Harrah’s Metropolis in Southern Illinois Shutters Due to Flood, Caesars Too

Posted on: April 8, 2025, 12:08h. 

Last updated on: April 10, 2025, 04:48h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
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  • Harrah’s Metropolis and Caesars Southern Indiana remain closed due to flooding
  • The Ohio River is amid flood warnings in several states after recent heavy rainfall
  • The floods have been blamed for at least two dozen deaths

Harrah’s Metropolis and Caesars Southern Indiana remain closed Tuesday after the Ohio River breached its banks in low areas earlier this week.

Harrah's Metropolis Ohio River flooding
Harrah’s Metropolis is seen closed due to flooding of the Ohio River in February 2019. The Caesars-operated casino is temporarily closed again due to rising river levels. (Image: Southern Illinoisan)

The Harrah’s riverboat operated by Caesars Entertainment temporarily closed on Sunday evening due to rising levels of the Ohio River. Guests with hotel reservations were notified that their stays wouldn’t be accommodated.

The Ohio River at the Paducah gauge monitored by the National Weather Service (NWS) remains under a Moderate Flood Warning at 45.75 feet, considerably higher than the 32-foot Action Mark and 39-foot Minor Warning. The Moderate Warning is triggered at 43 feet and a Major Flood Warning is initiated at 52 feet.

The NWS predicts that the Ohio River level will continue to rise over the next week to a cap of 49.5 feet next Wednesday before rescinding to safer levels.

The NWS says a flood warning is issued when flooding is imminent or already happening. The agency says the Moderate Flood Warning for Metropolis and Maccas County runs until at least 1 am CDT on Wednesday, April 9, but an extension is likely. 

Casinos Closed 

On its website, Harrah’s Metropolis tells guests that the property remains closed.

Due to rising water levels on the Ohio River, Harrah’s Metropolis Hotel & Casino is temporarily closed as of 5 p.m., April 6, 2025. We look forward to reopening when it is safe to do so.”

Along with the slot machines and table games, the closure has temporarily suspended the casino’s two restaurants — the Riverfront Grill and Bridges Dining Company.

The Ohio River continues to rise after prolonged rain across much of the South and Midwest. Floodwaters have inundated many communities, with the torrential rainfall blamed for at least two dozen deaths since the middle of last week.

Kentucky has so far bore the brunt of the flooding, with the Kentucky River cresting in the state capital of Frankfort on Monday.

Caesars Southern Indiana in Elizabeth, just south of Louisville, closed its doors due to the Ohio River flooding on Tuesday afternoon. Caesars says the hotel and casino will remain shuttered “until further notice” for the “safety of our team members and guests.” 

Harrah’s Metropolis Details 

Harrah’s Metropolis is a riverboat casino along the Ohio at the river’s mile marker 944. The riverboat opened in 1993 at Players Island.

Harrah’s Entertainment, today Caesars, bought the riverboat in 2000 from Players International and television gameshow pioneer Merv Griffin, which jointly owned the operation. Harrah’s invested in a new boat and seven-story 214-room hotel after Harrah’s purchased Caesars Entertainment in 2005 and assumed the Caesars name.

After Illinois lawmakers allowed riverboats to move inland in 2015, Harrah’s moved the gaming space from the boat to the property’s former event center.   

Today, Harrah’s Metropolis has over 600 slot machines and 24 live dealer table games on its 24K-square-foot gaming floor. Sports betting kiosks are placed throughout the facility, and guests can also download the Caesars Sportsbook app to make mobile wagers.