Harrah’s Metropolis Casino in southern Illinois reopened last week after being closed February 18 due to flooding along the Ohio River.
“Thanks to the support of our parent company Caesars Entertainment, Harrah’s Metropolis was able to ensure that all employees were paid during the month-long closure,” the casino announced in a news release.
The casino has about 450 employees, according to spokesman Chad Lewis. Many employees used the time away from work to volunteer their time throughout the community, the company said and during the closure, casino employees donated more than 2,500 volunteer service hours to places that include the Metropolis Nursing and Rehab, Salvation Army, Hope Unlimited and River City Mission.
The facility has faced flooding before and was closed for 17 days in the spring of 2018 and for 39 days during major flooding in 2011.
Officials said flood waters typically don’t enter the facility, but the property becomes inaccessible when the river reaches the fire egresses.
“The support of the community and our loyal patrons was felt with each ‘thank you’ letter, phone call and social media post we received,” casino officials said in the release.
