now Anne Arundel can stake its claim as closest option for gamblers feeling lucky.

Bottom line: The proximity to DC may mean encountering crowded tables and higher limits until the initial excitement of live table games wears off. Slot players may be overwhelmed with choices.

This article appears in the November 2012 issue of The Washingtonian.