WinnaVegas Casino Closes Amid Surging Midwest Floodwaters

WinnaVegas Casino Resort in Sloan, Iowa closed at 10 a.m.Tuesday, June 25th, out of “an abundance of caution” over flooding across the American Midwest.

“The safety of our associates and our guests is paramount,” WinnaVegas GM Tom Teesdale said in a news release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the rising flood waters. Our hope is that all of Siouxland quickly recovers.”

Although the casino wasn’t yet affected when this was published, WinnaVegas officials told KTIV-TV/Sioux City that its entrance road was partially flooded and the water “is expected to continue to rise.”

According to KCAU-TV/Sioux City, first responders and other authorities were on the scene to help get customers and workers to safety.

Storms dumped as much as 18 inches of rain on the area since last Thursday. The flooding has so far affected three million people in the Midwest. It has killed two, sent rising water surging around a dam, and collapsed a railroad bridge crossing the swollen Big Sioux River — only about 20 miles from the WinnaVegas.

WinnaVegas — which was opened in April 1992 by the Winnebago Tribe — said on its Facebook page that it would “reopen when it is safe to return.”