Shallow
water
closes
riverboat
casino
August 8
A
dramatic
loss
in
the
depth
of
the
water
in
Illinois
has
forced
Harrah's
Metropolis
Casino
to
shut
it's
doors.
This
marks
the
very
first
time
the
riverboat
casino
has
halted
gambling
due
to
low
water
levels.
Metropolis
has
been
providing
a
great
gambling
environment
for
twelve
years.
Yesterday
,
the
casino
was
experiencing
unsafe
walking
conditions
and
the
decision
was
made
to
stop
gambling
and
to
close-up
shop
until
the
gambling
facility
was
deemed
safe
again.
The
riverboat
is
moored
to a
barge
this
actually
docked
to
the
bank
of
the
Ohio
River.
The
unsafe
conditions
are
based
on
the
difference
in
levels
between
the
barge
and
the
gambling
riverboat.
It
is
estimated
that
the
riverboat
will
be
closed
for
gambling
until
at
least
Tuesday.
Spokespeople
for
the
casino
are
hopeful
that
the
riverboat
will
only
be
closed
for
a
few
days.
Today,
workers
will
be
installing
a
ramp
designed
to
fit
the
new
temporary
conditions,
perhaps
a
longer
ramp.
Sediment
built-up
on
the
underside
of
the
boat
will
be
eliminated
and
fire
exits
will
be
fixed
to
required
specifics
as
well.
Even
though
Monday
and
Tuesdays
are
typically
the
slowest
days
of
the
week
for
business,
the
casino
stands
to
lose
almost
a
half
a
million
dollars
in
earnings.
The
city
will
even
lose
around
25-30
thousands
dollars
ad
ay
in
tax
revenue
for
each
day
the
boat
is
closed
for
gambling.
