For the past three years, Power, 28, has been based at Maryland Live outside of Baltimore. He lived in a townhouse in Hanover, walking distance from the casino, along with the team of a half-dozen players, each of whom Power mentors and stakes in exchange for an even split of their winnings. Together, they are a poker factory, taking shifts of 10, 15 even 20 hours in the card room; they call it “grinding.” Casinos are open 24 hours, and one member of Team Power is almost always at a table.
But the prospect of a bigger, fancier and, most importantly, new casino opening an hour away presented an easy bet to Power. He began plans to move his poker house soon after MGM announced its opening date.
As the Dec. 8 debut neared, his first order of business was to find a new crash pad for himself and his team. He looked at houses all around National Harbor that fit the criteria needed for six pro gamblers: at least six bedrooms, a basement big enough for more mattresses (it’s common for their poker friends to flop after a long game) and a quick drive to MGM.
. . . The Fort Washington house would do. It was seven minutes closer than the next best. And the owner, who has been hoping for an MGM-related business boom, had no problem with Power’s income stream. [Read Steve's report here.]