Harrah's Metropolis is a
riverboat casino
A riverboat casino is a type of casino on a riverboat found in several states in the United States with frontage on the Mississippi River and its tributaries, or along the Gulf Coast. Several states authorized this type of casino in order to en ...
located on the
Ohio River
The Ohio River () is a river in the United States. It is located at the boundary of the Midwestern and Southern United States, flowing in a southwesterly direction from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to its river mouth, mouth on the Mississippi Riv ...
in
Metropolis, Illinois
Metropolis is a city and the county seat in Massac County, Illinois, United States. It is located by the Ohio River. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it had a population of 5,969, down from 6,537 in 2010 United States census, 2 ...
. It opened in 1993 as Players Island, a
joint venture
A joint venture (JV) is a business entity created by two or more parties, generally characterized by shared ownership, shared returns and risks, and shared governance. Companies typically pursue joint ventures for one of four reasons: to acce ...
between
Players International
Players International was a company, based in Atlantic City, New Jersey, that built and operated riverboat casinos and a horse racing track.
History
The company was founded by brothers David and Edward Fishman in 1984. The company was original ...
and show business
impresario
An impresario (from Italian ''impresa'', 'an enterprise or undertaking') is a person who organizes and often finances concerts, Play (theatre), plays, or operas, performing a role in stage arts that is similar to that of a film producer, film or ...
Merv Griffin
Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway theatre, Broadway. From 1962 to 1986, G ...
as one of the state's first casinos. The property became part of
Harrah's Entertainment
Harrah's Entertainment (later named Caesars Entertainment Corporation, previously The Promus Companies) was an American casino and hotel company founded in Reno, Nevada, and based in Paradise, Nevada, that operated over 50 properties and seven go ...
(later Caesars Entertainment) with its 2000 acquisition of Players International.
In 2014, Harrah's was given permission from the
Illinois Gaming Board
Illinois Gaming Board (IGB) is a gaming board in Illinois that controls the state's gaming industry. The Board controls a regulatory and tax collection for video gaming and riverboat casinos. The Board has five members, selected by the Governor ...
to move its gaming floor from its riverboat to the property's convention center. Illinois law requires that gambling floors be over water, but does not require that they be located on a navigable river. This was achieved by installing water bladders underneath the building. In October 2017, ownership was transferred to
Vici Properties
Vici Properties Inc. is an American real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in casino and entertainment properties, based in New York City. It was formed in 2017 as a spin-off from Caesars Entertainment Corporation as part of its bankr ...
as part of a
corporate spin-off
A corporate spin-off, also known as a spin-out, starburst or hive-off, is a type of corporate action where a company "splits off" a section as a separate business or creates a second incarnation, even if the first is still active. It is distinct ...
, and the property was
leased back to Caesars.
Harrah's Metropolis includes a casino with more than 600
slot machine
A slot machine, fruit machine (British English), poker machine or pokie (Australian English and New Zealand English) is a gambling machine that creates a game of chance for its customers.
A slot machine's standard layout features a screen disp ...
s and 17
table game Table game may refer to:
* Table game (casino), games of chance that are played against the casino and operated by one or more live dealers
* Tables game, a class of board game that includes backgammon
* Tabletop game, games that are normally play ...
s, a
hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...
with 214 rooms, and two restaurants.
See also
*
List of Caesars Entertainment properties
Caesars Entertainment, Inc., formerly Eldorado Resorts, Inc., is an American hotel and casino entertainment company founded and based in Reno, Nevada, that operates more than 50 properties. Eldorado Resorts acquired Caesars Entertainment Corpora ...
*
List of casinos in Illinois
This is a list of casinos in Illinois.
List of casinos
Gallery
Casino Queen.jpg, Casino Queen
See also
*List of casinos in the United States
*List of casino hotels
References
External links
{{Illinois
Casinos
Illinois
...
References
External links
Harrah's Metropolis websiteCasino Crest Canada
Casinos in Illinois
Caesars Entertainment
Buildings and structures in Massac County, Illinois
Hotel buildings completed in 1994
Riverboat casinos in Illinois
Tourist attractions in Massac County, Illinois
1994 establishments in Illinois
Casino hotels in Illinois
{{Casino-stub