harrah's metropolis

The mailers describing the new casino makes one curious; had to take a look. The new casino is right off the hotel lobby, so a lot more convenient than the old boat. It also is bigger, and has 2 bars or lounges; much nicer than hunting an oasis on the boat. The casino is penny slot heaven. The higher value slots are there, but not so many and not a great selection. The table games were crowded all the time I was there; and there were no pitch blackjack games. Not a lot of choice or access for the table player.Some of the laws in Illinois are very good, some not so much. The fact that the place is all non-smoking is wonderful. The casino closes late in the evening, which is not much of an issue for me, but the fact that it does not open until 9AM means to access the only restaurant (the buffet) before that time means you have to walk across the parking lot at the rear of the hotel (from the hotel lobby), and there are no signs or directions to that effect. The Diamond Lounge and buffet are still on a barge in the river, and can be reached through the casino-when it is open. Kind of a cumbersome arrangement. The sit-down restaurant off the lobby in the hotel had very good food and service, but is not open in the AM. But for the evening meal, check it out.IMHO, this place is a step up from Tunica, except that there is no choice if things don't go well in the one casino. At least there is a town and the Superman stuff, compared to the cotton patches in Mississippi. The employees at Metropolis were courteous and helpful, and the new digs are nice. The hotel has always been good, and now the casino is on a much-improved level.

So glad it was non-smoking. Lots of slots to choose from. Restaurant was nice, too. (We had the all-you-can-eat crab legs/seafood buffet0

Our room was perfect, the housekeeper was perfect, the breakfast buffet was great, the new casino is MUCH easier to get to from the hotel and there is no smoke in the casino.

I will always miss the 3 level riverboat...sorry to see it go...will take some adjusting to get used to the revised gaming area...miss the older type slots...don't really care for the "reel" machines...takes forever to figure out what pays & what paylines are, etc...

Since our last visit the casino has been downsized. Very few video polka machine. Also found the machines were the tightest we have seen; ever tighter than what you find in the Indian casinos. However, the staff was outstanding, very helpful and very friendly. The music was too loud and certainly not suited for senior citizens. Not planning to visit this casino again.

This is the first time my wife and I have been back since they opened up the new casino. Very nice and clean. We love the layout. Feels very open for such a small space. To me this is one of Harrah's nicer casinos. The major reason it's smoke free and the staff are ALL super helpful and friendly. We use to go to their casino in Tunica but it being smokey we will not go again. We plan on going to Harrah's is New Orleans this spring now because we heard it is now smoke free!! The only down fall is they took out Aces Dinner. That place was nice to grab a late night bite. Thanks we will be back

Like all Illinois casinos they are smoke free. The atmosphere is nice and they have plenty of machines. A good place to break up a trip for and hour or so.

My wife and I were on the last leg of a road trip from Florida back to the Chicago suburbs. We did not stay at the hotel, but ate dinner there and spent a few hours in the casino. Casino on the smaller side, however, plenty of options for slot players and enough seats at the gaming tables. We were there on a Sunday evening, so that could explain the smaller crowd. My wife enjoyed the slots and I found an affordable blackjack table ($10 minimum). Dealer was friendly and had a pleasant personality. Attributes that are not found in every casino, or casino employee. And to enhance the experience my luck at the table was good. That always helps. All in all a very nice experience. Would definitely return especially considering all of the other attractions in the area. Nice place to visit!

Just came back from my first visit to the new casino. We usually stay overnight, but just drove down for New Year's day. The new casino is located just off the elevators where the long hall and meeting rooms were located (on the walk to the riverboat from inside the hotel). Just before the casino opening is a little place to grab food - for breakfast there are not many options, donuts, muffins, bagels, etc . . . They do have a toaster to warm up your purchase and a few tables to eat at.Once inside the casino, there is a new bar (and grill), the slots are around the outside of the space and the table games are in the center. The cashier, host and kiosks are to the left when you enter. The slots were not very loose. This is a small casino and I actually spent as much time trying to find a slot to play as I did playing. Some people were playing two machines and most other casinos will not let you play two machines when it is crowded. I did not play any table games and I did not eat at the new bar and grill. There is also only one restroom in the casino (the big restroom that was in the hallway between the hotel and casino). The restroom is large enough, however, there is just small door going in and out, so I saw many people running into one another.This is still a problem that I cannot believe has been addressed yet: The only option for a hot breakfast is the buffet. The buffet opens for breakfast at 7 am however, the casino does not open until 9 am - the buffet is located in the same location (the entrance to the where the casino use to be), it was not moved - so for two hours you have to walk outside / up & down a hill to have breakfast. There is no covered walkway. There is a sidewalk along the building, it seems that they could cover that with plastic or something. I'm actually not sure why they didn't build a small walkway alongside the new casino wall for buffet access when the casino is closed. Like the Hollywood casino in Tunica. If the bellman are not busy they can shuttle you up and down on a golf cart, but sometimes you have to wait a while. As for the buffet food - since we were there on New Year's day they supposedly had a brunch buffet. The buffet was almost $28 for breakfast and lunch (not sure about the dinner buffet). Luckily I had a free buffet or I would have asked for my money back after just looking at the options. It's not a very big buffet to begin with so when you take a whole station and half a station for about seven breakfast items, that takes away from the lunch options. The vegetables and sides were very lacking - broccoli, zucchini and squash, mashed taters, black eyed peas, cabbage. A spot was also taken up for cheese sauce for the broccoli - which could have had green beans, corn, something else??? They had fried chicken, fried catfish, grilled chicken, ham, prime rib. I tried the fried chicken but the outside of it was soft and greasy - the chicken inside was very dry. The mashed potatoes and black eyed peas were ok. They had a small salad bar, four soups, cheese and crackers, along with some deserts (they do offer a few non sugar deserts). I (and a lot of people around me) do not feel that buffet was anywhere worth the $28 they were charging. They also had a lasagna and pizza - I tried both. I've had the pizza before and it was pretty good, however, this one tasted like the cheap frozen pizzas from the grocery - the thin crust ones with very little cheese and meat. The lasagna was actually pretty good - it did no last very long because they had just put it out when I arrived and I went for a second scoop and there was none. It was never replenished while I was in there. Since I wasn't happy with the lunch options I tried the eggs and a few pieces of bacon. The bacon was very greasy but I wiped off the excess with napkins and it was pretty good. The eggs however had a watered down taste to them - like when pasta has been sitting in water for a long time. The deserts were just the usual, ice cream, pie, there were no cookies out when I was in there. I was really hoping they would have some new food choices (like the small restaurant they use to have near the lobby for breakfast). The new bar and grille was the only food I didn't try and it was just mainly sandwiches. There is nothing else really close by except a hardees and dairy queen. I was also hoping they would address the outside walk issue. I was also disappointed there were not more slots.

Room good, casino slots mediocre, do NOT eat here. Buffet is a ripoff compared to other properties. All of the staff was polite and helpful throughout the property.

Harrahs has moved their casino to be land based. It is in the same building as the hotel. The casino is very nice and up to date machines. Nice area for entertainment and relaxing.

Casino was very small. It was new. Only four poker tables in the poker room. Very long slow lines at the cashier cages. Slots were very tight. We ate at the buffet. IT WAS HORRIBLE! I feed my dog better than the food that was served there. Very rude woman working at the dessert part (black lady with missing fingers). They were serving cupcakes with no frosting. I ask about the frosting and she said WE DON'T PUT NO FROSTIN ON CUPCAKES CUZ IT JUST GET WASTED. PUT YOU SOME ICE CREAM ON IT. I deceided to try a piece of coconut cake. It looked as if it had been sitting there several days. I asked her about it. She took the plate out of my hand, slammed it on the garbage can to throw it away and cut a fresh piece....omg Don't eat here even if it's free.

Rude staff, smoke filled, not some place I would return to. Nothing positive to say regarding this place.

Next month on land. Still and all don't think the negative comments are valid...it is a well run casino with excellent dealers and extremely friendly staff

My husband and brother went over and spent a few hours at the casino Saturday night as they do every weekend we come up for our family reunion and they def will be back my husband loves going out on the deck of the boat kicking back with a beer and watching the fish