Portal Gaming Lounge Debuts at Minneapolis International Airport (MSP)
The well-known gaming lounge Gameway has expanded its portfolio with the opening of the new Portal Gaming Lounge at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). The new gaming spot had its grand opening on May 28, 2026 and it looks pretty awesome.
The Portal Lounge is located in Terminal 1—Concourse D. The lounge spans 3,800 square feet (353 m²) with a capacity for up to 100 guests and is open daily from 04:00 to 21:00 (9 pm).
This gaming lounge can finally be called a "lounge" since it has a food buffet, a full bar (with a human and robot bartender), work areas, charging ports, wi-fi, tables, and seating.
From a gaming perspective, there are 17 gaming stations, plus Nintendo Switch, PlayStations, and PC games. The founders of the lounge designed this concept as a social destination rather than what you see at traditional airport lounges.
Robot Bartender
The robotic bartender (known as a Makr Shakr) is a unique aspect of this lounge. The robotic arm will grab a cup, then, based on the item ordered, reach above to access the needed liquids from 20+ bottles mounted above the robotic arm.
Access
Travelers can access the Portal Lounge up to 3 hours prior to departure with an eligible Priority Pass membership or a walk-up rate for $70 per person.
Gameway currently operates 11 gaming lounges across 7 different airports in the United States. There are plans to open Gameway locations at Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) sometime later this year.
Related
Closing Thoughts
I have never seen a robotic bartender in action, but I am interested in visiting this lounge just to see it! I do think $70 is a bit steep for paid entrance, but for those who have a Priority Pass membership, this is an amazing option. I really like what Gameway has done here and would love to see more of their locations convert to Portal to give customers more lounge-like options.