Bidding for a Prince George’s County casino officially began on Wednesday.

The state of Maryland issued a “request for proposals,” inviting companies interested in operating a Las Vegas-style venue to make their intentions known by May 10.

MGM Resorts, one of the nation’s largest gambling companies, has said it plans to submit a proposal for a high-end casino at National Harbor, the 300-acre mini-city on the Potomac River.

Meanwhile, Penn National Gaming, another national player in the industry, has said it is considering offering a bid to build a facility at Rosecroft Raceway, the horse-track in Fort Washington.

A state panel is aiming to pick a winning bidder by the end of the year. The same panel signed off on issuing the request for proposals at a meeting last week.