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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-K

(Mark One)  

ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004

or

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Commission File No. 1-10410


HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State of incorporation)
  62-1411755
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

One Harrah's Court
Las Vegas, Nevada

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

89119
(zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(702) 407-6000

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

Title of each class
  Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, Par Value $0.10 per share   NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
CHICAGO STOCK EXCHANGE
PACIFIC EXCHANGE
PHILADELPHIA STOCK EXCHANGE

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:
None


        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

        The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2004, based upon the closing price of $54.10 for the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on that date, was $5,994,497,266.

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ý    No o

        As of January 31, 2005, the Registrant had 112,985,228 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

        Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year, are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof.





PART I

ITEM 1. Business.

Overview

        Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is one of the largest casino entertainment providers in the world. Our business is conducted through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., which owns or manages through various subsidiaries 28 casinos in the United States. Our principal asset is the stock of Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., which together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries hold substantially all of the assets of our businesses. Our casino entertainment facilities operate primarily under the Harrah's, Rio, Showboat, Horseshoe and Harveys brand names, and include eleven land-based casinos, eleven riverboat or dockside casinos, four casinos on Indian reservations, a combination greyhound racing facility and casino and a combination thoroughbred racetrack and casino. Our facilities have an aggregate of approximately 1.7 million square feet of gaming space and 17,100 hotel rooms. We were incorporated on November 2, 1989, and prior to such date operated under predecessor companies. Our principal executive offices are located at One Harrah's Court, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119, telephone (702) 407-6000. Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "HET."

2004 Business Development

        This is a summary of material business developments in 2004. For more information about business developments in 2004, including expansion projects at our facilities, see Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," in this report.

        On July 1, 2004, we completed the acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. for approximately $1.62 billion, including the assumption of debt and acquisition costs. In connection with this acquisition and a separate acquisition, we also acquired the rights to the Horseshoe brand in the United States, including rights to the World Series of Poker brand and tournament. Also in connection with this acquisition, we sold Harrah's Shreveport in the second quarter of 2004 for approximately $190 million.

        On July 14, 2004, we signed a definitive agreement to acquire Caesars Entertainment, Inc. ("Caesars") in a cash and stock transaction (the "merger"). Under terms of the agreement, Caesars stockholders may elect to receive either 0.3247 of a share of Harrah's Entertainment common stock or $17.75 in cash for each share of Caesars common stock they own, subject to proration and adjustment. As a result, the Company will issue an aggregate of approximately $1.87 billion in cash and 67.7 million shares of Harrah's Entertainment common stock based on the number of shares of Caesars common stock outstanding on January 18, 2005. On January 24, 2005, a definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus containing more detailed information about the merger was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This joint proxy statement/prospectus has been mailed to the stockholders of Caesars and Harrah's Entertainment and Special Meetings of their stockholders to approve the merger are scheduled for March 11, 2005. The merger is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2005, subject to stockholder approval of both companies, receipt of the necessary regulatory and antitrust approvals, and other conditions provided in the merger agreement. For more information on the Company's pending merger with Caesars, see the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 2005.

        In connection with the merger, on September 27, 2004, we agreed to sell Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica for a sales price of approximately $627 million, and Caesars agreed to sell its Atlantic City Hilton and Bally's Tunica properties for a sales price of approximately $612 million. Additionally, on October 22, 2004, Caesars agreed to sell interests in Bally's Casino in New Orleans for

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$24 million, and on November 19, 2004, its Caesars Tahoe casino for $45 million. The closing of these transactions is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions. The transactions are not subject to the closing of the merger.

        In 2004, we received regulatory approval for extension of the following Indian casinos we manage under management agreements:

        We suspended the operation of LuckyMe, our online gaming initiative in the United Kingdom, in October 2004. We do not expect material adverse charges as a result of this action. Losses related to LuckyMe were approximately $9.3 million in 2004.

        Our Fast Cash coinless gaming system or a similar coinless system was installed on approximately 85% of games in our casinos by the end of 2004.

        Harrah's Chester Downs Casino & Racetrack ("Harrah's Chester") is a harness racetrack and casino now under development in Chester, Pennsylvania, approximately six miles south of Philadelphia International Airport. Harrah's Chester is being built at the former site of the Sun Ship shipbuilding facility. Harrah's Chester will feature a 5/8-mile harness racetrack, a 1,500-seat grandstand and simulcast facilities, a slot casino with approximately 2,000 games, and a variety of food and beverage offerings, including a buffet, a 24-hour restaurant, lounge and 300-seat clubhouse dining area. Racing and simulcasting is scheduled to begin in April 2006 and the casino is tentatively scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2006, subject to receipt of a gaming license and all other regulatory approvals. We own a 50% interest in Harrah's Chester and will guarantee or provide financing for the project.

Description of Business

        Our casino business commenced operations in 1937. We own or manage casino entertainment facilities in more areas throughout the United States than any other participant in the casino industry. In addition to casinos, our facilities typically include hotel and convention space, restaurants and non-gaming entertainment facilities. Two of our properties are racetracks at which we have installed slot machines.

        In southern Nevada, Harrah's Las Vegas and Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino are located in Las Vegas, and draw customers from throughout the United States. Harrah's Laughlin is located near both the Arizona and California borders and draws customers primarily from the southern California and Phoenix metropolitan areas and, to a lesser extent, from throughout the U.S. via charter aircraft.

        In northern Nevada, Harrah's Lake Tahoe, Harveys Resort & Casino and Bill's Casino are located near Lake Tahoe and draw customers primarily from California. Harrah's Reno, located in downtown Reno, draws customers primarily from Northern California, the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

        Our Atlantic City casinos, Harrah's Atlantic City, located in the Marina area, and the Showboat Atlantic City, located on the Boardwalk, draw customers primarily from Philadelphia, New York and New Jersey.

        Our Chicagoland dockside casinos, Harrah's Joliet in Joliet, Illinois, and Horseshoe Hammond in Hammond, Indiana, draw customers primarily from the greater Chicago metropolitan area.

        In Louisiana, we own Harrah's New Orleans, a land-based casino located in downtown New Orleans, which attracts customers from the New Orleans metropolitan area and from throughout the United States. In the southwest part of the state, Harrah's Lake Charles, a dockside casino, serves southwestern Louisiana and eastern Texas, including the Houston metropolitan area. In the northwest part of the state, Horseshoe Bossier City, a dockside casino, and Louisiana Downs, a thoroughbred

3



racetrack with slot machines, located in Bossier City, cater to customers in northwestern Louisiana and east Texas, including the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.

        Harrah's North Kansas City and Harrah's St. Louis, both dockside casinos, draw customers from the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas, the largest markets in Missouri. Harrah's Metropolis is a dockside casino located in Metropolis, Illinois, on the Ohio River, drawing customers from southern Illinois, western Kentucky and central Tennessee. Horseshoe Tunica, a dockside casino complex located in Tunica, Mississippi, is approximately 30 miles from Memphis, Tennessee and draws customers primarily from the Memphis area.

        Harrah's Council Bluffs Casino Hotel, a dockside casino facility, and Bluffs Run Casino, a combination greyhound racing facility and land-based casino, with approximately 2,880 slot machines combined, are located in Council Bluffs, Iowa, across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska. At Bluffs Run, we own the assets other than gaming equipment, and lease these assets to the Iowa West Racing Association, or IWRA, a nonprofit corporation, and we manage the facility for the IWRA under a management agreement expiring in October 2024. Iowa law requires that a qualified nonprofit corporation hold Bluffs Run's gaming and pari-mutuel licenses and its gaming equipment. We are rebranding the casino at Bluffs Run to the Horseshoe brand with a target completion date of first quarter 2006.

        In addition to the casinos that we own, we also earn fees through our management of four casinos for Indian tribes:

        We own and operate Bluegrass Downs, a harness racetrack located in Paducah, Kentucky, and own a one-third interest in Turfway Park LLC, which is the owner of the Turfway Park thoroughbred racetrack in Boone County, Kentucky. Turfway Park LLC owns a minority interest in Kentucky Downs LLC, which is the owner of the Kentucky Downs racetrack located in Simpson County, Kentucky.

        Additional information about our casino entertainment properties as of December 31, 2004 is set forth below in Item 2, "Properties," along with information concerning the status of expansions and improvements at certain properties during 2004.

Sales and Marketing

        We believe that our nationwide distribution system of 28 casino entertainment facilities provides us the ability to generate play by our customers when they travel among markets, which we refer to as cross-market play. We believe our customer loyalty program, Total Rewards, in conjunction with this

4



nationwide distribution system, allows us to capture a growing share of our customers' gaming budget and generate increased same-store sales.

        Under Total Rewards, our customers may earn reward credits and redeem those credits at most of our casino entertainment facilities. Total Rewards is currently installed in all of our casinos with the exception of the Horseshoe properties. Integration of the Horseshoe brand casino facilities into Total Rewards is in process and is targeted for completion in mid-2005. Total Rewards is structured in tiers, providing customers an incentive to consolidate their play at our casinos. Depending on their level of play with us, customers may be designated as either Gold, Platinum, Diamond, or Seven Stars customers. Customers who do not participate in Total Rewards are encouraged to join, and those with a Total Rewards card are encouraged to consolidate their play through targeted promotional awards as they graduate to higher tiers.

        Through our Total Rewards program, we developed a database containing information about millions of customers and aspects of their casino gaming play. We use this information for marketing promotions, including through direct mail campaigns and the use of electronic mail and our website.

Patents and Trademarks

        We own the following trademarks used in this document: Harrah's®; LuckyMesm; Fast Cash®; Rio®; Showboat®; Bill's®; Harveys®; Total Rewards®; Bluffs Run®; Louisiana Downs®; Reward Credits®; Horseshoe®; Seven Stars™; and World Series of Poker®. Trademark rights are perpetual provided that the mark remains in use by the Company. We consider all of these marks, and the associated name recognition, to be valuable to our business.

        We hold five U.S. patents covering the technology associated with our Total Rewards program-U.S. Patent No. 5,613,912 issued March 25, 1997, expiring April 5, 2015 (which is the subject of a license agreement with Mikohn Gaming Corporation); U.S. Patent No. 5,761,647 issued June 2, 1998, expiring May 24, 2016; U.S. Patent No. 5,809,482 issued September 15, 1998, expiring September 15, 2015; U.S. Patent No. 6,003,013 issued December 14, 1999, expiring May 24, 2016; and U.S. Patent No. 6,183,362, issued February 6, 2001, expiring May 24, 2016. In 2001, we sued a competitor casino company in Federal Court seeking to enforce three of these patents. In June 2004, the trial court ruled against us on the competitor's motion for summary judgment, holding that Patent Nos. 5,761,647 and 6,183,362 and portions of Patent No. 6,003,013 were invalid. We have appealed this lower court decision; however, we agreed to the dismissal of our remaining claims under Patent No. 6,003,013. While we expect to ultimately prevail in the litigation, we do not believe that an unfavorable finding in the litigation would adversely affect our business or operations.

Competition

        We own or manage land-based, dockside, riverboat and Indian casino facilities in most U.S. casino entertainment jurisdictions. We compete with numerous casinos and casino hotels of varying quality and size in the market areas where our properties are located. We also compete with other non-gaming resorts and vacation areas, and with various other casino and other entertainment businesses. The casino entertainment business is characterized by competitors that vary considerably by their size, quality of facilities, number of operations, brand identities, marketing and growth strategies, financial strength and capabilities, level of amenities, management talent and geographic diversity. In certain areas, such as Las Vegas, we compete with a wide range of casinos, some of which are significantly larger and offer substantially more non-gaming activities to attract customers.

        In most markets, we compete directly with other casino facilities operating in the immediate and surrounding market areas. In some markets, we face competition from nearby markets in addition to direct competition within our market areas.

5



        In recent years, with fewer new markets opening for development, competition in existing markets has intensified. Many casino operators, including us, have invested in expanding existing facilities, developing new facilities, and acquiring established facilities in existing markets, such as our acquisition of the casinos owned by Rio, Showboat, Players, Harveys and Horseshoe, and our planned acquisition of Caesars. This expansion of existing casino entertainment properties, the increase in the number of properties and the aggressive marketing strategies of many of our competitors has increased competition in many markets in which we compete, and this intense competition can be expected to continue. These competitive pressures have adversely affected our financial performance in certain markets and, we believe, have also adversely affected the financial performance of certain competitors operating in these markets.

        We believe we are well-positioned to take advantage of any further legalization of casino gaming, the continued positive consumer acceptance of casino gaming as an entertainment activity, and increased visitation to casino facilities. However, the expansion of casino entertainment into new markets, such as the recent expansion of tribal casino opportunities in New York and California and the authorization of slot machines at horse racing tracks in Louisiana, could also present competitive issues for us. At this time, the ultimate impact that these events may have on the industry and on our Company is uncertain.

        Moreover, the casino entertainment industry is subject to political and regulatory uncertainty. See also Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Effects of Current Economic and Political Conditions" and portions of "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Overall Operating Results" and "—Regional Results and Development Plans."

Governmental Regulation

        The gaming industry is highly regulated, and we must maintain our licenses and pay gaming taxes to continue our operations. Each of our casinos is subject to extensive regulation under the laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdiction where it is located. These laws, rules and regulations generally concern the responsibility, financial stability and character of the owners, managers, and persons with financial interests in the gaming operations. Violations of laws in one jurisdiction could result in disciplinary action in other jurisdictions. A more detailed description of the regulations to which we are subject is contained in Exhibit 99 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, which Exhibit is incorporated herein by reference.

        Our businesses are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations in addition to gaming regulations. These laws and regulations include, but are not limited to, restrictions and conditions concerning alcoholic beverages, environmental matters, employees, currency transactions, taxation, zoning and building codes, and marketing and advertising. Such laws and regulations could change or could be interpreted differently in the future, or new laws and regulations could be enacted. Material changes, new laws or regulations, or material differences in interpretations by courts or governmental authorities could adversely affect our operating results.

Employee Relations

        We have approximately 46,600 employees through our various subsidiaries. Despite a strike in Atlantic City in 2004 that was successfully settled, we consider our labor relations with employees to be good. Approximately 6,850 employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements with certain of our subsidiaries, relating to certain casino, hotel and restaurant employees at Harrah's Atlantic City, Harrah's Las Vegas, Rio, Harrah's East Chicago, Showboat Atlantic City and Harrah's New Orleans.

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Available Information

        Our Internet address is www.harrahs.com. We make available free of charge on or through our website our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC. We also make available through our website all filings of our executive officers and directors on Forms 3, 4 and 5 under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. These filings are also available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, the charters of our Audit Committee, Human Resources Committee, and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee, our Code of Conduct and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Principal Officers are available on our website under the "Investor Relations" link. We will provide a copy of these documents to any stockholder upon receipt of a written request addressed to Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, One Harrah's Court, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119. Reference in this document to our website address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the website.

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ITEM 2. Properties.

        The following table sets forth information about our casino entertainment facilities:

Summary of Property Information*

Property

  Type of Casino
  Casino
Space–
Sq. Ft.(a)

  Slot
Machines(a)

  Table
Games(a)

  Hotel
Rooms &
Suites(a)

 
Las Vegas, Nevada                      
  Harrah's Las Vegas   Land-based   87,700   1,380   90   2,530  
  Rio   Land-based   107,000   1,190   100   2,550  
  Binion's Horseshoe(b)***   Land-based   88,000   650   60   370  

Laughlin, Nevada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Laughlin   Land-based   55,000   950   50   1,560  

Reno, Nevada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Reno   Land-based   57,000   1,050   60   930  

Lake Tahoe, Nevada

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Lake Tahoe   Land-based   57,600   1,010   70   530  
  Harveys Lake Tahoe   Land-based   63,300   950   80   740  
  Bill's Lake Tahoe   Land-based   18,000   440   20    

Atlantic City, New Jersey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Atlantic City   Land-based   131,800   3,870   80   1,630  
  Showboat Atlantic City   Land-based   115,700   3,970   60   1,300  

Chicago, Illinois area

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Joliet (Illinois)   Dockside   39,200   1,210   20   200  
  Harrah's East Chicago (Indiana)**   Dockside   54,000   1,970   70   290  
  Horseshoe Hammond (Indiana)   Dockside   48,300   2,010   50    

Metropolis, Illinois

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Metropolis   Dockside   29,800   1,200   20   120 (c)

Council Bluffs, Iowa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Council Bluffs   Dockside   28,000   1,230   40   250  
  Bluffs Run Casino(d)   Greyhound Racing Facility and land-based casino   40,300   1,650      

Tunica, Mississippi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Tunica**   Dockside   35,000   1,180   20   200  
  Horseshoe Tunica   Dockside   63,000   2,110   80   510  

St. Louis, Missouri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's St. Louis   Dockside   120,000   2,770   80   500  

North Kansas City, Missouri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's North Kansas City   Dockside   60,100   1,800   60   200 (e)

New Orleans, Louisiana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's New Orleans   Land-based   100,000   1,980   130   (f)

Lake Charles, Louisiana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Lake Charles   Dockside   60,000   1,250   70   260  
                       

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Bossier City, Louisiana

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Louisiana Downs   Thoroughbred Racing Facility and land-based casino   15,000   1,400      
  Horseshoe Bossier City   Dockside   30,000   1,690   50   610  

Phoenix, Arizona

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Ak-Chin(b)   Indian Reservation   48,000   820   20   150  

Topeka, Kansas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Prairie Band(b)   Indian Reservation   34,900   1,060   30   890  

Cherokee, North Carolina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Cherokee(b)   Indian Reservation   80,000   3,050   30   250 (g)

San Diego, California

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Harrah's Rincon(b)   Indian Reservation   69,900   1,560   90   650  

*
As of December 31, 2004.

**
Subject to sale agreement.

***
We will cease management on March 10, 2005.

(a)
Approximate.

(b)
Managed.

(c)
A hotel, in which the Company owns a 12.5% special limited partnership interest, is adjacent to the Metropolis facility. A new 258-room hotel to be owned by the Company is under development, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals.

(d)
The property is owned by the Company, leased to the operator, and managed by the Company for the operator for a fee pursuant to an agreement that expires in October 2024.

(e)
Construction of a hotel addition with approximately 206 rooms is currently underway at Harrah's North Kansas City and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2005.

(f)
Construction is currently underway on a 450-room hotel tower at Harrah's New Orleans which is expected to be completed in first quarter 2006.

(g)
Construction of a hotel tower with approximately 320 additional rooms for this property is currently underway at Harrah's Cherokee and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2005.

ITEM 3. Legal Proceedings.

        The Company is party to ordinary and routine litigation incidental to our business. We do not expect the outcome of any pending litigation to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

ITEM 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

        Not applicable.

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PART II

ITEM 5. Market for the Company's Common Stock, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

        Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and traded under the ticker symbol "HET." The stock is also listed on the Chicago Stock Exchange, the Pacific Exchange and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.

        The following table sets forth the high and low prices per share of our common stock, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange, for the last two years:

 
  High
  Low
2004            
First Quarter   $ 56.40   $ 48.90
Second Quarter     57.50     50.86
Third Quarter     55.21     43.94
Fourth Quarter     67.25     52.78

2003

 

 

 

 

 

 
First Quarter   $ 40.75   $ 30.30
Second Quarter     44.30     34.20
Third Quarter     44.10     38.65
Fourth Quarter     49.94     40.85

        The approximate number of holders of record of our common stock as of February 28, 2005, was 8,418.

        During 2004, the Company declared the following cash dividends per share:

Amount

  Record Date
  Paid On
$0.30   February 11, 2004   February 25, 2004
  0.30   May 12, 2004   May 26, 2004
  0.33   August 11, 2004   August 25, 2004
  0.33   November 10, 2004   November 24, 2004

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ITEM 6. Selected Financial Data.

        The selected financial data set forth below for the five years ended December 31, 2004, should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes thereto.

(In millions, except common stock data and financial percentages and ratios)

  2004(a)
  2003(b)
  2002(c)
  2001(d)
  2000(e)
  Compound
Growth
Rate

 
OPERATING DATA                                    
Revenues   $ 4,548.3   $ 3,948.9   $ 3,747.9   $ 3,317.4   $ 2,977.8   11.2 %
Income from operations     791.1     678.8     708.7     521.8     188.2   43.2 %
Income/(loss) from continuing operations     329.5     261.1     282.2     173.8     (46.4 ) N/M  
Net income/(loss)     367.7     292.6     235.0     209.0     (12.1 ) N/M  

COMMON STOCK DATA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Earnings/(loss) per share-diluted                                    
  Income from continuing operations     2.92     2.36     2.48     1.50     (0.40 ) N/M  
  Net income/(loss)     3.26     2.65     2.07     1.81     (0.10 ) N/M  
Cash dividends declared per share     1.26     0.60               N/M  

FINANCIAL POSITION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Total assets     8,585.6     6,578.8     6,350.0     6,128.6     5,166.1   13.5 %
Long-term debt     5,151.1     3,671.9     3,763.1     3,719.4     2,835.8   16.1 %
Stockholders' equity     2,035.2     1,738.4     1,471.0     1,374.1     1,269.7   12.5 %

FINANCIAL PERCENTAGES AND RATIOS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Return on revenues-continuing     7.2 %   6.6 %   7.5 %   5.2 %   (1.6 )%    
Return on average invested capital                                    
  Continuing operations     8.2 %   8.0 %   8.9 %   7.5 %   2.4   %    
  Net income/(loss)     8.0 %   7.6 %   6.9 %   7.3 %   2.9   %    
Return on average equity                                    
  Continuing operations     17.5 %   16.0 %   19.3 %   12.9 %   (3.2 )%    
  Net income/(loss)     19.5 %   18.0 %   16.1 %   15.5 %   (0.8 )%    
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(f)     2.7     2.6     2.7     2.0     2.0      

N/M=Not Meaningful

Note references are to our Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. See Item 8.

(a)
2004 includes $9.6 million in pretax charges for write-downs, reserves and recoveries (see Note 9) and $2.3 million in pretax charges related to our pending acquisition of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (see Note 2). 2004 also includes the financial results of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corporation from its July 1, 2004, date of acquisition.

(b)
2003 includes $10.5 million in pretax charges for write-downs, reserves and recoveries (see Note 9) and $19.1 million in pretax charges for premiums paid for, and write-offs associated with, debt retired before maturity. 2003 results have been reclassified to reflect Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica as discontinued operations.

(c)
2002 includes $4.5 million in pretax charges for write-downs, reserves and recoveries (see Note 9), a $6.1 million pretax charge for our exposure under a letter of credit issued on behalf of National Airlines, Inc., and a charge of $91.2 million, net of tax benefits of $2.8 million, related to a change in accounting principle (see Note 4). 2002 also includes the financial results of Jazz Casino Company LLC from the date of our acquisition of a majority ownership interest on June 7, 2002. 2002 results have been reclassified to reflect Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica as discontinued operations.

11


(d)
2001 includes $17.2 million in pretax charges for write-downs, reserves and recoveries and $26.2 million of pretax income from dispositions of nonstrategic assets and the settlement of a contingency related to a former affiliate. 2001 also includes the financial results of Harveys Casino Resorts from its July 31, 2001, date of acquisition. 2001 results have been reclassified to reflect Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica as discontinued operations.

(e)
2000 includes $220.0 million in pretax reserves for receivables not expected to be recovered from JCC Holding Company and its subsidiary, Jazz Casino Company LLC, $6.1 million in pretax charges for other write-downs, reserves and recoveries and $39.4 million in pretax write-offs and reserves for our investment in, loans to and net estimated exposure under letters of credit issued on behalf of National Airlines, Inc. 2000 also includes the financial results of Players International, Inc., from its March 22, 2000, date of acquisition. 2000 results have been reclassified to reflect Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica as discontinued operations.

(f)
Ratio computed based on Income/(loss) from continuing operations. For details of the computation of this ratio, see Exhibit 12 to our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

ITEM 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

        Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, was incorporated on November 2, 1989, and prior to such date operated under predecessor companies. As of December 31, 2004, we operated 28 casinos in 12 states under the Harrah's, Horseshoe, Rio, Showboat and Harveys brand names. Our casinos include land-based casinos and casino hotels, dockside and riverboat casinos, a greyhound racetrack, a thoroughbred racetrack and managed casinos on Indian lands.

        In this discussion, the words "Harrah's Entertainment," "Company," "we," "our," and "us" refer to Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., together with its subsidiaries where appropriate.

STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS

        Harrah's Entertainment's strategy for sustainable growth draws on the combined strength of our broad geographic diversification, customer rewards program, financial strength, innovative technology and focus on superior customer service. As part of our growth strategy and to further enhance our geographic distribution, strengthen our access to valued customers and leverage our technological and centralized services infrastructure, in the past seven years we have acquired five casino companies, the remaining interest in the New Orleans casino and a thoroughbred racetrack. Our growth strategy will be taken to the next level in 2005 with the planned acquisition of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. ("Caesars"), which we announced on July 14, 2004.

        Under the terms of the agreement, Caesars' shareholders will receive either $17.75 in cash or 0.3247 shares of Harrah's Entertainment's common stock for each outstanding share of Caesars' common stock, subject to limitations on the aggregate amount of cash to be paid and shares of stock to be issued. Caesars' shareholders will be able to elect to receive solely shares of Harrah's Entertainment's common stock or cash, to the extent available pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The aggregate estimated purchase price, calculated as of July 14, 2004, was approximately $9.4 billion. The purchase price will fluctuate until closing due to changes in the number of outstanding shares of Caesars' stock and the balance of Caesars' outstanding debt. Caesars operates 27 casinos with about two million square feet of gaming space and approximately 26,000 hotel rooms and has significant presence in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Mississippi. The transaction is subject to regulatory and shareholders' approvals and is expected to close during the second quarter of 2005. Separate special meetings will be held on March 11, 2005, by stockholders of Harrah's Entertainment and Caesars to vote on proposals to approve the agreement.

12



        In anticipation of the Caesars acquisition, we have engaged consultants and dedicated internal resources to plan for the merger and integration of Caesars into Harrah's Entertainment. These costs are reflected in Merger and integration costs for Caesars acquisition in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

        The following table provides an overview of our acquisition activities over the past seven years. Following the table is a brief review of our acquisitions completed during the three years ended December 31, 2004. All of our acquisition transactions were accounted for as purchases.

Company

  Date
Acquired

  Total
Purchase
Price(a)

  Goodwill
Assigned

  Number of
Casinos

  Geographic
Location

(Dollars in millions)

   
   
   
   
   
Showboat, Inc.   June 1998   $ 1,045   $ 322   4 (b) Atlantic City, New Jersey
East Chicago, Indiana

Rio Hotel & Casino, Inc.

 

January 1999

 

 

987

 

 

93

(c)

1

 

Las Vegas, Nevada

Players International, Inc.

 

March 2000

 

 

439

 

 

204

 

3

 

Lake Charles, Louisiana
Metropolis, Illinois
St. Louis, Missouri

Harveys Casino Resorts

 

July 2001

 

 

712

 

 

265

 

4

 

Central City, Colorado(d)
Council Bluffs, Iowa
(2 properties)
Lake Tahoe, Nevada

JCC Holding Company(e)

 

June 2002
December 2002

 

 

149

 

 


 

1

 

New Orleans, Louisiana

Louisiana Downs, Inc.

 

December 2002

 

 

94

 

 

36

 

1

(f)

Bossier City, Louisiana

Horseshoe Club Operating Company(g)

 

March 2004

 

 

37

 

 


 

1

(h)

Las Vegas, Nevada

Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp.

 

July 2004

 

 

1,625

 

 

565

 

3

 

Bossier City, Louisiana
Hammond, Indiana
Tunica, Mississippi

(a)
Total purchase price includes the market value of debt assumed determined as of the acquisition date and of assets that were subsequently sold.

(b)
Interests in two casinos that were included in the acquisition were subsequently sold, and an agreement was reached in 2004 to sell another casino that was included in this acquisition.

(c)
This goodwill was determined to be impaired and was written off in 2002.

(d)
This property was sold in 2003.

(e)
Acquired additional 14% interest in June 2002 and remaining 37% interest in December 2002.

(f)
Acquired a thoroughbred racetrack that was expanded to include slot machines in 2003.

(g)
This acquisition was for certain intellectual property assets, including the rights to the Horseshoe brand in Nevada and to the World Series of Poker brand and tournament.

(h)
This casino is owned by another gaming company, and we operate it jointly with that company. See the discussion below regarding Las Vegas Horseshoe Hotel and Casino.

13


Horseshoe Gaming

        On July 1, 2004, we acquired 100 percent of the equity interests of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. ("Horseshoe Gaming") for approximately $1.62 billion, including assumption of debt valued at approximately $558 million and acquisition costs. A $75 million escrow payment made in 2003 was applied to the purchase price. We issued a redemption notice on July 1, 2004, for all $558 million of Horseshoe Gaming's outstanding 85/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due July 2009 and retired that debt on August 2, 2004. We financed the acquisition and the debt retirement through working capital and established debt programs. The results of the Horseshoe properties are included with our operating results subsequent to their acquisition on July 1, 2004.

        In anticipation of our acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming, we sold our Harrah's brand casino in Shreveport, Louisiana. After consideration of the sale of Harrah's Shreveport, the Horseshoe Gaming acquisition added a net 113,300 square feet of casino space and approximately 4,580 slot machines and 150 table games to our existing portfolio. Taken together with our acquisition of intellectual property rights from Horseshoe Club Operating Company ("Horseshoe Club") (see discussion below), this acquisition gave us rights to the Horseshoe brand in all of the United States. We intend to expand the Horseshoe brand into additional gaming markets, as evidenced by our recent announcement to re-brand our Bluffs Run casino to the Horseshoe brand.

Las Vegas Horseshoe Hotel and Casino

        In March 2004, we acquired certain intellectual property assets, including the rights to the Horseshoe brand in Nevada and to the World Series of Poker brand and tournament, from Horseshoe Club. MTR Gaming Group, Inc. ("MTR Gaming") acquired the assets of the Binion's Horseshoe Hotel and Casino ("Las Vegas Horseshoe") in Las Vegas, Nevada, including the right to use the name "Binion's" at the property, from Horseshoe Club. We operate Las Vegas Horseshoe jointly with a subsidiary of MTR Gaming for a one-year period, with options to extend the agreement for two additional years; however, we have notified MTR Gaming that we do not intend to extend the agreement. The property, which had closed in January 2004, reopened April 1, 2004. Since its reopening, the operating results for Las Vegas Horseshoe have been consolidated with our results and will continue to be consolidated until the operating agreement is terminated on March 10, 2005. Las Vegas Horseshoe's results have not been material to our operating results.

        We paid approximately $37.4 million for the intellectual property assets, including assumption and subsequent payment of certain liabilities of Las Vegas Horseshoe (which included certain amounts payable to a principal of Horseshoe Gaming) and approximately $5.1 million of acquisition costs. The intangible assets acquired in this transaction have been deemed to have indefinite lives and, therefore, are not being amortized. We financed the acquisition with funds from various sources, including cash flows from operations and borrowings from established debt programs.

Harrah's Shreveport and Louisiana Downs—Buyout of Minority Partners

        In the first quarter of 2004, we paid approximately $37.5 million to the minority owners of the company that owned Louisiana Downs and Harrah's Shreveport to purchase their ownership interest in that company. The excess of the cost to purchase the minority ownership above the capital balances was assigned to goodwill. As a result of this transaction, Harrah's Shreveport and Louisiana Downs became wholly owned by the Company. Harrah's Shreveport was subsequently sold to another gaming company.

Chester Downs & Marina

        In July 2004, after receiving Pennsylvania regulatory and certain local approvals, we acquired a 50% interest in Chester Downs & Marina, LLC ("CD&M"), an entity licensed to develop a harness-racing facility in southeastern Pennsylvania. Harrah's Entertainment and CD&M have agreed to

14



develop Harrah's Chester Downs Casino and Racetrack ("Harrah's Chester"), a 5/8-mile harness racetrack facility approximately six miles south of Philadelphia International Airport. Plans for the facility also include a 1,500-seat grandstand and simulcast facility, a slot casino with approximately 2,000 games and a variety of food and beverage offerings. We have commenced site work and demolition at the property and expect racing and simulcasting to begin in the second quarter of 2006 and the casino to open in the third quarter of 2006, pending receipt of a gaming license and other regulatory approvals. This Project is expected to cost $392 million, $3.8 million of which had been spent at December 31, 2004. We will guarantee or provide financing for the project and we are consolidating Harrah's Chester in our financial statements.

Harrah's East Chicago—Buyout of Minority Partners

        In the second quarter of 2003, we paid approximately $28.8 million to former partners in the Harrah's East Chicago property to settle outstanding litigation with the partners relating to a buyout in 1999 of the partners' interest in the property and to terminate the contractual rights of the partners to repurchase an 8.55% interest in the property. The two remaining minority partners in our East Chicago property owned, in aggregate, 0.45% of this property. In December 2003 and January 2004, we acquired these ownership interests for aggregate consideration of approximately $0.8 million. As a result of these transactions, the East Chicago property is now wholly owned.

        In September 2004, we entered into an agreement to sell the assets and certain related liabilities of Harrah's East Chicago to an unrelated third party. The sale, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2005.

Louisiana Downs

        On December 20, 2002, we acquired a controlling interest in Louisiana Downs, a thoroughbred racetrack in Bossier City, Louisiana. The agreement gave Harrah's Entertainment a 95% ownership interest in a company that owned both Louisiana Downs and Harrah's Shreveport. In the first quarter of 2004, we purchased the ownership interest of the minority owners. The excess of the cost to purchase the minority ownership above the capital balances was assigned to goodwill. In May 2003, approximately 900 slot machines were put into service and Louisiana Downs became the only land-based gaming facility in northern Louisiana. We opened a new, permanent facility with approximately 1,400 slot machines during second quarter 2004.

Jazz Casino Company

        On June 7, 2002, we acquired additional shares of JCC's common stock, which increased our ownership from 49% to 63% and required a change in our accounting treatment for our investment in JCC from the equity method to consolidation of JCC in our financial statements. We began consolidating JCC in our financial results on June 7, 2002. On December 10, 2002, we acquired all of the remaining shares of JCC's stock to increase our ownership to 100%.

CAPITAL SPENDING AND DEVELOPMENT

        Part of our plan for growth and stability includes disciplined capital improvement projects, and 2004, 2003 and 2002 were all years of significant capital reinvestment.

        In addition to the specific development and expansion projects discussed in REGIONAL RESULTS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS, we perform on-going refurbishment and maintenance at our casino entertainment facilities to maintain our quality standards. We also continue to pursue development and acquisition opportunities for additional casino entertainment facilities that meet our strategic and return on investment criteria. Prior to the receipt of necessary regulatory approvals, the costs of pursuing development projects are expensed as incurred. Construction-related costs incurred after the receipt of necessary approvals are capitalized and depreciated over the estimated useful life of the resulting asset. Project opening costs are expensed as incurred.

15


        Our capital spending for 2004 totaled approximately $702.9 million, excluding the cost of our acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming, the intangible assets from Horseshoe Club and the purchase of partnership interests. 2003 capital spending was approximately $427.0 million and 2002 capital spending was $376.0 million, excluding the costs of our acquisitions of Louisiana Downs and the remaining interest in JCC. Estimated total capital expenditures for 2005 are expected to be between $800 million and $900 million and do not include estimated expenditures for our announced acquisition of Caesars or for unidentified development opportunities.

        Our planned development projects, if they go forward, will require, individually and in the aggregate, significant capital commitments and, if completed, may result in significant additional revenues. The commitment of capital, the timing of completion and the commencement of operations of casino entertainment development projects are contingent upon, among other things, negotiation of final agreements and receipt of approvals from the appropriate political and regulatory bodies. Cash needed to finance the Caesars acquisition and projects currently under development as well as additional projects being pursued is expected to be made available from operating cash flows, established debt programs (see DEBT AND LIQUIDITY), joint venture partners, specific project financing, guarantees of third-party debt and additional debt and/or equity offerings.

DEBT AND LIQUIDITY

        We generate substantial cash flows from operating activities, as reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. These cash flows reflect the impact on our consolidated operations of the success of our marketing programs, our strategic acquisitions, on-going cost containment focus and favorable variable interest rates. For 2004, we reported cash flows from operating activities of $791.0 million, a 18.6% increase over the $666.8 million reported in 2003. The 2003 amount reflected a 3.2% increase over the 2002 level.

        We use the cash flows generated by the Company to fund reinvestment in existing properties for both refurbishment and expansion projects, to pursue additional growth opportunities via strategic acquisitions of existing companies and new development opportunities and to return capital to our shareholders in the form of stock repurchase programs and dividends. When necessary, we supplement the cash flows generated by our operations with funds provided by financing activities to balance our cash requirements.

        Our cash and cash equivalents totaled approximately $489.0 million at December 31, 2004, compared to $397.9 million at December 31, 2003. The following provides a summary of our cash flows for the years ended December 31.

(In millions)

  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Cash provided by operating activities   $ 791.0   $ 666.8   $ 646.2  
Capital investments     (618.9 )   (381.8 )   (355.5 )
Payments for business acquisitions     (1,616.9 )   (75.0 )   (162.4 )
Minority interest buyout     (37.5 )        
Investments in affiliates     (0.3 )   (4.2 )    
Proceeds from asset/investment sales     3.8     4.8     34.6  
Other investing activities     (26.8 )   (14.9 )   (7.2 )
   
 
 
 
      (1,505.6 )   195.7     155.7  
Cash provided by/(used in) financing activities     1,356.5     (248.0 )   (173.3 )
Cash provided by assets held for sale     240.1     65.9     77.0  
   
 
 
 
  Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   $ 91.0   $ 13.6   $ 59.4  
   
 
 
 

16


        We believe that our cash and cash equivalents balance, our cash flows from operations and the financing sources discussed herein, will be sufficient to meet our normal operating requirements during the next twelve months and to fund additional acquisitions, including our announced acquisition of Caesars, or investments. In addition, we may consider issuing additional debt or equity securities in the future to fund potential acquisitions or growth or to refinance existing debt. We continue to review additional opportunities to acquire or invest in companies, properties and other investments that meet our strategic and return on investment criteria. If a material acquisition or investment is completed, our operating results and financial condition could change significantly in future periods.

        The majority of our debt is due in December 2005 and beyond. Payments of short-term debt obligations and other commitments are expected to be made from operating cash flows. Long-term obligations are expected to be paid through operating cash flows, refinancing of debt, joint venture partners or, if necessary, additional debt and/or equity offerings.

        With the planned acquisition of Caesars, we will assume approximately $4.2 billion of Caesars' outstanding debt and incur approximately $1.9 billion in debt to fund the acquisition. We plan to secure the funds for the acquisition by borrowing under our amended credit agreement (see Credit Agreement below).

Credit Agreement

        At December 31, 2004, we had credit facilities (the "Credit Agreement") that provided for up to $2.5 billion in borrowings, maturing on April 23, 2009. The Credit Agreement contains a provision that would allow an increase in the borrowing capacity to $3.0 billion, if mutually acceptable to the Company and the lenders. Interest on the Credit Agreement is based on our debt ratings and leverage ratio and is subject to change. As of December 31, 2004, the Credit Agreement bore interest based upon 90 basis points over LIBOR and bore a facility fee for borrowed and unborrowed amounts of 20 basis points, a combined 110 basis points. At our option, we may borrow at the prime rate under the Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2004, $1.58 billion in borrowings were outstanding under the Credit Agreement with an additional $59.8 million committed to back letters of credit. After consideration of these borrowings, but before consideration of amounts borrowed under the commercial paper program, $860.2 million of additional borrowing capacity was available to the Company as of December 31, 2004.

        In January 2005, an agreement was reached to amend the Credit Agreement, which will increase our borrowing capacity from $2.5 billion to $4.0 billion. The amendment also contains a provision that will allow a further increase in the borrowing capacity to $5.0 billion, if mutually acceptable to the Company and the lenders, and lowers the interest rate from LIBOR plus 110 basis points to LIBOR plus 87.5 basis points. The amended agreement becomes effective upon the satisfaction of various closing conditions, including the closing of our acquisition of Caesars. Other significant terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, including the maturity date of April 2009, did not change.

Derivative Instruments

        We account for derivative instruments in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," and all amendments thereto. SFAS No. 133 requires that all derivative instruments be recognized in the financial statements at fair value. Any changes in fair value are recorded in the income statement or in other comprehensive income, depending on whether the derivative is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting, the type of hedge transaction and the effectiveness of the hedge. The estimated fair values of our derivative instruments are based on market prices obtained from dealer quotes. Such quotes represent the estimated amounts we would receive or pay to terminate the contracts.

17



        Our derivative instruments contain a credit risk that the counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. We minimize that risk by evaluating the creditworthiness of our counterparties, which are limited to major banks and financial institutions, and we do not anticipate nonperformance by the counterparties.

Interest Rate Swaps

        We use interest rate swaps to manage the mix of our debt between fixed and variable rate instruments. As of December 31, 2004, we were a party to four interest rate swaps for a total notional amount of $500 million. These interest rate swaps serve to manage the mix of our debt between fixed and variable rate instruments by effectively converting fixed rates associated with long-term debt obligations to floating rates. The differences to be paid or received under the terms of interest rate swap agreements are accrued as interest rates change and recognized as an adjustment to interest expense for the related debt. Changes in the variable interest rates to be paid or received pursuant to the terms of interest rate swap agreements will have a corresponding effect on future cash flows. The major terms of the interest rate swaps are as follows.

Swap Effective Date

  Notional
Amount

  Fixed
Rate
Received

  Variable Rate
Paid as of
Dec. 31, 2004

  Next
Reset
Date

  Swap
Expiration
Date

 
  (In millions)

   
   
   
   
Dec. 29, 2003   $ 50   7.875 % 8.433 % June 15, 2005   Dec. 15, 2005
Dec. 29, 2003     150   7.875 % 8.437 % June 15, 2005   Dec. 15, 2005
Jan. 30, 2004     200   7.125 % 6.853 % June 1, 2005   June 1, 2007
Feb. 2, 2004     100   7.875 % 8.455 % June 15, 2005   Dec. 15, 2005

        The Company's interest rate swaps qualify for the "shortcut" method allowed under SFAS No. 133, which allows for an assumption of no ineffectiveness. As such, there is no income statement impact from changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments. The net effect of the above swaps reduced our 2004 interest expense by $4.0 million. The effect of the swaps to 2003 interest expense was immaterial.

Treasury Rate Lock Agreements

        We expect to issue between $750 million and $1 billion of new debt in the first half of 2005. To partially hedge the risk of future increases to the treasury rate, we have entered into agreements to lock in existing ten-year rates to hedge against such increases. The major terms of the treasury rate lock agreements are as follows.

Effective Date

  Type of
Hedge

  Treasury
Lock
Rate

  Notional Amount
  Termination Date
 
   
   
  (In millions)

   
Nov. 22, 2004   Cash flow   4.373 % $ 200   May 20, 2005
Dec. 16, 2004   Cash flow   4.239 %   50   May 20, 2005
Dec. 16, 2004   Cash flow   4.239 %   50   May 20, 2005
Dec. 16, 2004   Cash flow   4.239 %   100   May 23, 2005

        The Company has determined that the treasury rate lock agreements qualify for hedge accounting and are perfectly effective. As such, there is no income statement impact from changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments. The fair values of our treasury rate lock agreements are carried as assets or liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheet, and changes in the fair values are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income and will be reclassified to earnings over the life of the debt to be issued.

18



        In January 2005, we hedged an additional $100 million notional amount with terms identical to the treasury locks existing as of December 31, 2004, at a rate of 4.242% and a termination date of May 20, 2005.

Commercial Paper

        To provide the Company with cost-effective borrowing flexibility, we have a $200 million commercial paper program that is used to borrow funds for general corporate purposes. Although the debt instruments are short-term in tenor, they are classified as long-term debt because the commercial paper is backed by our Credit Agreement and we have committed to keep available capacity under our Credit Agreement in an amount equal to or greater than amounts borrowed under this program. At December 31, 2004, $157.8 million was outstanding under this program.

Issuance of New Debt

        In addition to our Credit Agreement, we have issued debt and entered into credit agreements to provide the Company with cost-effective borrowing flexibility and to replace short-term, floating-rate debt with long-term, fixed-rate debt. The table below summarizes the face value of debt obligations entered into during the last three years and outstanding at December 31, 2004.

Debt

  Issued
  Matures
  Face Value
Outstanding at
December 31, 2004

 
   
   
  (In millions)

Commercial Paper   2004   2005   $ 157.8
5.5% Senior Notes   June 2004   2010     750.0
5.375% Senior Notes   December 2003   2013     500.0

        Subsequent to the end of 2004, we issued $250 million of Senior Floating Rate Notes due in 2008 in a Rule 144A private placement. We agreed to, upon the request by holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Floating Rate Notes then outstanding, to exchange the private placement offering with fully registered Senior Floating Rate Notes. If the exchange offer does not provide the holders of the Senior Floating Rate Notes freely transferable securities, we may be required to file a shelf registration statement that would allow them to resell the Senior Floating Rate Notes in the open market, subject to certain restrictions.

Extinguishments of Debt

        Funds from the new debt discussed above, as well as proceeds from our Credit Agreement, were used to retire certain of our outstanding debt, in particular those debt obligations assumed in our acquisition transactions, to reduce our effective interest rate and/or lengthen maturities. The following table summarizes the debt obligations, in addition to our previous credit and letter of credit facilities that we have retired over the last three years:

Issuer

  Date
Retired

  Debt Extinguished
  Face
Value
Retired

 
   
   
  (In millions)

Horseshoe Gaming   August 2004   Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009   $ 534.1
Harrah's Operating Co   December 2003   Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005     147.1
Harrah's Operating Co   August 2003   Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005     12.4
JCC   December 2002   Senior Notes due 2008     28.2

        In July 2003, our Board of Directors authorized the Company to retire, from time to time through cash purchases, portions of our outstanding debt in open market purchases, privately negotiated

19



transactions or otherwise. These repurchases will be funded through available cash from operations and borrowings from our established debt programs. Such repurchases will depend on prevailing market conditions, the Company's liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. As of December 31, 2004, $159.5 million of our 77/8% Senior Subordinated Notes had been retired under this authorization.

        Charges of $19.1 million representing premiums paid and write-offs of unamortized deferred financing costs associated with the early retirement of portions of our 77/8% Senior Subordinated Notes and of our previous credit and letter of credit facilities were recorded in 2003. In compliance with SFAS No. 145, these charges no longer qualify for presentation as extraordinary items and are, therefore, included in Income from continuing operations in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

        Subsequent to the end of 2004, we retired an additional $58.3 million of our 77/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due in December 2005. The loss on the early extinguishment of this debt, expected to be $2.2 million, will be reported in our first quarter 2005 results.

Equity Repurchase Programs

        During the past four years, our Board of Directors has authorized plans whereby we have purchased shares of the Company's common stock in the open market from time to time as market conditions and other factors warranted. The table below summarizes the plans in effect during the last four years.

Plan Authorized

  Number
of Shares
Authorized

  Number of Shares
Purchased as of
December 31, 2004

  Average
Price
Per Share

July 2001   6.0 million   6.0 million   $ 37.15
July 2002   2.0 million   1.4 million     39.24
November 2002   3.0 million   1.5 million     47.54
November 2004   2.0 million       N/A

        In November 2004, our Board of Directors authorized the purchase of 3.5 million shares of common stock in the open market and negotiated purchases through the end of 2005. The 3.5 million shares includes 1.5 million shares available to be purchased pursuant to the authorization that was to expire December 31, 2004, plus an additional 2.0 million shares. The repurchases were funded through available operating cash flows and borrowings from our established debt programs.

20



Guarantees of Third-Party Debt and Other Obligations and Commitments

        The following tables summarize our contractual obligations and other commitments as of December 31, 2004.

 
  Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligations

  Total
  Less than
1 year

  1-3
years

  4-5
years

  After 5
years

(In millions)

   
Debt   $ 5,152.4   $ 589.5   $ 501.5   $ 2,985.0   $ 1,076.4
Capital lease obligations     0.5     0.3     0.2        
Operating lease obligations     567.6     43.1     95.6     55.0     373.9
Purchase orders obligations     18.2     18.2            
Guaranteed payments to State of Louisiana     134.8     60.0     74.8        
Community reinvestment     102.9     2.1     15.3     10.4     75.1
Construction commitments     323.6     323.6            
Other contractual obligations     49.8     19.2     19.5     6.9     4.2
   
 
 
 
 
    $ 6,349.8   $ 1,056.0   $ 706.9   $ 3,057.3   $ 1,529.6
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Amount of Commitment Expiration Per Period
Other Commitments

  Total
amounts
committed

  Less than
1 year

  1-3
years

  4-5
years

  After 5
years

(In millions)

   
Guarantees of loans   $ 292.0   $ 26.4   $ 104.7   $ 160.9   $
Letters of credit     59.8     59.8            
Minimum payments to tribes     96.1     14.4     42.6     27.0     12.1

        The agreements pursuant to which we manage casinos on Indian lands contain provisions required by law that provide that a minimum monthly payment be made to the tribe. That obligation has priority over scheduled repayments of borrowings for development costs and over the management fee earned and paid to the manager. In the event that insufficient cash flow is generated by the operations to fund this payment, we must pay the shortfall to the tribe. Subject to certain limitations as to time, such advances, if any, would be repaid to us in future periods in which operations generate cash flow in excess of the required minimum payment. These commitments will terminate upon the occurrence of certain defined events, including termination of the management contract. Our aggregate monthly commitment for the minimum guaranteed payments pursuant to the contracts for the four managed Indian-owned facilities now open, which extend for periods of up to 83 months from December 31, 2004, is $1.2 million. Each of these casinos currently generates sufficient cash flows to cover all of their obligations, including their debt service.

        We may guarantee all or part of the debt incurred by Indian tribes with which we have entered a management contract to fund development of casinos on the Indian lands. For all existing guarantees of Indian debt, we have obtained a first lien on certain personal property (tangible and intangible) of the casino enterprise. There can be no assurance, however, that the value of such property would satisfy our obligations in the event these guarantees were enforced. Additionally, we have received limited waivers from the Indian tribes of their sovereign immunity to allow us to pursue our rights under the contracts between the parties and to enforce collection efforts as to any assets in which a security interest is taken. The aggregate outstanding balance of such debt as of December 31, 2004, was $246.7 million.

        Some of our guarantees of the debt for casinos on Indian lands were modified during 2003, triggering the requirement under Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Interpretation

21



No. 45, "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others," to recognize a liability for the estimated fair value of those guarantees. Liabilities, representing the fair value of our guarantees, and corresponding assets, representing the portion of our management fee receivable attributable to our agreements to provide the related guarantees, were recorded and are being amortized over the lives of the related agreements. We estimate the fair value of the obligation by considering what premium would have been required by us or by an unrelated party. The amounts recognized represent the present value of the premium in interest rates and fees that would have been charged to the tribes if we had not provided the guarantees. The balance of the liability for the guarantees and of the related assets at December 31, 2004 and 2003, was $5.5 million and $7.0 million, respectively.

OVERALL OPERATING RESULTS

        On September 27, 2004, we reached an agreement to sell the assets and certain related current liabilities of Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica to another gaming company. The sale, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2005. We present these properties in Assets/Liabilities held for sale and as part of our discontinued operations in our Consolidated Financial Statements. The carrying value of the net assets of these properties at December 31, 2004, is $491.9 million, and they contributed $38.2 million, net of taxes of $18.4 million, to our 2004 net income. We ceased depreciation of their assets in September 2004. Had we not ceased depreciation of these assets, additional depreciation expense of $6.9 million would have been recorded. We expect to report a gain on the sale of these two properties in the quarter in which the transaction closes. The discussion that follows is related to our continuing operations.

 
   
   
   
  Percentage
Increase/(Decrease)

 
(In millions, except earnings per share)

  2004
  2003
  2002
  04 vs 03
  03 vs 02
 
Casino revenues   $ 4,077.7   $ 3,458.4   $ 3,285.9   17.9  % 5.2   %
Total revenues     4,548.3     3,948.9     3,747.9   15.2  % 5.4   %
Income from operations     791.1     678.8     708.7   16.5  % (4.2 )%
Income from continuing operations     329.5     261.1     282.2   26.2  % (7.5 )%
Net income     367.7     292.6     235.0   25.7  % 24.5   %
Earnings per share–diluted                            
  From continuing operations     2.92     2.36     2.48   23.7  % (4.8 )%
  Net income     3.26     2.65     2.07   23.0  % 28.0   %
Operating margin     17.4 %   17.2 %   18.9 % 0.2  pt (1.7 )pts

        In 2004, total revenues increased for the seventh consecutive year and were 15.2% higher than in 2003, primarily as a result of the acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming on July 1, 2004, strong results from our properties in Southern Nevada and organic growth at most of our properties. We define organic growth as year-over-year increase in gaming revenues for properties that we have owned for both periods.

        Our 2004 income from operations was 16.5% higher than in 2003, driven by the increased revenues and lower gaming taxes at our Bluffs Run property as a result of legislation that settled an issue related to gaming taxes for casinos at racetracks. Net income increased 25.7% and diluted earnings per share increased 23.0% over our 2003 results.

REGIONAL RESULTS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS

        The executive decision makers of our Company review operating results, assess performance and make decisions related to the allocation of resources on a property-by-property basis. We, therefore,

22



believe that each property is an operating segment and that it is appropriate to aggregate and present the operations of our Company as one reportable segment. In order to provide more detail in a more understandable manner than would be possible on a consolidated basis, our properties have been grouped as follows to facilitate discussion of our operating results:

West

  East
  North Central
  South Central
  Managed
Harrah's Reno
Harrah's/Harveys Lake Tahoe
Bill's
Harrah's Las Vegas
Rio
Harrah's Laughlin
Las Vegas Horseshoe
  Harrah's Atlantic City
Showboat Atlantic City
  Harrah's Joliet
Harrah's North Kansas City
Harrah's Council Bluffs
Bluffs Run
Harrah's St. Louis
Harrah's Metropolis
Horseshoe Hammond
  Harrah's Lake Charles
Harrah's New Orleans (after June 7, 2002)
Harrah's Louisiana Downs
Horseshoe Bossier City
Horseshoe Tunica
  Harrah's Ak-Chin
Harrah's Cherokee
Harrah's Prairie Band
Harrah's Rincon
Harrah's New Orleans (prior to June 7, 2002)

        In addition to the properties listed above, our discontinued operations reflect the results of Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica for all periods presented. For 2003 and 2002, discontinued operations also included the results of properties in Vicksburg, Mississippi and Central City, Colorado, both of which were sold in 2003.

West Results

 
   
   
   
  Percentage
Increase/(Decrease)

 
(In millions)

  2004
  2003
  2002
  04 vs 03
  03 vs 02
 
Casino revenues   $ 1,040.8   $ 904.7   $ 847.7   15.0 % 6.7 %
Total revenues     1,514.9     1,346.7     1,265.5   12.5 % 6.4 %
Income from operations     306.0     220.8     193.9   38.6 % 13.9 %
Operating margin     20.2 %   16.4 %   15.3 % 3.8  pts 1.1  pts

Southern Nevada

        Our West properties posted record revenues and income from operations in 2004, driven by results from our Southern Nevada properties where strong cross-market play at, and cross-property play between, Harrah's Las Vegas and the Rio, room pricing trends in Las Vegas, record revenues at Harrah's Laughlin and revenues from Las Vegas Horseshoe, which opened on April 1, 2004, helped Southern Nevada revenues increase by 18.1% over 2003 levels. We define cross-market play as gaming by customers at Harrah's Entertainment properties other than their "home" casino. 2004 income from operations for our Southern Nevada properties was 48.7% higher than in 2003 as a result of the higher revenues and improved operating margins.

        Construction began in second quarter 2004 on a 60,000-square-foot expansion of the Rio Pavilion and Convention Center in Las Vegas. The approximate $39 million expansion will increase the overall size of the Rio's convention center to 160,000 square feet and is scheduled for completion in mid-2005. As of December 31, 2004, $22.5 million had been spent on this project.

        In 2003, strong cross-market and retail play, effective marketing and air charter programs and effective cost control measures drove record revenues and income from operations in Southern Nevada. We define retail play as Total Rewards customers who typically spend up to $50 per visit. 2003 revenues at our Southern Nevada properties were 9.1% higher than in 2002, and income from operations was up 24.5% over 2002.

23



Northern Nevada

        Revenues from our Northern Nevada properties were 1.2% higher than in 2003, and income from operations was 8.3% higher than last year. With the expectation of continued expansion of Indian gaming in California, we believe that achieving growth at our Northern Nevada properties, particularly in Reno, will be a challenge.

        In 2003, Northern Nevada revenues were 1.4% higher than in 2002, but income from operations was down 9.3%. Our Northern Nevada properties faced the challenge of increased competition from Indian casinos in California and weak retail and unrated play (play by customers without a Total Rewards card). Increased utilization of air charter programs and targeted marketing programs helped maintain revenues, but the costs of these programs resulted in some margin erosion.

        In our 2003 annual assessment of goodwill and other nonamortizing intangible assets, we determined that the remaining goodwill associated with our Reno property was impaired. A charge of approximately $6.3 million, representing the remaining unamortized goodwill at Reno, was taken in the fourth quarter of 2003 for this impairment.

East Results

 
   
   
   
  Percentage
Increase/(Decrease)

 
(In millions)

  2004
  2003
  2002
  04 vs 03
  03 vs 02
 
Casino revenues   $ 832.6   $ 817.1   $ 808.7   1.9   % 1.0   %
Total revenues     780.9     781.3     777.6   (0.1 )% 0.5   %
Income from operations     199.8     217.3     216.9   (8.1 )% 0.2   %
Operating margin     25.6 %   27.8 %   27.9 % (2.2 )pts (0.1 )pt

        2004 revenues at our East properties were level with 2003 and income from operations was down by 8.1% from last year. Showboat's revenues and income from operations, which were 2.8% and 7.7%, respectively, higher than in 2003, were aided by a new hotel tower that opened in second quarter 2003 and 450 slot machines that were added in third quarter 2003. Harrah's Atlantic City's revenues and income from operations were 2.4% and 18.0%, respectively, lower than in 2003. Harrah's Atlantic City has been more directly affected than Showboat by the new competitor in the Atlantic City market, but marketing programs to address the aggressive customer acquisition campaign of the new competitor are having some success. In addition, results at both of our Atlantic City properties were impacted by a month-long union strike during fourth quarter 2004.

        Construction began in fourth quarter 2004 on a House of Blues Club at our Showboat property in Atlantic City. This approximate $61 million project will add a range of amenities to the property, including a concert hall, nightclub and restaurant, and a private member "Foundation Room." The project is scheduled for completion in late June 2005. As of December 31, 2004, $6.6 million had been spent on this project.

        In 2003, contributions from recent investments at our Atlantic City properties and execution of a highly targeted marketing program helped offset the impact of a new competitor in the Atlantic City market. At Showboat Atlantic City, where a new hotel tower opened in second quarter 2003 and 450 slot machines were added in third quarter 2003, revenues were up 2.2% and income from operations was 10.1% higher than in 2002. Harrah's Atlantic City's revenues and income from operations declined 0.9% and 5.2%, respectively, from 2002 levels, as that property was more affected by the opening of the first new competitor in Atlantic City in more than a decade. An additional 500 slot machines were added at this property in December 2002.

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North Central Results

 
   
   
   
  Percentage
Increase/(Decrease)

 
(In millions)

  2004
  2003
  2002
  04 vs 03
  03 vs 02
 
Casino revenues   $ 1,323.0   $ 1,089.2   $ 1,150.6   21.5 % (5.3 )%
Total revenues     1,299.9     1,070.4     1,140.8   21.4 % (6.2 )%
Income from operations     249.3     189.6     254.1   31.5 % (25.4 )%
Operating margin     19.2 %   17.7 %   22.3 % 1.5 pts (4.6 )pts

        An agreement has been reached to sell Harrah's East Chicago; therefore, this property is no longer included in our North Central grouping. Results of Harrah's East Chicago have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

        In 2004, the increases in revenues and income from operations at our North Central properties were driven by the acquisition of Horseshoe Hammond on July 1, 2004, and lower gaming taxes at our Bluffs Run property as a result of legislation that settled an issue related to gaming taxes for casinos at racetracks.

        In 2003, higher gaming taxes and competitive pressures led to declines from 2002 revenues and income from operations at our North Central properties.

Chicagoland/Illinois

        Combined revenues for 2004 were 50.4% higher than combined revenues for 2003, and combined income from operations was 38.3% higher than last year due to results from Horseshoe Hammond subsequent to its acquisition. Excluding results of Horseshoe Hammond, combined revenues were up 3.1% and income from operations was down 11.1% from last year as a result of increases in state gaming taxes, admission taxes and increased marketing costs.

        Combined 2003 revenues and income from operations at our Chicagoland/Illinois properties were 12.1% and 34.3%, respectively, below 2002. Higher gaming and admission taxes, heightened competition and winter storms during the first quarter of 2003 were responsible for the declines. New tax legislation in Illinois in 2003 raised the maximum gaming tax rate to 70% and impacted our income from operations by $16.2 million in 2003. In order to sustain profitability under the higher tax scheme, operational changes were implemented at Joliet in the third quarter, and revenues declined as a result of these changes.

Missouri

        2004 revenues at our Missouri properties were 3.9% higher than in 2003, due to higher revenues at our St. Louis property, but income from operations was 5.8% below last year. Gains at our St. Louis property, driven by recent capital investments including a new hotel tower, our Total Rewards program and improvements made to the slot floor, were more than offset by declines at our North Kansas City property where recent capital improvements by two competitors impacted results.

        Construction was completed in third quarter 2004 on an $80 million expansion of Harrah's St. Louis, which included a second hotel tower, redesign of the hotel lobby, new valet parking areas, the addition of parking garage express ramps and the expansion of two restaurants and other amenities.

        A $126 million expansion and property enhancement project at Harrah's North Kansas City broke ground in second quarter 2004. This project, which will add a 206-room hotel addition, new restaurants and other amenities, is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2005. As of December 31, 2004, $33.8 million had been spent on this project.

25



        In 2003, combined revenues for our Missouri properties declined 4.1% from 2002 and income from operations was down 20.9% due primarily to heightened competition in both the St. Louis and North Kansas City markets. Harrah's St. Louis' rebound from the increased competition began in fourth quarter 2003, driven by our Total Rewards program and improvements made to the slot floor. In the Kansas City market, a competitor opened its expanded facility in third quarter 2003 and another competitor opened its new barge facility in fourth quarter 2003.

Iowa

        2004 revenues for our Iowa properties were 6.4% higher than in 2003, and income from operations more than doubled 2003 due to lower gaming taxes in 2004 following the resolution of the gaming tax rate issues discussed below.

        Casinos at racetracks in Iowa historically had been taxed at a higher rate (36% in 2004) than the casinos on riverboats operating in Iowa (20%). The Iowa Supreme Court issued an opinion in June 2002 that this disparity was unconstitutional. The State appealed the Iowa Supreme Court's decision to the United States Supreme Court and in June 2003, the United States Supreme Court overturned the ruling and remanded the case back to the Iowa Supreme Court for further consideration. In February 2004, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the disparity violates the Iowa Constitution, a ruling the State appealed to the United States Supreme Court in April 2004. The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear this case.

        In April 2004, the Iowa legislature passed legislation to effectively settle the issues regarding the gaming tax rates. The new legislation provides for a tax rate of 22% for both riverboats and racetracks effective July 1, 2004. However, racetracks have the option to conduct table games and video games that simulate table games by paying a $10 million fee to the State and a gaming tax rate of 24%. 20% of the $10 million fee could be used to offset wagering taxes for each of the five fiscal years beginning July 1, 2008. We plan to add table games to the Bluffs Run facility in conjunction with the rebranding, renovation and expansion of that facility (see discussion below). Also, for the period July 1, 2002, to June 30, 2004, racetracks had to make a lump sum non-refundable payment to the State to enable the State to receive a total amount of taxes for that period based on a 24% tax rate. Bluffs Run paid approximately $8.9 million for this lump sum payment. During that period we had paid taxes at the 20% rate for Bluffs Run, following the State's instructions. However, given the uncertainty of this situation, we continued to accrue gaming taxes at the higher rate (between 32% and 36%) and accrued approximately $20.3 million, after consideration of the lump sum payment, in state gaming taxes that we did not have to pay. Accruals related to Iowa gaming taxes were adjusted in second quarter 2004, with $3.7 million, representing the adjustment for first quarter 2004, credited to the property's income from operations and $16.6 million, representing the adjustment for prior periods, credited to write-downs, reserves and recoveries.

        In accordance with previous agreements and as additional purchase price consideration, a payment of approximately $73 million was made to Iowa West Racing Association ("Iowa West"), the entity holding the pari-mutuel and gaming license for the Bluffs Run Casino and with whom we have a management agreement to operate that property. The additional payment to Iowa West increased goodwill attributed to the Bluffs Run property. The payment to Iowa West assumed we will operate table games at Bluffs Run and pay a 24% tax rate; however, Iowa West has taken the position that the purchase price adjustment should be based on a tax rate of 22%, which would result in an additional $12 million payment to Iowa West. If an additional payment is required, it will increase goodwill attributed to this property. We anticipate that the issue will be resolved by arbitration during 2005.

        In fourth quarter 2004, we announced plans to rebrand the Bluffs Run Casino under the Horseshoe brand as part of an $85 million renovation and expansion of that property. The property's

26



greyhound racetrack will remain in operation and retain the Bluffs Run brand. Construction began in February 2005 with completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2006.

        Combined 2003 revenues from our Iowa properties were 0.9% above 2002 revenues, but income from operations was 10.5% below 2002 due, in part, to higher gaming taxes at our Bluffs Run property, where gaming taxes increased in accordance with a predetermined rate increase.

South Central Results

 
   
   
   
  Percentage
Increase/(Decrease)

 
(In millions)

  2004
  2003
  2002
  04 vs 03
  03 vs 02
 
Casino revenues   $ 880.7   $ 647.0   $ 478.4   36.1 % 35.2 %
Total revenues     875.9     659.9     488.2   32.7 % 35.2 %
Income from operations     123.1     92.3     78.7   33.4 % 17.3 %
Operating margin     14.1 %   14.0 %   16.1 % 0.1 pt (2.1 )pts

        An agreement has been reached to sell Harrah's Tunica; therefore, this property is no longer included in our South Central grouping. Results of Harrah's Tunica have been classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

        Combined 2004 revenues and income from operations were higher by 32.7% and 33.4%, respectively, than in 2003 due to results from Horseshoe Bossier City and Horseshoe Tunica subsequent to their July 1, 2004, acquisition and increased revenues from Louisiana Downs, Harrah's New Orleans and Harrah's Lake Charles and partially offset by the loss of revenues in 2004 due to the sale of Harrah's Shreveport. The permanent facility at Louisiana Downs opened in second quarter 2004 with 1,400 slot machines. 900 slot machines had been in service since second quarter 2003 at Louisiana Downs.

        Combined 2003 revenues at our South Central properties were up 35.2% and combined income from operations was up 17.3%, driven by a full year of consolidation of New Orleans' results subsequent to the acquisition of a controlling interest in that property in early June 2002 and results from Louisiana Downs, which was acquired in December 2002. Harrah's New Orleans contributed $285.4 million in revenues and $46.8 million in income from operations in 2003 compared to $154.5 million in revenues and $16.0 million in income from operations subsequent to its consolidation in 2002. The opening of an expanded buffet and new steakhouse at Harrah's New Orleans in 2003 attracted new business to that property. Prior to our acquisition of a controlling interest in that property, we had limited ability to invest in amenities, and we are now actively pursuing such opportunities. Construction began in second quarter 2004 on a 26-story, 450-room, $150 million hotel tower at Harrah's New Orleans. The property does not currently operate a hotel, although it does utilize rooms at third-party hotels. The hotel is expected to open in the first quarter of 2006. $23.8 million had been spent on this project as of December 31, 2004.

        On December 20, 2002, we completed our acquisition of a controlling interest in Louisiana Downs, a thoroughbred racetrack in Bossier City, Louisiana, and in May 2003, 900 slot machines were placed in service there. Construction was completed during second quarter 2004 on Phase II of the expansion of Louisiana Downs, which included a new, permanent facility with approximately 1,400 slot machines. Our renovation and expansion of Louisiana Downs cost approximately $110 million. Louisiana Downs contributed $56.9 million in revenues in 2003, but preopening costs related to the introduction of slot machines at the facility drove a loss from operations of $1.4 million.

        Our Lake Charles property has faced increasing competition over the last several years, including the addition of slot machines at a racetrack located closer than our property to one of our Texas feeder markets and additional Indian casino offerings. Approximately $56.1 million of goodwill is allocated to

27



the Lake Charles property. The operating results for the property did improve in 2004 over the prior year; however, a new competitor is expected to open in the Lake Charles market in mid-2005. Should the opening of the new competitor negatively impact operating results at our Lake Charles property, it could impact the analysis for the impairment of goodwill for that operating unit.

        Due to a decision to sell Harrah's Shreveport, which was completed in second quarter 2004, we classified that property in Assets held for sale on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and ceased depreciating its assets. Since the Horseshoe Gaming acquisition gave us a continued presence in the Shreveport-Bossier City market, Harrah's Shreveport's operating results were not classified as discontinued operations. No gain or loss was recorded on this sale.

        On June 30, 2003, we announced an agreement to sell Harrah's Vicksburg and that sale was completed on October 27, 2003. 2003 results for Harrah's Vicksburg were presented as discontinued operations and results for 2002 were reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation. A loss of $0.5 million, net of tax, resulted from this sale.

Managed Casinos and Other

 
   
   
   
  Percentage
Increase/(Decrease)

 
(In millions)

  2004
  2003
  2002
  04 vs 03
  03 vs 02
 
Revenues   $ 76.7   $ 90.6   $ 75.7   (15.3 )% 19.7 %
Income/(loss) from operations     (16.7 )   11.4     21.6   N/M   (47.2 )%

N/M = Not meaningful

        With the acquisition of the remaining interest in the New Orleans casino in 2002, our managed casinos now consist of four tribal casinos. The table below gives the location and expiration date of the current management contracts for our Indian properties as of December 31, 2004.

Casino

  Location
  Expiration of
Management Agreement

Harrah's Cherokee   Cherokee, North Carolina   November 2011
Harrah's Ak-Chin   near Phoenix, Arizona   December 2009
Harrah's Rincon   near San Diego, California   November 2011
Harrah's Prairie Band   near Topeka, Kansas   January 2008

        Our 2004 managed casinos and other results were lower than in 2003 due to lower fee structures at some of our managed casinos where management agreements have been extended. New contracts may provide for reductions in management fees; however, expansions at the properties are expected to increase the fee base and keep the overall income stream stable.

        Also included in managed casinos and other are our development expenses, brand marketing costs, losses from nonconsolidating subsidiaries and other costs that are directly related to our casino operations and development but are not property specific.

        We recently suspended operation of LuckyMe, our on-line gaming initiative in the United Kingdom. No material charges were recorded as a result of this action. Losses related to LuckyMe were approximately $9.3 million for 2004.

        Revenues from our managed properties were higher in 2003 than in the previous year due to a full year of management fees from Harrah's Rincon Casino and Resort, owned by the Rincon San Luiseno Band of Mission Indians ("Rincon") in Southern California, which opened in August 2002. The increased fees from Rincon were partially offset by changes in fee structures provided by extended

28



management agreements and by the elimination of management fees from Harrah's New Orleans subsequent to its consolidation with our financial results in June 2002.

        Construction began in January 2004 on a $60 million expansion of Harrah's Cherokee Smoky Mountains Casino in Cherokee, North Carolina, that will add a 15-story hotel tower with approximately 320 rooms, which is scheduled for completion in second quarter 2005. A 252-room hotel and 30,000-square-foot conference center opened at that property in second quarter 2002, and in fourth quarter 2002, an expansion project was completed that added approximately 22,000 square feet of casino space.

        A $165 million expansion of the Harrah's Rincon property was completed in December 2004. The expansion added a 21-story hotel tower with approximately 460 rooms, a spa, a new hotel lobby, additional meeting space, additional casino space and a 1,200-space parking structure.

        Construction was completed in August 2004 on a $55 million expansion project at Harrah's Prairie Band. The expansion includes the addition of approximately 200 hotel rooms, a 12,000-square-foot convention center and a new restaurant.

        Construction costs of Indian casinos and hotels have been funded by the tribes or by the tribes' debt, some of which we guarantee. See DEBT AND LIQUIDITY for further discussion of our guarantees of debt related to Indian projects.

Other Factors Affecting Net Income

 
   
   
   
  Percentage
Increase/(Decrease)

 
(Income)/Expense

  2004
  2003
  2002
  04 vs 03
  03 vs 02
 
(In millions)

   
   
   
   
   
 
Development costs   $ 18.5   $ 19.6   $ 9.5   (5.6 )% N/M  
Write-downs, reserves and recoveries     9.6     10.5     4.5   (8.6 )% N/M  
Project opening costs     9.5     7.4     1.7   28.4 % N/M  
Corporate expense     66.8     52.6     56.6   27.0 % (7.1 )%
Merger and integration costs for Caesars acquisition     2.3           N/M   N/M  
Amortization of intangible assets     9.4     4.8     4.5   95.8 % 6.7 %
Interest expense, net     271.8     234.4     240.2   16.0 % (2.4 )%
Losses on early extinguishments of debt         19.1       N/M   N/M  
Other income     (9.5 )   (2.9 )   (2.1 ) N/M   38.1 %
Effective tax rate     36.1 %   36.3 %   37.1 % (0.2 )pt (0.8 )pt
Minority interests   $ 8.6   $ 11.6   $ 14.0   (25.9 )% (17.1 )%
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes     (38.2 )   (31.6 )   (44.0 ) 20.9 % (28.2 )%
Change in accounting principle, net of income taxes             91.2   N/M   N/M  

N/M = Not meaningful

        Development costs for 2004 were lower than in 2003 due to changes in or timing of development activities in jurisdictions, including Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom, that are considering allowing development and operation of casinos or casino-like operations. Subsequent to the end of 2004, we dissolved the joint venture formed in 2003 with Gala Group, a United Kingdom ("UK") based gaming operator, to develop regional casinos in the UK in response to the UK government's proposal to restrict development of regional casinos. We will focus on opportunities to

29



develop large-scale destination casino resorts with more than 50,000 square feet of gaming space, as well as hotel rooms, restaurants and entertainment venues.

        Write-downs, reserves and recoveries include various pretax charges to record asset impairments, contingent liabilities reserves, project write-offs, demolition costs and recoveries at time of sale and of previously recorded reserves and other nonroutine transactions. In 2004, we began tracking demolition costs separate from project opening costs. The components of Write-downs, reserves and recoveries were as follows:

(In millions)

  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Contribution to The Harrah's Foundation   $ 10.0   $   $  
Demolition costs     5.8          
Write-off of abandoned assets and other costs     4.9     2.6     6.3  
Settlement of litigation     3.5          
Termination of contracts     2.0         0.2  
Reversal of prior year Iowa gaming tax accrual     (16.6 )        
Impairment of goodwill         6.3      
Impairment of long-lived assets         2.5     1.5  
Settlement of sales tax contingency         (0.9 )   (6.5 )
Charge for structural repairs at Reno             5.0  
Recoveries from previously impaired assets and reserved amounts             (2.0 )
   
 
 
 
    $ 9.6   $ 10.5   $ 4.5  
   
 
 
 

        Project opening costs for each of the three years presented include costs incurred in connection with the integration of acquired properties into Harrah's Entertainment's systems and technology and costs incurred in connection with expansion and renovation projects at various properties.

        Corporate expense increased 27.0% in 2004 from 2003, primarily due to higher incentive compensation plan expenses, on-going costs related to Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and increased depreciation expense.

        Merger and integration costs for the Caesars acquisition include costs for consultants and dedicated internal resources to plan for the merger and integration of Caesars into Harrah's Entertainment.

        Amortization of intangible assets increased in 2004 due to amortization of intangible assets acquired from Horseshoe Gaming on July 1, 2004, based on the preliminary purchase price allocation for that acquisition.

        Interest expense was higher in 2004 than in 2003 due to additional debt related to our acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming on July 1, 2004. For our fixed-rate debt subject to interest rate swap agreements, the average interest rate received was 7.6%. The average interest rate on our variable-rate debt, excluding the impact of our swap agreements, was 3.2% at December 31, 2004, compared to 2.3% at December 31, 2003. A change in interest rates will impact our financial results. For example, assuming a constant outstanding balance for our variable-rate debt for the next twelve months, a hypothetical 1% change in corresponding interest rates would change interest expense for the next twelve months by approximately $22.4 million. Our variable-rate debt, including $500 million of fixed-rate debt for which we have entered into interest rate swap agreements, represents approximately 43% of our total debt, while our fixed-rate debt is approximately 57% of our total debt. (For discussion of our interest rate swap agreements, see DEBT AND LIQUIDITY, Derivative Instruments, Interest Rate Swaps.)

        Losses on early extinguishments of debt in 2003 represent premiums paid and write-offs of unamortized deferred financing costs associated with debt retired before maturity. In compliance with

30



SFAS No. 145 these losses on early extinguishments of debt no longer qualify for presentation as extraordinary items. (See DEBT AND LIQUIDITY, Extinguishments of Debt.)

        2004 Other income includes interest income on the cash surrender value of life insurance policies, benefits from a life insurance policy, interest income related to the sale of land and other miscellaneous non-operating items. 2003 Other income included interest income on the cash surrender value of life insurance policies and settlement of a litigation claim, partially offset by benefits from a life insurance policy. 2002 Other income included interest income on the cash surrender value of life insurance policies, net proceeds from litigation settlements and other miscellaneous items.

        The effective tax rate for 2004, as well as for 2003 and 2002, is higher than the federal statutory rate primarily due to state income taxes. Our effective tax rate is affected by the mix of taxable income among the various states.

        Minority interests reflect minority owners' shares of income from our majority owned subsidiaries.

        Discontinued operations reflect the results of Harveys Wagon Wheel Hotel/Casino in Central City, Colorado, Harrah's Vicksburg, Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica. Harveys Colorado and Harrah's Vicksburg were sold in 2003. 2003 and 2002 results for these properties have been reclassified to conform to the 2004 presentation. (See Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.)

        The change in accounting principle represents the first quarter 2002 charge for the impairment of Rio's goodwill and trademark recorded in connection with the implementation of SFAS No. 142. (See Note 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.)

EFFECTS OF CURRENT ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Competitive Pressures

        Due to the limited number of new markets opening for development in recent years, many casino operators are reinvesting in existing markets to attract new customers, thereby increasing competition in those markets. As companies have completed expansion projects, supply has typically grown at a faster pace than demand in some markets and competition has increased significantly. Furthermore, several operators, including Harrah's Entertainment, have announced plans for additional developments or expansions in some markets.

        The Louisiana legislature has authorized the use of slot machines at horse racing tracks in four parishes in Louisiana. We operate casinos in three of these markets. In first quarter 2002, a horse racing facility, located in one of those parishes where the use of slot machines has been authorized and near our property in Lake Charles, Louisiana, opened with approximately 1,500 machines. The horse racing facility is approximately 25 miles closer to one of our major feeder markets than our property. Revenues and income from operations at our Lake Charles property have been negatively impacted by the addition of this new competitor. In fourth quarter 2002, we acquired a controlling interest in Louisiana Downs, a thoroughbred racetrack in Bossier City, Louisiana, which is in another of the parishes where the use of slot machines has been authorized. In Orleans Parish, where Harrah's New Orleans is located, voters approved the use of slot machines at a racetrack in October 2003.

        In the third quarter of 2001, the State of Louisiana selected a competitor to receive the fifteenth and final riverboat gaming license to be issued by the State, under the legislation legalizing riverboat gaming in that State. The competitor's project is for a riverboat casino in Lake Charles. Construction of that facility began in September 2003, and it is anticipated to open by mid-2005. We believe that the new riverboat competition in the Lake Charles area will have a negative impact on our operations there.

        In Atlantic City, a competitor opened a 2,000-room hotel and casino in July 2003 and in 2004, announced plans to expand gaming and nongaming amenities, including a new hotel tower, at that

31



property. A competitor in Missouri completed a large casino expansion in third quarter 2002 that is located near our St. Louis property, a competitor in the Joliet market completed a new barge facility in second quarter 2002 and another competitor in the Chicagoland market replaced its boats with barges in second quarter 2003. In the Kansas City market, a competitor opened its expanded facility in third quarter 2003 and another competitor opened its new barge facility in fourth quarter 2003. The short-term impact of increased competition in these markets has been negative.

        A competitor is scheduled to open a new property in Las Vegas in the second quarter of 2005, which could impact our properties there.

        In October 2001, the legislature of the State of New York approved a bill authorizing six new tribal casinos in that state and video lottery terminals at tracks. The measure allows the governor of New York to negotiate gaming compacts with American Indian tribes to operate three casinos in the Catskills and three casinos in western New York.

        In September 1999, the State of California and approximately 60 Indian tribes executed Class III Gaming Compacts, which other California tribes can join. The Compacts will allow each tribe to operate, on tribal trust lands, two casinos with up to 2,000 slot machines per tribe and unlimited house-banked card games. Our own agreements with Rincon are a result of these events (see REGIONAL RESULTS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS, Managed Casinos and Other).

        Other states are also considering legislation enabling the development and operation of casinos or casino-like operations.

        Although the short-term effect of such competitive developments on our Company generally has been negative, we are not able to determine the long-term impact, whether favorable or unfavorable, that these trends and events will have on current or future markets. We believe that the geographic diversity of our operations; our focus on multi-market customer relationships; our service training, our rewards and customer loyalty programs; and our continuing efforts to establish our brands as premier brands upon which we have built strong customer loyalty have well-positioned us to face the challenges present within our industry. We utilize the capabilities of WINet, a sophisticated nationwide customer database, and Total Rewards, a nationwide loyalty program that allows our customers to earn cash, comps and other benefits for playing at Harrah's Entertainment casinos. We believe these sophisticated marketing tools provide us with competitive advantages, particularly with players who visit more than one market.

Political Uncertainties

        The casino entertainment industry is subject to political and regulatory uncertainty. From time to time, individual jurisdictions have also considered legislation or referendums, which could adversely impact our operations. The likelihood or outcome of similar legislation and referendums in the future cannot be predicted.

        The casino entertainment industry represents a significant source of tax revenues to the various jurisdictions in which casinos operate. From time to time, various state and federal legislators and officials have proposed changes in tax laws, or in the administration of such laws, which would affect the industry. It is not possible to determine the scope or likelihood of possible future changes in tax laws or in the administration of such laws. If adopted, such changes could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

Addition of International Operations

        The planned acquisition of Caesars will include certain properties located in countries outside the United States. International operations are subject to inherent risks including variation in local economies, currency fluctuation, greater difficulty in accounts receivable collection, trade barriers, burden of complying with a variety of international laws and political and economic instability.

32


        In addition, Caesars has announced plans to develop and operate a casino in the United Kingdom, partnering with Quintain Estates and Development Group. Development in the United Kingdom is dependent on passage of proposed legislative reform in the United Kingdom gaming laws and regulations and on receipt of a gaming license.

Economic Conditions

        Historically, economic conditions have had little effect on our operations, but we believe that adverse economic conditions could affect future results. We feel that our marketing programs, use of our technology to change the mix of slot machines and table games and our cost management programs have helped, in the past, to offset the impact of a sluggish economy.

National Defense and Homeland Security Matters

        The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the potential for future terrorist attacks, the national and international responses to terrorist attacks and other acts of war or hostility have created many economic and political uncertainties, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations in ways that cannot presently be predicted. For example, the United States Coast Guard is considering regulations designed to increase homeland security, which, if passed, could affect some of our properties and require significant expenditures to bring such properties into compliance. Furthermore, given current conditions in the global insurance markets, we are predominantly uninsured for losses and interruptions caused by terrorist acts and acts of war.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

        We prepare our Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Certain of our accounting policies, including the estimated lives assigned to our assets, the determination of bad debt, asset impairment, fair value of self-insurance reserves and the calculation of our income tax liabilities, require that we apply significant judgment in defining the appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates. By their nature, these judgments are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. Our judgments are based on our historical experience, terms of existing contracts, our observance of trends in the industry, information provided by our customers and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from our estimates. The policies and estimates discussed below are considered by management to be those in which our policies, estimates and judgments have a significant impact on issues that are inherently uncertain.

Property and Equipment

        We have significant capital invested in our property and equipment, which represents approximately 55% of our total assets. Judgments are made in determining the estimated useful lives of assets, salvage values to be assigned to assets and if or when an asset has been impaired. The accuracy of these estimates affects the amount of depreciation expense recognized in our financial results and whether we have a gain or loss on the disposal of the asset. We assign lives to our assets based on our standard policy, which is established by management as representative of the useful life of each category of asset. We review the carrying value of our property and equipment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. The factors considered by management in performing this assessment include current operating results, trends and prospects, as well as the effect of obsolescence, demand, competition and other economic factors. In estimating expected future cash flows for determining whether an asset is impaired, assets are grouped at the operating unit level, which for most of our assets is the individual casino.

33



Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

        We have approximately $2.2 billion in goodwill and other intangible assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets resulting from our acquisition of other businesses. The purchase price of an acquisition is allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. We determine the estimated fair values based on independent appraisals, discounted cash flows, quoted market prices and estimates made by management. To the extent that the purchase price exceeds the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets aquired, such excess is allocated to goodwill.

        An accounting standard adopted in 2002 requires a review at least annually of goodwill and other nonamortizing intangible assets for impairment. We completed our initial assessment for impairment of goodwill and other nonamortizing intangible assets and recorded an impairment charge in first quarter 2002. We complete our annual assessment for impairment in fourth quarter each year, and in fourth quarter 2003, we determined that, except for the goodwill associated with Harrah's Reno, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives have not been impaired. A charge was recorded in fourth quarter for the impairment of Reno's remaining goodwill. The annual evaluation of goodwill and other nonamortizing intangible assets requires the use of estimates about future operating results of each reporting unit to determine their estimated fair value. Changes in forecasted operations can materially affect these estimates. Once an impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets has been recorded, it cannot be reversed.

Total Rewards Point Liability Program

        Our customer rewards program, Total Rewards, offers incentives to customers who gamble at our casinos throughout the United States. Prior to 2003, customers received cash-back and other offers made in the form of coupons that were mailed to the customer and were redeemable on a subsequent visit to one of our properties. The coupons generally expired 30 days after they were issued. Given the requirement of a return visit to redeem the offer and the short-term expiration date, with no ability to renew or extend the offer, we recognized the expense of these offers when the coupons were redeemed.

        In fourth quarter 2002, a decision was made to change our Total Rewards program in 2003 to give our customers greater flexibility and control over the rewards they receive for playing at our casinos. Under the new program, customers are able to accumulate, or bank, Reward Credits over time that they may redeem at their discretion under the terms of the program. The Reward Credit balance will be forfeited if the customer does not earn a Reward Credit over the prior six-month period. As a result of the ability of the customer to bank the Reward Credits under the revised program, our accounting for the Total Rewards program changed and we accrue the expense of Reward Credits, after consideration of estimated breakage, as they are earned. To implement this change in the program, an initial bank of Reward Credits was offered to our existing customers. The amount of credits offered for this initial bank was calculated based upon 2002 tracked play at our casinos. As a result of the decision to extend this initial offer, an accrual of $6.9 million was recorded in 2002 to recognize our estimate of the expense of this implementation offer. Under the current program, the value of the cost to provide Reward Credits is expensed as the Reward Credits are earned. To arrive at the estimated cost associated with Reward Credits, estimates and assumptions are made regarding incremental marginal costs of the benefits, breakage rates and the mix of goods and services for which Reward Credits will be redeemed. We use historical data to assist in the determination of estimated accruals. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, $36.2 million and $25.7 million, respectively, was accrued for the cost of anticipated Total Rewards credit redemptions. The Company is planning to integrate the properties acquired from Horseshoe Gaming in 2004 into our Total Rewards Program during 2005.

        Our Horseshoe properties have a customer rewards program in which customers earn points based on their play. These points are primarily redeemable for cash and expire after one year. The liability

34



related to the outstanding points, which is based on historical redemption activity, was $3.0 million at December 31, 2004.

Bad Debt Reserves

        We reserve an estimated amount for receivables that may not be collected. Methodologies for estimating bad debt reserves range from specific reserves to various percentages applied to aged receivables. Historical collection rates are considered, as are customer relationships, in determining specific reserves. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, we had $48.6 million and $51.5 million, respectively, in our bad debt reserve. As with many estimates, management must make judgments about potential actions by third parties in establishing and evaluating our reserves for bad debts.

Self-Insurance Accruals

        We are self-insured up to certain limits for costs associated with general liability, workers' compensation and employee health coverage. Insurance claims and reserves include accruals of estimated settlements for known claims, as well as accruals of actuarial estimates of incurred but not reported claims. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, we had total self-insurance accruals reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets of $97.6 million and $89.3 million, respectively. In estimating these costs, we consider historical loss experience and make judgments about the expected levels of costs per claim. We also rely on independent consultants to assist in the determination of estimated accruals. These claims are accounted for based on actuarial estimates of the undiscounted claims, including those claims incurred but not reported. We believe the use of actuarial methods to account for these liabilities provides a consistent and effective way to measure these highly judgmental accruals; however, changes in health care costs, accident frequency and severity and other factors can materially affect the estimate for these liabilities. We continually monitor the potential for changes in estimates, evaluate our insurance accruals and adjust our recorded provisions.

Income Taxes

        We account for income taxes under SFAS No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or income tax returns. The effect on the income tax provision and deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and their respective tax bases using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. We are unaware of any circumstances that would cause the deferred tax assets to not be realizable, except as indicated in Note 10 to our Consolidated Financial Statements where the Company has provided a valuation allowance on certain state net operating losses and other deferred state tax assets. Although the Company consistently generates taxable income on a consolidated basis, these assets were not deemed realizable because they are attributable to subsidiaries that are not expected to produce future taxable earnings. Additionally, certain of the Company's prior year returns are under exam by the Internal Revenue Service as well as other taxing authorities. In the event that the taxing authorities ultimately sustain adjustments to the Company's previously reported taxable income, the Company will remit payments accordingly. Although the additional tax payments coupled with the expiration of bonus depreciation provisions in 2005 could cause total payments to exceed the reported amount of income tax expense, we do not expect these items to have a material impact on the Company's liquidity.

35



RECENTLY ISSUED AND PROPOSED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

        The following are accounting standards adopted or issued in 2004 that could have an impact to our Company.

        In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities" ("FIN 46"), which addresses consolidation by business enterprises where equity investors do not bear the residual economic risks and rewards. These entities have been commonly referred to as "special-purpose entities." Companies were required to apply the provisions of FIN 46 prospectively for all variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003. In December 2003, the FASB issued a revision to FIN 46 to clarify some of the provisions of the original interpretation and to exempt certain entities from its requirements. The additional guidance explains how to identify variable interest entities and how an enterprise should assess its interest in an entity to decide whether to consolidate that entity. Application of revised FIN 46 was required for public companies with interests in "special- purpose entities" for periods ending after December 15, 2003. Application for public entities for all other types of entities was required in financial statements for periods ending after March 15, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46 did not have a significant impact on our results of operations or financial position.

        In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment." Public companies (other than those filing as small business issuers) will be required to apply SFAS No. 123(R) as of the first interim or annual reporting period that begins after June 15, 2005. SFAS No. 123(R) requires that we recognize an expense for our equity-based compensation programs, including stock options. We are currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) to determine its impact on our future financial statements.

RISK FACTORS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS

The Company is subject to extensive governmental regulation and taxation policies, the enforcement of which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        We are subject to extensive gaming regulations and political and regulatory uncertainty. Regulatory authorities at the U.S. federal, state and local levels have broad powers with respect to the licensing of casino operations and may revoke, suspend, condition or limit our gaming or other licenses, impose substantial fines and take other actions, any one of which could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. From time to time, individual jurisdictions have also considered legislation or referendums, which could adversely impact our operations. The likelihood or outcome of similar legislation and referendums in the future cannot be predicted.

        The casino entertainment industry represents a significant source of tax revenues to the various jurisdictions in which casinos operate. From time to time, various state and federal legislators and officials have proposed changes in tax laws, or in the administration of such laws, including increases in tax rates, which would affect the industry. If adopted, such changes could adversely impact Harrah's business, financial condition and results of operations.

The development and construction of new hotels, casinos and gaming venues and the expansion of existing ones are susceptible to delays, cost overruns and other uncertainties, which could have an adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

        We may decide to develop, construct and open new hotels, casinos and other gaming venues in response to opportunities that may arise. If the Caesars merger is consummated, we will also continue to develop the projects that are currently being undertaken by Caesars. Future development projects and acquisitions may require significant capital commitments and could result in potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, the incurrence of additional debt, guarantees of third party-debt, the

36



incurrence of contingent liabilities and an increase in amortization expense related to intangible assets, which could have an adverse effect upon our business, financial condition and results of operations. The development and construction of new hotels, casinos and gaming venues and the expansion of existing ones are susceptible to various risks and uncertainties, such as:


        Our failure to complete any new development or expansion project as planned, on schedule, within budget or in a manner that generates anticipated profits, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Servicing our indebtedness will require a significant amount of cash, and our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond its control.

        Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness and to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is a holding company and Harrah's Operating Company conducts substantially all of its operations through its subsidiaries. As a result, our ability to meet our debt service obligations substantially depends upon our subsidiaries' cash flow and payments of funds to us by our subsidiaries. This ability, to some extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. An economic downturn in a region in which we operate, or will operate after the merger, may adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.

        Based on Harrah's Entertainment's current level of operations and recent acquisitions, including the pending acquisition of Caesars, we believe our cash flow from operations, available cash and available borrowings under our credit facility will be adequate to meet our liquidity needs for the foreseeable future. There can be no assurances, however, that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us under our credit facility in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. There can be no assurance that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all.

Acts of terrorism and war may negatively impact the Company's future profits.

        Terrorist attacks and other acts of war or hostility have created many economic and political uncertainties. We cannot predict the extent to which terrorism, security alerts or war, or hostilities in Iraq will continue to directly or indirectly impact our business and operating results. For example, the United States Coast Guard is considering regulations designed to increase homeland security, which, if passed, could affect some of our properties and require significant expenditures to bring such properties into compliance. In addition, as a consequence of the threat of terrorist attacks and other acts of war or hostility in the future, premiums for a variety of insurance products have increased, and some types of insurance are no longer available. Given current conditions in the global insurance

37



markets, we are predominately uninsured for losses and interruptions caused by terrorist acts and acts of war. If any such event were to affect our properties, we would likely be adversely impacted.

Work stoppages and other labor problems could negatively impact the Company's future profits.

        Some of our employees are represented by labor unions. A lengthy strike or other work stoppage at one of our casino properties or construction projects could have an adverse effect on our business and results of operations. From time to time we have also experienced attempts to unionize certain of our non-union employees. While these efforts have achieved only limited success to date, we cannot provide any assurance that we will not experience additional and more successful union activity in the future.

The Company may not realize all of the anticipated benefits of the merger with Caesars.

        Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger will depend, in part, on our ability to integrate the businesses of Caesars with our businesses. The combination of two independent companies is a complex, costly and time-consuming process. This process may disrupt the business of either or both of the companies, and may not result in the full benefits expected by us and Caesars. The difficulties of combining the operations of the companies include, among others:

        There is no assurance that the combination of Caesars with the Company will result in the realization of the full benefits anticipated from the merger.

PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT

        This Annual Report on Form 10-K contains or may contain "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations about future events. Further, statements that include words such as "may," "will," "project," "might," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "estimate," "continue" or "pursue," or the negative of these words or other words or expressions of similar meaning may identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are found at various places throughout the report. These forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those relating to future actions, new projects, strategies, future performance, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings and future financial results, wherever they occur in this report, are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of the management of the Company and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors set forth from time to time in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

38



        In addition to the risk factors identified elsewhere, important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include without limitation:

        You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this annual report. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this annual report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.

ITEM 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk.

        We are exposed to market risk, primarily changes in interest rates. We attempt to limit our exposure to interest rate risk by managing the mix of our debt between fixed rate and variable rate obligations. Of our approximate $5.2 billion total debt at December 31, 2004, $2.2 billion, including the fixed-rate debt for which we have entered into interest rate swap agreements, is subject to variable interest rates. The average interest rate on our variable-rate debt, excluding the impact of our swap agreements, was 3.2% at December 31, 2004. Assuming a constant outstanding balance for our variable rate debt for the next twelve months, a hypothetical 1% change in interest rates would change interest expense for the next twelve months by approximately $22.4 million. We utilize interest rate swaps to manage the mix of our debt between fixed and variable rate instruments. We also utilize treasury rate

39



locks to hedge the risk of future treasury rate increases for certain forecasted debt issuances. We do not purchase or hold any derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

        The table below provides information as of December 31, 2004, about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates, including debt obligations, interest rate swaps and treasury rate locks. For debt obligations, the table presents notional amounts and weighted average interest rates by contractual maturity dates. For interest rate swaps, the table presents notional amounts and weighted average interest rates by contractual maturity dates. Notional amounts are used to calculate the contractual payments to be exchanged under the contract and weighted average variable rates are based on implied forward rates in the yield curve as of December 31, 2004. For treasury rate locks, notional amounts are presented by contractual maturity dates, and average lock rates are based on contractual terms.

(In millions)

  2005
  2006
  2007
  2008
  2009
  Thereafter
  Total
  Fair Value
 
Liabilities:                                                  
  Long-term debt                                                  
    Fixed rate   $ 589.8   $ 1.7   $ 498.2   $ 1.8   $ 501.0   $ 1,822.6   $ 3,415.1   $ 3,676.9 (1)
      Average interest rate     7.9 %   7.3 %   7.1 %   7.1 %   7.5 %   6.2 %   6.8 %      
   
Variable rate

 

$


 

$


 

$


 

$


 

$

1,737.8

 

$


 

$

1,737.8

 

$

1,737.8

(1)
      Average interest rate     %   %   %   %   3.2 %   %   3.2 %      

Interest Rate Derivatives:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Interest rate swaps                                                  
    Fixed to variable   $ 300.0   $   $ 200.0   $   $   $   $ 500.0   $ (5.1 )(2)
      Average pay rate     8.1 %   7.9 %   8.2 %   %   %   %   8.1 %      
     
Average receive rate

 

 

7.6

%

 

7.1

%

 

7.1

%

 


%

 


%

 


%

 

7.6

%

 

 

 
 
Treasury rate locks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
    Notional amount   $ 400.0   $   $   $   $   $   $ 400.0   $ 1.9 (2)
    Average lock rate     4.3 %   %   %   %   %   %   4.3 %      

(1)
The fair values are based on the borrowing rates currently available for debt instruments with similar terms and maturities and market quotes of the Company's publicly traded debt.

(2)
The fair values are based on market prices obtained from dealer quotes.

        Our long-term variable rate debt reflects borrowings under revolving credit and letter of credit facilities provided to us by a consortium of banks with a total capacity of $2.5 billion. The interest rates charged on borrowings under these facilities are a function of the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate, or LIBOR and prime rate and are based on the rates as of December 31, 2004. As such, the interest rates charged to us for borrowings under the facilities are subject to change as LIBOR changes.

        Foreign currency translation gains and losses were not material to our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2004. Although we are pursuing development opportunities in the United Kingdom, we currently have no material ownership interests in businesses in foreign countries. Accordingly, we are not currently subject to material foreign currency exchange rate risk from the effects that exchange rate movements of foreign currencies would have on our future operating results or cash flows.

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ITEM 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.
Las Vegas, Nevada

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a)(2). These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

        As discussed in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets to conform to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, in 2002 and recorded a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle in the first quarter of 2002.

        We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 28, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on management's assessment of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting and an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Las Vegas, Nevada
February 28, 2005

41



HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 
  December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
 
Assets              
Current assets              
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 488,960   $ 397,942  
  Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $48,589 and $51,466     130,520     90,991  
  Deferred income taxes (Note 10)     30,073     68,323  
  Income tax receivable     46,032     36,166  
  Prepayments and other     66,000     55,929  
  Inventories     25,573     22,546  
   
 
 
    Total current assets     787,158     671,897  
   
 
 

Land, buildings, riverboats and equipment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Land and land improvements     881,031     729,441  
  Buildings, riverboats and improvements     3,788,375     3,217,386  
  Furniture, fixtures and equipment     1,648,961     1,361,963  
  Construction in progress     202,271     111,219  
   
 
 
      6,520,638     5,420,009  
  Less: accumulated depreciation     (1,775,661 )   (1,581,134 )
   
 
 
      4,744,977     3,838,875  
Assets held for sale (Note 3)     502,602     688,106  
Goodwill (Notes 2 and 4)     1,354,738     701,133  
Intangible assets (Notes 2 and 4)     861,355     315,019  
Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates (Note 15)     6,150     6,537  
Escrow deposit for Horseshoe acquisition (Note 2)         75,000  
Deferred costs and other     328,634     282,277  
   
 
 
    $ 8,585,614   $ 6,578,844  
   
 
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity              
Current liabilities              
  Accounts payable   $ 174,532   $ 117,941  
  Accrued expenses (Note 6)     577,706     463,466  
  Current portion of long-term debt (Note 7)     1,788     1,632  
   
 
 
    Total current liabilities     754,026     583,039  

Liabilities held for sale (Note 3)

 

 

809

 

 

10,796

 
Long-term debt (Note 7)     5,151,121     3,671,889  
Deferred credits and other     198,485     194,017  
Deferred income taxes (Note 10)     413,461     330,674  
   
 
 
      6,517,902     4,790,415  
   
 
 
Minority interests     32,515     49,989  
   
 
 

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 2, 3, 8, 10 and 12 through 15)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' equity (Notes 5, 7, 14 and 15)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Common stock, $0.10 par value, authorized—360,000,000 shares, outstanding—112,732,285 and 110,889,294 shares (net of 36,130,542 and 35,078,478 shares held in treasury)     11,273     11,089  
  Capital surplus     1,394,519     1,277,903  
  Retained earnings     638,437     466,662  
  Accumulated other comprehensive income     963     151  
  Deferred compensation related to restricted stock     (9,995 )   (17,365 )
   
 
 
      2,035,197     1,738,440  
   
 
 
    $ 8,585,614   $ 6,578,844  
   
 
 

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these consolidated balance sheets.

42



HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Revenues                    
  Casino   $ 4,077,694   $ 3,458,396   $ 3,285,877  
  Food and beverage     665,515     596,772     572,775  
  Rooms     390,077     339,037     317,914  
  Management fees     60,651     72,149     66,888  
  Other     217,195     190,092     148,635  
  Less: casino promotional allowances     (862,806 )   (707,581 )   (644,223 )
   
 
 
 
    Net revenues     4,548,326     3,948,865     3,747,866  
   
 
 
 
Operating expenses                    
  Direct                    
    Casino     2,061,642     1,748,698     1,602,544  
    Food and beverage     278,107     255,193     240,622  
    Rooms     66,965     65,340     67,243  
  Property general, administrative and other     924,756     830,296     780,788  
  Depreciation and amortization     327,188     294,336     278,935  
  Write-downs, reserves and recoveries (Note 9)     9,567     10,476     4,537  
  Project opening costs     9,526     7,352     1,703  
  Corporate expense     66,818     52,602     56,626  
  Merger and integration costs for Caesars acquisition     2,331          
  Losses on interests in nonconsolidated affiliates (Note 15)     879     999     1,670  
  Amortization of intangible assets (Note 4)     9,439     4,798     4,493  
   
 
 
 
    Total operating expenses     3,757,218     3,270,090     3,039,161  
   
 
 
 
Income from operations     791,108     678,775     708,705  
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized (Note 11)     (271,802 )   (234,419 )   (240,220 )
Losses on early extinguishments of debt (Note 7)         (19,074 )    
Other income, including interest income     9,483     2,913     2,137  
   
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interests     528,789     428,195     470,622  
Provision for income taxes (Note 10)     (190,641 )   (155,568 )   (174,445 )
Minority interests     (8,623 )   (11,563 )   (13,965 )
   
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations     329,525     261,064     282,212  
Discontinued operations (Note 3)                    
  Income from discontinued operations (including loss on disposal of $1,766 in 2003)     56,644     48,552     67,670  
  Provision for income taxes     (18,460 )   (16,993 )   (23,684 )
   
 
 
 
    Income from discontinued operations     38,184     31,559     43,986  
   
 
 
 
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle     367,709     292,623     326,198  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax benefits of $2,831 (Note 4)             (91,169 )
   
 
 
 
Net income   $ 367,709   $ 292,623   $ 235,029  
   
 
 
 
Earnings per share—basic                    
  Income from continuing operations   $ 2.97   $ 2.40   $ 2.54  
  Discontinued operations, net     0.34     0.29     0.39  
  Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net             (0.82 )
   
 
 
 
    Net income   $ 3.31   $ 2.69   $ 2.11  
   
 
 
 
Earnings per share—diluted                    
  Income from continuing operations   $ 2.92   $ 2.36   $ 2.48  
  Discontinued operations, net     0.34     0.29     0.39  
  Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net             (0.80 )
   
 
 
 
    Net income   $ 3.26   $ 2.65   $ 2.07  
   
 
 
 
Dividends declared per share   $ 1.26   $ 0.60   $  
   
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding     111,162     108,972     111,212  
  Additional shares based on average market price for period applicable to:                    
    Restricted stock     490     454     631  
    Stock options     1,215     977     1,691  
   
 
 
 
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding     112,867     110,403     113,534  
   
 
 
 

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

43



HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
(Notes 5, 7, 14 and 15)

 
  Common Stock
   
   
   
  Deferred
Compensation
Related to
Restricted
Stock

   
   
 
 
   
   
  Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income/(Loss)

   
   
 
 
  Shares
Outstanding

  Amount
  Capital
Surplus

  Retained
Earnings

  Total
  Comprehensive
Income

 
Balance—December 31, 2001   112,322   $ 11,232   $ 1,143,125   $ 248,098   $ (1,449 ) $ (26,893 ) $ 1,374,113        
    Net income                     235,029                 235,029   $ 235,029  
    Unrealized loss on available-for-sale securities, less deferred tax benefit of $239                           (442 )         (442 )   (442 )
    Other                           1,476           1,476     1,476  
    Treasury stock purchases   (5,275 )   (527 )         (222,830 )               (223,357 )      
    Net shares issued under incentive compensation plans, including income tax benefit of $23,970   2,662     266     81,683                 2,240     84,189        
                                           
 
  2002 Comprehensive Income                                           $ 236,063  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance—December 31, 2002   109,709     10,971     1,224,808     260,297     (415 )   (24,653 )   1,471,008        
    Net income                     292,623                 292,623   $ 292,623  
    Unrealized gain on available-for-sale securities, less deferred tax provision of $215                           397           397     397  
    Realization of loss on available-for-sale securities, net of tax benefit of $10                           18           18     18  
    Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax provision of $81                           151           151     151  
    Treasury stock purchases   (500 )   (50 )         (17,887 )               (17,937 )      
    Cash dividends                     (66,219 )               (66,219 )      
    Net shares issued under incentive compensation plans, including income tax benefit of $15,537   1,680     168     53,095     (2,152 )         7,288     58,399        
                                           
 
  2003 Comprehensive Income                                           $ 293,189  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance—December 31, 2003   110,889     11,089     1,277,903     466,662     151     (17,365 )   1,738,440        
    Net income                     367,709                 367,709   $ 367,709  
    Net gain on derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges, net of tax provision of $392                           717           717     717  
    Reclassification of loss on derivative instrument from other comprehensive income to net income, net of tax benefit of $23                           42           42     42  
    Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax provision of $28                           53           53     53  
    Treasury stock purchases   (1,000 )   (100 )         (53,275 )               (53,375 )      
    Cash dividends                     (141,319 )               (141,319 )      
    Net shares issued under incentive compensation plans, including income tax benefit of $26,838   2,843     284     116,616     (1,340 )         7,370     122,930        
                                           
 
  2004 Comprehensive Income                                           $ 368,521  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance—December 31, 2004   112,732   $ 11,273   $ 1,394,519   $ 638,437   $ 963   $ (9,995 ) $ 2,035,197        
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
       

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

44


HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Note 11)

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Cash flows from operating activities                    
  Net income   $ 367,709   $ 292,623   $ 235,029  
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities                    
    Earnings from discontinued operations, before income taxes     (56,644 )   (48,552 )   (67,670 )
    Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, before income taxes             94,000  
    Losses on early extinguishments of debt         19,074      
    Depreciation and amortization     361,564     319,694     304,620  
    Write-downs, reserves and recoveries     195     10,476     4,537  
    Deferred income taxes     82,428     104,287     89,886  
    Tax benefit from stock equity plans     26,838     15,537     23,970  
    Other noncash items     16,044     18,825     26,213  
    Minority interests' share of net income     8,623     11,563     13,965  
    Losses on interests in nonconsolidated affiliates     879     999     1,670  
    Net losses from asset sales     2,305     125     1,695  
    Net change in long-term accounts     (51,262 )   (32,173 )   (27,871 )
    Net change in working capital accounts     32,319     (45,696 )   (53,862 )
   
 
 
 
      Cash flows provided by operating activities     790,998     666,782     646,182  
   
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities                    
  Payments for businesses acquired, net of cash acquired     (1,616,874 )       (162,431 )
  Escrow payment for Horseshoe acquisition         (75,000 )    
  Purchase of minority interest in subsidiary     (37,500 )        
  Land, buildings, riverboats and equipment additions     (654,197 )   (383,600 )   (349,102 )
  Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates     (333 )   (4,228 )    
  Increase/(decrease) in construction payables     35,202     1,764     (6,396 )
  Proceeds from other asset sales     3,820     3,960     34,601  
  Proceeds from sale of interests in nonconsolidated affiliates         897      
  Other     (26,773 )   (14,948 )   (7,162 )
   
 
 
 
      Cash flows used in investing activities     (2,296,655 )   (471,155 )   (490,490 )
   
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities                    
  Proceeds from issuance of senior notes, net of discount and issue costs of $12,001 and $6,919     737,999     493,081      
  Borrowings under lending agreements, net of financing costs of $6,211, $15,342 and $655     4,157,929     3,368,947     2,772,671  
  Repayments under lending agreements     (3,424,140 )   (2,526,189 )   (2,728,126 )
  Loss on derivative instrument     (775 )        
  Borrowings under retired bank facility         161,125      
  Repayments under retired bank facility         (1,446,625 )    
  Other short-term repayments         (60,250 )    
  Early extinguishments of debt         (159,476 )   (28,210 )
  Premiums paid on early extinguishments of debt         (16,125 )    
  Scheduled debt retirements     (1,577 )   (1,583 )   (1,659 )
  Dividends paid     (141,319 )   (66,219 )    
  Proceeds from exercises of stock options     89,970     34,085     48,695  
  Purchases of treasury stock     (53,375 )   (17,937 )   (223,357 )
  Minority interests' distributions, net of contributions     (8,890 )   (10,639 )   (12,153 )
  Other     715     (178 )   (1,135 )
   
 
 
 
      Cash flows provided by/(used in) financing activities     1,356,537     (247,983 )   (173,274 )
   
 
 
 
Cash flows from assets held for sale                    
  Proceeds from sales of assets held for sale     197,561     48,640      
  Net transfers from assets held for sale     42,577     17,293     77,018  
   
 
 
 
      Cash flows provided by assets held for sale     240,138     65,933     77,018  
   
 
 
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents     91,018     13,577     59,436  
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year     397,942     384,365     324,929  
   
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year   $ 488,960   $ 397,942   $ 384,365  
   
 
 
 

The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
are an integral part of these consolidated statements.

45



HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise stated)

In these footnotes, the words "Company," "Harrah's Entertainment," "we," "our" and "us" refer to Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise.

Note 1—Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND ORGANIZATION.    As of December 31, 2004, we operated 28 casinos in 12 states. Our operations include 11 land-based casinos, 11 riverboat or dockside casinos, a combination greyhound racetrack and casino, a combination thoroughbred racetrack and casino and four managed casinos on Indian lands. We view each property as an operating segment and aggregate all operating segments into one reporting segment.

        On July 14, 2004, we signed a definitive agreement to acquire Caesars Entertainment, Inc. ("Caesars") in a cash and stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Caesars shareholders will receive either $17.75 in cash or 0.3247 shares of Harrah's Entertainment's common stock for each outstanding share of Caesars' common stock, subject to limitations on the aggregate amount of cash to be paid and shares of stock to be issued. Caesars operates 27 casinos with about two million square feet of gaming space and approximately 26,000 hotel rooms and has significant presence in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Mississippi. The transaction is subject to regulatory and shareholders' approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2005.

        On September 27, 2004, we reached an agreement to sell the assets and certain related current liabilities of Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica to another gaming company. The sale, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2005. These properties are classified in Assets/Liabilities held for sale on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, and we ceased depreciating their assets in September 2004. Results for Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica are presented as Discontinued operations for all periods presented. During 2003, we sold properties in Central City, Colorado, and Vicksburg, Mississippi. For periods prior to their sales, the operating results of those properties, including the losses recorded on the sales, are presented in our Consolidated Statements of Income as Discontinued operations. (See Note 3.)

        In conjunction with our plans to acquire Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. ("Horseshoe Gaming") (see Note 2), in May 2004, we sold Harrah's Shreveport to avoid overexposure in that market. Prior to the sale, we classified this property in Assets/Liabilities held for sale on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and we ceased depreciating its assets in September 2003. Since we had a continued presence in the Shreveport-Bossier City market, Harrah's Shreveport's operating results were not classified as Discontinued operations. (See Note 3.)

        PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION.    Our Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Harrah's Entertainment and its subsidiaries after elimination of all significant intercompany accounts and transactions.

        CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS.    Cash includes the minimum cash balances required to be maintained by state gaming commissions or local and state governments, which totaled approximately $22.0 million and $24.2 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments with an original maturity of less than three months and are stated at the lower of cost or market value.

46



        ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS.    We reserve an estimated amount for receivables that may not be collected. Methodologies for estimating the allowance for doubtful accounts range from specific reserves to various percentages applied to aged receivables. Historical collection rates are considered, as are customer relationships, in determining specific reserves.

        INVENTORIES.    Inventories, which consist primarily of food, beverage, retail merchandise and operating supplies, are stated at average cost.

        LAND, BUILDINGS, RIVERBOATS AND EQUIPMENT.    Land, buildings, riverboats and equipment are stated at cost. Land includes land held for future development or disposition, which totaled $119.5 million at December 31, 2004 and 2003. We capitalize the costs of improvements and repairs that extend the life of the asset. We expense maintenance and repairs cost as incurred. Gains or losses on the dispositions of land, buildings, riverboats or equipment are included in the determination of income. Interest expense is capitalized on internally constructed assets at our overall weighted average borrowing rate of interest. Capitalized interest amounted to $4.1 million, $2.3 million and $3.5 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

        We depreciate our buildings, riverboats and equipment using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the related lease term, as follows:

Buildings and improvements   10 to 40 years
Riverboats and barges   30 years
Furniture, fixtures and equipment   2 to 15 years

        We review the carrying value of land, buildings, riverboats and equipment for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. In cases where undiscounted expected future cash flows are less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recognized equal to an amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. The factors considered by management in performing this assessment include current operating results, trends and prospects, as well as the effect of obsolescence, demand, competition and other economic factors. In estimating expected future cash flows for determining whether an asset is impaired, assets are grouped at the operating unit level, which for most of our assets is the individual casino.

        GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS.    We have approximately $2.2 billion in goodwill and other intangible assets on our balance sheet resulting from our acquisitions of other businesses. Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," adopted on January 1, 2002, requires a review, at least annually, of goodwill and other nonamortizing intangible assets for impairment. Once an impairment of goodwill or other nonamortizing intangible asset has been recorded, it cannot be reversed. We completed our initial assessment for impairment of goodwill and other nonamortizing intangibles and recorded an impairment charge in first quarter 2002. We perform our annual assessment of goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment during the fourth quarter of each year. (See Note 4.)

        The purchase price of an acquisition is allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. We determine the estimated fair values based on independent appraisals, discounted cash flows, quoted market prices and estimates made by management. To the extent that the purchase price exceeds the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired, such excess is allocated to goodwill. With the

47


adoption of SFAS No. 142 in 2002, we no longer amortize goodwill or intangible assets that are determined to have an indefinite life. Prior to 2002, we amortized goodwill and other intangibles, including trademarks, on a straight-line basis over periods up to 40 years. Intangible assets determined to have a finite life are amortized on a straight-line basis over the determined useful life of the asset (see Note 4).

        We use the interest method to amortize deferred financing charges over the term of the related debt agreements.

        TOTAL REWARDS POINT LIABILITY PROGRAM.    Our customer rewards program, Total Rewards, offers incentives to customers who gamble at our casinos throughout the United States. Prior to 2003, customers received cash-back and other offers made in the form of coupons that were mailed to the customer and were redeemable on a subsequent visit to one of our properties. The coupons generally expired 30 days after they were issued. Given the requirement of a return visit to redeem the offer and the short-term expiration date, with no ability to renew or extend the offer, we recognized the expense of these offers when the coupons were redeemed.

        In fourth quarter 2002, a decision was made to change our Total Rewards program in 2003 to give our customers greater flexibility and control over the rewards they receive for playing at our casinos. Under the new program, customers are able to accumulate, or bank, Reward Credits over time that they may redeem at their discretion under the terms of the program. The Reward Credit balance will be forfeited if the customer does not earn a Reward Credit over the prior six-month period. As a result of the ability of the customer to bank the Reward Credits under the revised program, our accounting for the Total Rewards program changed, and we accrue the expense of Reward Credits, after consideration of estimated breakage, as they are earned. To implement this change in the program, an initial bank of Reward Credits was offered to our existing customers. The amount of credits offered for this initial bank was calculated based upon 2002 tracked play at our casinos. As a result of the decision to extend this initial offer, an accrual of $6.9 million was recorded in 2002 to recognize our estimate of the expense of this implementation offer. Under the current program, the value of the cost to provide Reward Credits is expensed as the Reward Credits are earned. To arrive at the estimated cost associated with Reward Credits, estimates and assumptions are made regarding incremental marginal costs of the benefits, breakage rates and the mix of goods and services for which Reward Credits will be redeemed. We use historical data to assist in the determination of estimated accruals. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, $36.2 million and $25.7 million, respectively, was accrued for the cost of anticipated Total Rewards credit redemptions. The Company is planning to integrate the properties acquired from Horseshoe Gaming in 2004 into our Total Rewards program during 2005.

        Our Horseshoe properties have a customer rewards program in which customers earn points based on their play. These points are primarily redeemable for cash and expire after one year. The liability related to the outstanding points, which is based on historical redemption activity, was $3.0 million at December 31, 2004.

        SELF-INSURANCE ACCRUALS.    We are self-insured up to certain limits for costs associated with general liability, workers' compensation and employee health coverage. Insurance claims and reserves include accruals of estimated settlements for known claims, as well as accruals of actuarial estimates of incurred but not reported claims. At December 31, 2004 and 2003, we had total self-insurance accruals reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheets of $97.6 million and $89.3 million, respectively. In estimating those costs, we consider historical loss experience and make judgments about the expected

48



levels of costs per claim. We also rely on independent consultants to assist in the determination of estimated accruals. These claims are accounted for based on actuarial estimates of the undiscounted claims, including those claims incurred but not reported. We believe the use of actuarial methods to account for these liabilities provides a consistent and effective way to measure these highly judgmental accruals; however, changes in health care costs, accident frequency and severity and other factors can materially affect the estimate for these liabilities. We continually monitor the potential for changes in estimates, evaluate our insurance accruals and adjust our recorded provisions.

        TREASURY STOCK.    The shares of Harrah's Entertainment common stock we hold in treasury are reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets and our Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income as if those shares were retired.

        REVENUE RECOGNITION.    Casino revenues consist of net gaming wins. Food and beverage and rooms revenues include the aggregate amounts generated by those departments at all consolidated casinos and casino hotels.

        Casino promotional allowances consist principally of the retail value of complimentary food and beverages, accommodations, admissions and entertainment provided to casino patrons. Also included is the value of coupons redeemed for cash at our properties. The estimated costs of providing such complimentary services, which we classify as casino expenses for continuing operations through interdepartmental allocations, were as follows:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
Food and beverage   $ 240,752   $ 204,820   $ 199,972
Rooms     82,932     77,436     71,364
Other     50,168     25,663     20,556
   
 
 
    $ 373,852   $ 307,919   $ 291,892
   
 
 

        EARNINGS PER SHARE.    In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 128, "Earnings Per Share," we compute our Basic earnings per share by dividing Net income by the number of Weighted average common shares outstanding during the year. Our Diluted earnings per share is computed by dividing Net income by the number of Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding during the year. For each of the three years ended December 31, 2004, common stock equivalents consisted solely of net restricted shares of 489,958, 453,592 and 631,532, respectively, and stock options outstanding of 1,215,060, 977,263 and 1,691,000, respectively, under our employee stock benefit plans. (See Note 14.)

        STOCK-BASED EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION.    As allowed under the provisions of SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation," we apply the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related interpretations to account for our stock option plans and, accordingly, do not recognize compensation expense. Furthermore, no stock option-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income, as all options granted under those plans had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Had compensation expense for the stock option plans been determined in accordance with SFAS No. 123, total stock-based employee compensation expense, net of tax effects, would have been $29.9 million, $23.5 million, and $20.2 million for the years ended

49



December 31, 2004, 2003, and 2002, respectively, and our pro forma Net income and Earnings per share for the indicated periods would have been:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
  As
Reported

  Pro
Forma

  As
Reported

  Pro
Forma

  As
Reported

  Pro
Forma

Net income   $ 367,709   $ 337,768   $ 292,623   $ 269,086   $ 235,029   $ 214,828
Earnings per share                                    
  Basic     3.31     3.04     2.69     2.47     2.11     1.93
  Diluted     3.26     2.99     2.65     2.44     2.07     1.89

        The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Expected dividend yield   2.5 % 2.8 % 0.0 %
Expected stock price volatility   37.9 % 37.0 % 32.0 %
Risk-free interest rate   3.7 % 2.5 % 3.7 %
Expected average life of options (years)   5   6   6  

        In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), "Share-Based Payment," which we are required to apply as of the first interim or annual reporting period that begins after June 15, 2005. SFAS No. 123(R) requires that we recognize an expense for our equity-based compensation programs, including stock options. We are currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) to determine its impact on our future financial statements.

        ADVERTISING.    The Company expenses the production costs of advertising the first time the advertising takes place. Advertising expense for continuing operations was $129.7 million, $116.0 million and $106.0 million for the years 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

        INCOME TAXES.    We are subject to income taxes in the United States as well as various states and foreign jurisdictions in which we operate. We account for income taxes under SFAS 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or income tax returns. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and their respective tax bases using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

        The effect on the income tax provision and deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. As indicated in Note 10 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has provided a valuation allowance on certain state net operating losses ("NOLs") and other deferred state tax assets. Although the Company consistently generates taxable income on a consolidated basis, these assets were not deemed realizable because they are attributable to subsidiaries that are not expected to produce future taxable earnings. Other than this exception, we are unaware of any circumstances that would cause the remaining deferred tax assets to not be realizable.

50



        Our income tax returns are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and other tax authorities. While positions taken in tax returns are sometimes subject to uncertainty in the tax laws, we do not take such positions unless we have "substantial authority" to do so under the Internal Revenue Code and applicable regulations. We may take positions on our tax returns based on substantial authority that are not ultimately accepted by the IRS.

        We assess such potential unfavorable outcomes based on the criteria of SFAS No. 5, "Accounting for Contingencies." We establish a tax reserve if an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the unfavorable outcome can be reasonably estimated. In determining whether the probable criterion of SFAS No. 5 is met, we presume that the taxing authority will focus on the exposure and we assess the probable outcome of a particular issue based upon the relevant legal and technical merits. We also apply our judgment regarding the potential actions by the tax authorities and resolution through the settlement process.

        We maintain required tax reserves until such time as the underlying issue is resolved. When actual results differ from reserve estimates, we adjust the income tax provision and our tax reserves in the period resolved. For tax years that are examined by taxing authorities, we adjust tax reserves in the year the tax examinations are settled. For tax years that are not examined by taxing authorities, we adjust tax reserves in the year that the statute of limitations expires. Our estimate of the potential outcome for any uncertain tax issue is highly judgmental, and we believe we have adequately provided for any reasonable and foreseeable outcomes related to uncertain tax matters. In the event that the taxing authorities ultimately sustain adjustments to the Company's previously reported taxable income, the Company will remit payments accordingly.

        We classify reserves for tax uncertainties within "accrued expenses" and "deferred credits and other" in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets, separate from any related income tax payable or deferred income taxes. Reserve amounts may relate to the deductibility of an item, as well as potential interest associated with those items.

        USE OF ESTIMATES.    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires that we make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Our actual results could differ from those estimates.

Note 2—Acquisitions

        In the three-year period ended December 31, 2004, we acquired one casino company, certain intellectual property rights, a thoroughbred racetrack facility and the remaining interest in a nonconsolidated subsidiary. For each of these acquisitions, the purchase price is allocated to the underlying assets acquired and liabilities assumed based upon their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. We determine the estimated fair values based on independent appraisals, discounted cash flows, quoted market prices and estimates made by management. For each transaction, the allocation of the purchase price was, or will be, completed within one year from the date of the acquisition. To the extent that the purchase price exceeded the fair value of the net identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired, such excess was allocated to goodwill. With the adoption of SFAS No. 142 in 2002, we no longer amortize goodwill or intangible assets that are determined to have an indefinite life.

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        The table below summarizes our acquisition transactions completed in the three-year period ending December 31, 2004.

Company

  Date
Acquired

  Total
Purchase
Price(a)

  Goodwill
Assigned

  Number
of
Casinos

  Geographic
Location

Horseshoe Gaming   July 2004   $1.62 billion   $565 million   3   Bossier City, Louisiana
Hammond, Indiana
Tunica Mississippi
Horseshoe Club Operating Company(b)   March 2004   $37 million     1 (c) Las Vegas, Nevada
JCC Holding Company(d)   June 2002 and December 2002   $149 million     1   New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana Downs, Inc.   December 2002   $94 million   $36 million   1 (e) Bossier City, Louisiana

(a)
Total purchase price includes the market value of debt assumed determined as of the acquisition date.

(b)
This acquisition was for certain intellectual property assets, including the rights to the Horseshoe brand in Nevada and to the World Series of Poker brand and tournament.

(c)
This casino is owned by another gaming company, and we operate it jointly with that company.

(d)
Acquired additional 14% interest in June 2002 and the remaining 37% interest in December 2002.

(e)
Acquired a thoroughbred racetrack that was expanded to include slot machines in 2003.

        HORSESHOE GAMING.    On July 1, 2004, we acquired 100 percent of the equity interests of Horseshoe Gaming for approximately $1.62 billion, including assumption of debt valued at approximately $558 million and acquisition costs. A $75 million escrow payment made in 2003 was applied to the purchase price. We issued a redemption notice on July 1, 2004, for all $558 million of Horseshoe Gaming's outstanding 85/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due July 2009 and retired that debt August 2, 2004. We financed the acquisition and the debt retirement through working capital and established debt programs. We purchased Horseshoe Gaming to acquire casinos in Hammond, Indiana; Tunica, Mississippi; and Bossier City, Louisiana and with the intention of growing and developing the Horseshoe brand.

        In anticipation of our acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming, we sold our Harrah's brand casino in Shreveport, Louisiana. (See Note 3.) After consideration of the sale of Harrah's Shreveport, the Horseshoe Gaming acquisition added a net 113,300 square feet of casino space and approximately 4,580 slot machines and 150 table games to our existing portfolio. Taken together with our acquisition of intellectual property rights from Horseshoe Club Operating Company ("Horseshoe Club") (see discussion below), this acquisition gave us rights to the Horseshoe brand in all of the United States. The results of the Horseshoe properties are included with our operating results subsequent to their acquisition on July 1, 2004.

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        The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. The purchase price allocation is in process and will be completed within one year of the acquisition; thus, the allocation of the purchase price is subject to refinement.

(In millions)

  At July 1,
2004

 
Current assets   $ 109.1  
Land, buildings, riverboats and equipment     579.8  
Long-term assets     17.7  
Intangible assets     494.0  
Goodwill     565.2  
   
 
  Total assets acquired     1,765.8  
   
 
Current liabilities     (83.0 )
Deferred income taxes     (57.9 )
Long-term debt     (558.1 )
   
 
  Total liabilities assumed     (699.0 )
   
 
    Net assets acquired   $ 1,066.8  
   
 

        Of the estimated $494.0 million of acquired intangible assets, $295.0 million has been assigned to gaming rights and $89.0 million has been assigned to trademarks, both of which are not subject to amortization. The remaining intangible assets include customer relationships estimated at $100.0 million (15-year weighted-average useful life) and contract rights estimated at $10.0 million (four-year estimated life). The weighted average useful life of all amortizing intangible assets is approximately 14 years.

        We anticipate that all of the goodwill related to the Horseshoe Gaming acquisition will be deductible for tax purposes.

        The following pro forma consolidated financial information has been prepared assuming that the acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming and the extinguishment of Horseshoe Gaming's debt had occurred on the first day of the respective periods.

 
  Year ended December 31,
(In millions, except per share amounts)

  2004
  2003
Net revenues   $ 4,905.9   $ 4,598.0
   
 
Income from operations   $ 857.2   $ 801.1
   
 
Income from continuing operations   $ 348.6   $ 293.7
   
 
Net income   $ 386.8   $ 325.3
   
 
Earnings per share—diluted            
  Income from continuing operations   $ 3.09   $ 2.66
   
 
  Net income   $ 3.43   $ 2.95
   
 

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        These unaudited pro forma results are presented for comparative purposes only. The pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of what our actual results would have been had the acquisition been completed as of the beginning of these periods, or of future results.

        LAS VEGAS HORSESHOE HOTEL AND CASINO.    In March 2004, we acquired certain intellectual property assets, including the rights to the Horseshoe brand in Nevada and to the World Series of Poker brand and tournament, from Horseshoe Club. MTR Gaming Group, Inc. ("MTR Gaming") acquired the assets of the Binion's Horseshoe Hotel and Casino ("Las Vegas Horseshoe") in Las Vegas, Nevada, including the right to use the name "Binion's" at the property, from Horseshoe Club. We will operate Las Vegas Horseshoe jointly with a subsidiary of MTR Gaming for one year, with options to extend the agreement for two additional years; however, we have notified MTR Gaming that we do not intend to extend the agreement. The property, which had been closed since January 2004, reopened April 1, 2004. Since its reopening, the operating results for Las Vegas Horseshoe have been consolidated with our results and will continue to be consolidated until the operating agreement is terminated on March 10, 2005. Las Vegas Horseshoe's results have not been material to our operating results.

        We paid approximately $37.4 million for the intellectual property assets, including assumption and subsequent payment of certain liabilities of Las Vegas Horseshoe (which included certain amounts payable to a principal of Horseshoe Gaming) and approximately $5.1 million of acquisition costs. The intangible assets acquired in this transaction have been deemed to have indefinite lives and, therefore, are not being amortized. We financed the acquisition with funds from various sources, including cash flows from operations and borrowings from established debt programs.

        JAZZ CASINO COMPANY.    On June 7, 2002, we acquired additional shares of the common stock of JCC Holding Company, which, together with its subsidiary, Jazz Casino Company LLC (collectively, "JCC"), owns and operates the Harrah's casino in New Orleans, Louisiana. The acquisition of these shares increased our ownership in JCC from 49% to 63% and required a change of our accounting treatment for our investment in JCC from the equity method to consolidation of JCC in our financial statements. We began consolidating JCC in our financial results on June 7, 2002. On December 10, 2002, we acquired all remaining shares of JCC's stock to increase our ownership to 100%.

        LOUISIANA DOWNS.    On December 20, 2002, we acquired a controlling interest in Louisiana Downs, Inc. ("Louisiana Downs") a thoroughbred racetrack in Bossier City, Louisiana. The agreement gave Harrah's Entertainment a 95% ownership interest in a company that owned both Louisiana Downs and Harrah's Shreveport. In May 2003, approximately 900 slot machines were put into service and Louisiana Downs became the only land-based gaming facility in northern Louisiana. In the second quarter of 2004, we opened a new, permanent facility with approximately 1,400 slot machines. The results of Louisiana Downs' operations have been included in our Consolidated Financial Statements since the date of acquisition.

        HARRAH'S SHREVEPORT AND LOUISIANA DOWNS—BUYOUT OF MINORITY PARTNERS.    In the first quarter of 2004, we paid approximately $37.5 million to the minority owners of the company that owned Louisiana Downs and Harrah's Shreveport to purchase their ownership interest in that company. The excess of the cost to purchase the minority ownership above the capital balances was assigned to goodwill. As a result of this transaction, Harrah's Shreveport and Louisiana Downs became wholly-owned by the Company. Harrah's Shreveport was subsequently sold to another gaming company.

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        CHESTER DOWNS & MARINA.    In July 2004, after receiving Pennsylvania regulatory and certain local approvals, we acquired a 50% interest in Chester Downs & Marina, LLC ("CD&M"), an entity licensed to develop a harness-racing facility in southeastern Pennsylvania. Harrah's Entertainment and CD&M have agreed to develop Harrah's Chester Downs Casino and Racetrack ("Harrah's Chester"), a 5/8-mile harness racetrack facility approximately six miles south of Philadelphia International Airport. Plans for the facility also include a 1,500-seat grandstand and simulcast facilities, a slot casino with approximately 2,000 games and a variety of food and beverage offerings. We have commenced site work and demolition at the property and expect racing and simulcasting to begin in the second quarter of 2006 and the casino to open in the third quarter of 2006. We will guarantee or provide financing for the project and we are consolidating Harrah's Chester in our financial statements.

        HARRAH'S EAST CHICAGO—BUYOUT OF MINORITY PARTNERS.    In the second quarter of 2003, we paid approximately $28.8 million to former partners in the Harrah's East Chicago property to settle outstanding litigation with the partners relating to a buyout in 1999 of the partners' interest in the property and to terminate the contractual rights of the partners to repurchase an 8.55% interest in the property. The two remaining minority partners in our East Chicago property owned, in aggregate, 0.45% of this property. In December 2003 and January 2004, we acquired these ownership interests for aggregate consideration of approximately $0.8 million. As a result of these transactions, the East Chicago property became wholly-owned by the Company. (See Note 3.)

        In addition to these completed transactions, we have announced the following planned acquisition.

        CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT.    On July 14, 2004, we signed a definitive agreement to acquire Caesars Entertainment, Inc. ("Caesars") in a cash and stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Caesars shareholders will receive either $17.75 in cash or 0.3247 shares of Harrah's Entertainment's common stock for each outstanding share of Caesars' common stock, subject to limitations on the aggregate amount of cash to be paid and shares of stock to be issued. Caesars shareholders will be able to elect to receive solely shares of Harrah's Entertainment's common stock or cash, to the extent available pursuant to the terms of the agreement. The aggregate estimated purchase price, calculated as of July 14, 2004, was approximately $9.4 billion. The purchase price will fluctuate until closing due to changes in the number of outstanding shares of Caesars' stock and the balance of Caesars' outstanding debt. Caesars operates 27 casinos with about two million square feet of gaming space and approximately 26,000 hotel rooms and has significant presence in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Mississippi. The transaction is subject to regulatory and shareholders' approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2005.

        In anticipation of the Caesars merger, we have engaged consultants and dedicated internal resources to plan for the merger and integration of Caesars into Harrah's Entertainment. These costs are reflected in Merger and integration costs for Caesars acquisition in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

Note 3—Dispositions

        HARRAH'S SHREVEPORT.    In May 2004, we sold Harrah's Shreveport to another gaming company. Prior to the sale, we classified this property in Assets/Liabilities held for sale on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and we ceased depreciating its assets in September 2003. The assets sold consisted primarily of inventories, property and equipment. We received cash proceeds of $190 million and recorded no gain or loss on this sale. Since we had a continued presence in the Shreveport-Bossier City market, Harrah's Shreveport's operating results were not classified as Discontinued operations.

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        The following properties were sold during 2003. The operating results of these properties and the losses recorded on these sales are presented in our Consolidated Statements of Income as Discontinued operations and prior year results have been reclassified to conform to the 2003 presentation.

        HARVEYS COLORADO.    In May 2003, we sold Harveys Colorado, which we had concluded was a nonstrategic asset for us. The assets sold consisted primarily of inventories, property and equipment. The buyer also assumed certain accrued liabilities. We received cash proceeds of $17.6 million and recorded a pretax loss of $1.0 million on this sale.

        Revenues at Harveys Colorado, reported in discontinued operations for December 31, 2003 and 2002 were $12.2 million and $35.7 million, respectively. Harveys Colorado's pretax loss, including the loss on the sale, for the year ended December 31, 2003, was $1.4 million and its pretax income for the year ended December 31, 2002, was $2.4 million.

        HARRAH'S VICKSBURG.    In June 2003, we announced an agreement to sell Harrah's Vicksburg, and that sale was completed on October 27, 2003. The assets sold consisted primarily of land, buildings, equipment and inventories. We received cash proceeds of $28.6 million and recorded a pretax loss of $0.7 million on this sale.

        Revenues at Harrah's Vicksburg, which were reported in discontinued operations, were $29.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, and $37.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. Harrah's Vicksburg's pretax income, after consideration of the loss on the sale, was $2.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2003, and $2.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2002.

        In addition to these completed sales, we also have announced the following planned sale.

        HARRAH'S EAST CHICAGO AND HARRAH'S TUNICA.    In September 2004, we entered into an agreement to sell the assets and certain related current liabilities of Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica to an unrelated third party. The sale, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2005. We believe that the sale of these two properties may help facilitate the closing of the Caesars transaction.

        Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica are classified in Assets/Liabilities held for sale on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, and we ceased depreciating their assets in September 2004. Had we not ceased depreciation of these assets, additional depreciation expense of $6.9 million would have been recorded. Results for Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica are classified as discontinued operations for all periods presented. We expect to report a gain on the sale of these two properties in the quarter in which the transaction closes.

        Summary operating results for the discontinued operations are as follows:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
Net revenues   $ 379,700   $ 373,857   $ 350,661
   
 
 
Pretax income from discontinued operations   $ 56,644   $ 47,523   $ 63,112
   
 
 
Discontinued operations, net of tax   $ 38,184   $ 30,890   $ 41,023
   
 
 

56


        Assets held for sale and liabilities related to assets held for sale for Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica as of December 31 are as follows:

 
  2004
  2003
 
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 12,000   $ 12,000  
Inventories     861     741  
Property and equipment, net     271,396     257,020  
Goodwill     206,536     206,372  
Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates     1,219     1,464  
Deferred costs and other     183     198  
   
 
 
  Total assets held for sale   $ 492,195   $ 477,795  
   
 
 
Accrued expenses   $ 313   $ (76 )
   
 
 
  Total liabilities related to assets held for sale   $ 313   $ (76 )
   
 
 

Note 4—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

        We adopted SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," effective January 1, 2002. SFAS No. 142 provides guidance regarding the recognition and measurement of intangible assets, eliminates the amortization of certain intangibles and requires assessments for impairment of intangible assets that are not subject to amortization at least annually.

        As a result of our implementation review of the goodwill and other intangible assets arising from our prior acquisitions, we determined that impairment charges of $91.2 million, net of tax benefits of $2.8 million, were required. These charges, which were recorded in first quarter 2002 and are reported in our Consolidated Statements of Income as a change in accounting principle, relate to goodwill and the trademark acquired in our 1999 acquisition of Rio Hotel and Casino, Inc. ("Rio"). Since the acquisition of Rio, competition had intensified in the market and Rio had greatly reduced its emphasis on international high-end table games play, a significant component of its business at the time of the acquisition. We determine the fair value of an operating unit as a function, or multiple, of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), a common measure used to value and buy or sell cash intensive businesses such as casinos. Our analysis for Rio indicated that the fair value of the property fell short of the carrying value, and recognition of an impairment of $86.0 million of goodwill was appropriate. The fair value of the Rio trademark was assessed by applying a "relief from royalty" methodology, which ascribed a value to the trademark derived as the present value of a percentage of forecasted future revenues. Because the Rio had not sustained the level of revenues assumed in the original computation to assign a value to the trademark, future revenue assumptions were reassessed and it was determined that the fair value of the trademark was $5.2 million, net of tax benefits of $2.8 million, less than the carrying value. Rio's tangible assets were assessed for impairment applying the provisions of SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," and our analysis indicated that the carrying value of the tangible assets was not impaired.

        Based on our annual assessment for impairment as of September 30, 2004, we determined that goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives had not been further impaired. Based on our annual assessment for impairment of as September 30, 2003, it was determined that the remaining goodwill associated with Harrah's Reno was impaired, and a fourth quarter 2003 charge of $6.3 million was recorded. Operating trends reflected the weak market conditions in the Reno area and increased levels of competition from Indian casinos in the Northern California area. We determined the fair value of

57


Reno as a multiple of EBITDA, and our analysis for Reno indicated that the fair value of that operating unit was less than the carrying value. Reno has no remaining intangible assets that will be subject to the annual impairment assessment. Reno's tangible assets were assessed for impairment applying the provisions of SFAS No. 144, and our analysis indicated that the carrying value of the tangible assets was not impaired. Based on our annual assessment as of September 30, 2002, we determined that goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives were not impaired.

        The following table sets forth changes in goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2003 and December 31, 2004.

Balance at December 31, 2002   $ 735,615  
  Additions or adjustments:        
    Finalization of purchase price allocation for Louisiana Downs     (27,349 )
    Adjustments for taxes related to acquisitions     (818 )
    Impairment losses     (6,315 )
   
 
Balance at December 31, 2003     701,133  
  Additions or adjustments:        
    Acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming     565,245  
    Additional payment related to Bluffs Run     72,820  
    Buyout of minority partners at Louisiana Downs     13,532  
    Adjustments for taxes related to acquisitions     2,008  
   
 
Balance at December 31, 2004   $ 1,354,738  
   
 

        The following table provides the gross carrying value and accumulated amortization for each major class of intangible assets.

 
  December 31, 2004
  December 31, 2003
 
  Gross
Carrying
Amount

  Accumulated
Amortization

  Net
Carrying
Amount

  Gross
Carrying
Amount

  Accumulated
Amortization

  Net
Carrying
Amount

Amoritizing intangible assets:                                    
  Contract rights   $ 73,590   $ 10,600   $ 62,990   $ 63,590   $ 6,572   $ 57,018
  Customer relationships     113,100     10,434     102,666     13,100     5,023     8,077
   
 
 
 
 
 
    $ 186,690   $ 21,034     165,656   $ 76,690   $ 11,595     65,095
   
 
 
 
 
 
Nonamortizing intangible assets:                                    
  Trademarks                 273,065                 146,624
  Gaming rights                 422,634                 103,300
               
             
                  695,699                 249,924
               
             
Total               $ 861,355               $ 315,019
               
             

        The increase in the gross carrying value of intangible assets is due to the acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming (see Note 2). The aggregate amortization expense for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 for those assets that continue to be amortized under provisions of SFAS No. 142 was $9.4 million, $4.8 million and $4.5 million, respectively. Estimated annual amortization expense for

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those assets for the years ending December 31, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 is $14.0 million, $13.7 million, $13.0 million, $11.4 million and $9.8 million, respectively.

Note 5—Stockholders' Equity

        In addition to its common stock, Harrah's Entertainment has the following classes of stock authorized but unissued:

        Preferred stock, $100 par value, 150,000 shares authorized

        Special stock, $1.125 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized–

            Series A Special Stock, 2,000,000 shares designated

        Harrah's Entertainment's Board of Directors has authorized that one special stock purchase right (a "Right") be attached to each outstanding share of common stock. The Rights are not separable from the shares. These Rights are exercisable only if a person or group acquires 15% or more of Harrah's Entertainment common stock or announces a tender offer for 15% or more of the common stock. Each Right entitles stockholders to buy one two-hundredth of a share of Series A Special Stock of the Company at an initial price of $130 per Right. If a person acquires 15% or more of the Company's outstanding common stock, each Right entitles its holder to purchase common stock of the Company having a market value at that time of twice the Right's exercise price. Under certain conditions, each Right entitles its holder to purchase stock of an acquiring company at a discount. Rights held by the 15% holder will become void. The Rights will expire on October 5, 2006, unless earlier redeemed by the Board at one cent per Right.

        During the past four years, our Board of Directors has authorized plans whereby we have purchased shares of the Company's common stock in the open market from time to time as market conditions and other factors warranted. The table below summarizes the plans in effect during the last four years.

Plan Authorized

  Number
of Shares
Authorized

  Number of Shares
Purchased as of
December 31, 2004

  Average
Price
Per Share

July 2001   6.0 million   6.0 million   $ 37.15
July 2002   2.0 million   1.4 million     39.24
November 2002   3.0 million   1.5 million     47.54
November 2004   2.0 million      

        In November 2004, our Board of Directors authorized the purchase of 3.5 million shares of common stock in the open market and negotiated purchases through the end of 2005. The 3.5 million shares includes 1.5 million shares available to be purchased pursuant to the authorization that was to expire December 31, 2004, plus an additional 2.0 million shares. The repurchases were funded through available operating cash flows and borrowings from our established debt programs.

        Under the terms of our equity incentive award programs, we have reserved shares of Harrah's Entertainment common stock for issuance under the 2004 Executive Incentive Award Plan, the 2001 Broad-based Incentive Plan and the 1996 Non-Management Directors Stock Incentive Plan. (See Note 14 for a description of the plans.) The 2004 Executive Incentive Award Plan and the 1996 Non-Management Directors Stock Incentive Plan are equity compensation plans approved by our stockholders and the 2001 Broad-based Incentive Plan is an equity compensation plan not approved by our stockholders. The shares held in reserve for issuance or grant under the Harrah's

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Entertainment, Inc. 2001 Executive Stock Incentive Plan and the 1996 Non-Management Directors Stock Incentive Plan are now available under the 2004 Executive Incentive Award Plan in 2004. As of December 31, 2004, 4,276,342 shares were authorized and unissued under the 2004 Executive Incentive Award Plan and 30,216 shares were authorized and unissued under the 2001 Broad-based Incentive Plan. No additional shares will be authorized under the 2001 Broad-based Incentive Plan.

        Quarterly cash dividends of 30 cents per share were declared and paid in the first and second quarters of 2004 and in the third and fourth quarters of 2003. In the third and fourth quarters of 2004, the Company declared and paid quarterly cash dividends of 33 cents per share.

        In connection with the Caesars acquisition, at a special meeting to be held in March 2005, our stockholders will be asked to vote upon a proposal to approve an amendment to Harrah's Entertainment's certificate of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Harrah's Entertainment common stock from 360 million to 720 million.

Note 6—Detail of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts

        Accrued expenses consisted of the following as of December 31:

 
  2004
  2003
Payroll and other compensation   $ 150,125   $ 106,421
Insurance claims and reserves     97,582     89,349
Accrued interest payable     65,576     45,084
Accrued taxes     78,769     67,180
Other accruals     185,654     155,432
   
 
    $ 577,706   $ 463,466
   
 

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Note 7—Debt

        Long-term debt consisted of the following as of December 31:

 
  2004
  2003
 
Credit facilities              
  3.07%-4.25% at December 31, 2004, maturities to 2009   $ 1,580,000   $ 947,800  
Secured Debt              
  7.1%, maturity 2028     92,377     93,622  
  3.71%-6.95%, maturities to 2033     1,348     607  
Unsecured Senior Notes              
  5.5%, maturity 2010     744,034      
  5.375%, maturity 2013     496,773     496,504  
  7.125%, maturity 2007     496,504     498,780  
  7.5%, maturity 2009     499,109     498,926  
  8.0%, maturity 2011     496,506     496,079  
Unsecured Senior Subordinated Notes              
  7.875%, maturity 2005     587,988     590,524  
Other Unsecured Borrowings              
  Commercial Paper, maturities to 2005     157,800     50,000  
Capitalized Lease Obligations              
  7.6%-10.0%, maturities to 2006     470     679  
   
 
 
      5,152,909     3,673,521  
Current portion of long-term debt     (1,788 )   (1,632 )
   
 
 
    $ 5,151,121   $ 3,671,889  
   
 
 

        $590.5 million, face amount, of our 7.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due December 2005, are classified as long-term in our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2004, because the Company has both the intent and the ability to refinance these notes.

        As of December 31, 2004, aggregate annual principal maturities for the four years subsequent to 2005 were: 2006, $1.7 million; 2007, $498.2 million; 2008, $60.1 million; and 2009, $2.8 billion.

        CREDIT AGREEMENT.    At December 31, 2004, we had credit facilities (the "Credit Agreement") that provided for up to $2.5 billion in borrowings, maturing on April 23, 2009. The Credit Agreement contains a provision that would allow an increase in the borrowing capacity to $3.0 billion, if mutually acceptable to the Company and the lenders. Interest on the Credit Agreement is based on our debt ratings and leverage ratio and is subject to change. As of December 31, 2004, the Credit Agreement bore interest based upon 90 basis points over LIBOR and bore a facility fee for borrowed and unborrowed amounts of 20 basis points, a combined 110 basis points. At our option, we may borrow at the prime rate under the new Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2004, $1.58 billion in borrowings were outstanding under the Credit Agreement with an additional $59.8 million committed to back letters of credit. After consideration of these borrowings, but before consideration of amounts borrowed under the commercial paper program, $860.2 million of additional borrowing capacity was available to the Company as of December 31, 2004.

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        In January 2005, an agreement was reached to amend the Credit Agreement, which increased our borrowing capacity from $2.5 billion to $4.0 billion. The amendment also contains a provision that will allow a further increase in the borrowing capacity to $5.0 billion, if mutually acceptable to the Company and the lenders, and lowers the interest rate from LIBOR plus 110 basis points to LIBOR plus 87.5 basis points. The amended agreement becomes effective upon the satisfaction of various closing conditions, including the closing of our acquisition of Caesars. Other significant terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, including the maturity date of April 2009, did not change.

        DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS.    We account for derivative instruments in accordance with SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," and all amendments thereto. SFAS No. 133 requires that all derivative instruments be recognized in the financial statements at fair value. Any changes in fair value are recorded in the income statement or in other comprehensive income, depending on whether the derivative is designated and qualifies for hedge accounting, the type of hedge transaction and the effectiveness of the hedge. The estimated fair values of our derivative instruments are based on market prices obtained from dealer quotes. Such quotes represent the estimated amounts we would receive or pay to terminate the contracts.

        Our derivative instruments contain a credit risk that the counterparties may be unable to meet the terms of the agreements. We minimize that risk by evaluating the creditworthiness of our counterparties, which are limited to major banks and financial institutions, and we do not anticipate nonperformance by the counterparties.

        Interest Rate Swap Agreements.    We use interest rate swaps to manage the mix of our debt between fixed and variable rate instruments. As of December 31, 2004, we were a party to four interest rate swaps for a total notional amount of $500 million. These interest rate swaps serve to manage the mix of our debt between fixed and variable rate instruments by effectively converting fixed rates associated with long-term debt obligations to floating rates. The differences to be paid or received under the terms of interest rate swap agreements are accrued as interest rates change and recognized as an adjustment to interest expense for the related debt. Changes in the variable interest rates to be paid or received pursuant to the terms of interest rate swap agreements will have a corresponding effect on future cash flows. The major terms of the interest rate swaps are as follows:

 
   
   
   
  Notional
Amount

   
 
   
   
  Variable
Rate Paid
as of
Dec. 31, 2004

   
Effective Date

  Type
of
Hedge

  Fixed
Rate
Received

  (In millions)

   
  2004
  2003
  Maturity Date
Dec. 29, 2003   Fair value   7.875 % 8.433 % $ 50   $ 50   Dec. 15, 2005
Dec. 29, 2003   Fair value   7.875 % 8.437 %   150     150   Dec. 15, 2005
Jan. 30, 2004   Fair value   7.125 % 6.853 %   200       June 1, 2007
Feb. 2, 2004   Fair value   7.875 % 8.455 %   100       Dec. 15, 2005

        The Company's interest rate swaps qualify for the "shortcut" method allowed under SFAS No. 133, which allows for an assumption of no ineffectiveness. As such, there is no income statement impact from changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments. The net effect of the above swaps reduced our 2004 interest expense by $4.0 million. The effect of the swaps to 2003 interest expense was immaterial. As of December 31, 2004, the fair value of the interest rate swap agreements was a liability of approximately $5.1 million, which is included in Deferred credits and other on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

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        Treasury Rate Lock Agreements.    We expect to issue between $750 million and $1 billion of new debt in the first half of 2005. To partially hedge the risk of future increases to the treasury rate, we have entered into agreements to lock in existing ten-year rates to hedge against such increases. The major terms of the treasury rate lock agreements are as follows:

Effective Date

  Type
of
Hedge

  Treasury
Lock
Rate

  Notional
Amount

  Termination Date
 
   
   
  (In millions)

   
Nov. 22, 2004   Cash flow   4.373 % $ 200   May 20, 2005
Dec. 16, 2004   Cash flow   4.239 %   50   May 20, 2005
Dec. 16, 2004   Cash flow   4.239 %   50   May 20, 2005
Dec. 16, 2004   Cash flow   4.239 %   100   May 23, 2005

        We have determined that the treasury rate lock agreements qualify for hedge accounting and are perfectly effective. As such, there is no income statement impact from changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments. The fair values of our treasury rate lock agreements are carried as assets or liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheet, and changes in the fair values are recorded as a component of other comprehensive income and will be reclassified to earnings over the life of the debt to be issued. The amount that is expected to be reclassified to earnings within the next 12 months is not material. The fair value of the treasury rate lock agreements as of December 31, 2004, was a receivable of approximately $1.9 million. This amount is included in Prepayments and other on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. The net amount of deferred gains included in other comprehensive income at December 31, 2004, is $1.2 million.

        In January 2005, we hedged an additional $100 million notional amount with terms identical to the treasury locks existing as of December 31, 2004, at a rate of 4.242% and a termination date of May 20, 2005.

        COMMERCIAL PAPER.    To provide the Company with cost-effective borrowing flexibility, we have a $200 million commercial paper program that is used to borrow funds for general corporate purposes. Although the debt instruments are short-term in tenor, they are classified as long-term debt because the commercial paper is backed by our Credit Agreement and we have committed to keep available capacity under our Credit Agreement in an amount equal to or greater than amounts borrowed under this program. At December 31, 2004, $157.8 million was outstanding under this program.

        ISSUANCE OF NEW DEBT.    In addition to our Credit Agreement, we have issued debt and entered into credit agreements to provide the Company with cost-effective borrowing flexibility and to replace short-term, floating-rate debt with long-term, fixed-rate debt. The table below summarizes the face value of debt obligations entered into during the last three years and outstanding at December 31, 2004.

Debt

  Issued
  Matures
  Face Value
Outstanding at
December 31,
2004

 
   
   
  (In millions)

Commercial Paper   2004   2005   $ 157.8
5.5% Senior Notes   June 2004   2010     750.0
5.375% Senior Notes   December 2003   2013     500.0

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        Subsequent to the end of 2004, we issued $250 million of Senior Floating Rate Notes due in 2008 in a Rule 144A private placement. We agreed to, upon the request by holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Floating Rate Notes then outstanding, to exchange the private placement offering with fully registered Senior Floating Rate Notes. If the exchange offer does not provide the holders of the Senior Floating Rate Notes freely transferable securities, we may be required to file a shelf registration statement that would allow them to resell the Senior Floating Rate Notes in the open market, subject to certain restrictions.

        EXTINGUISHMENTS OF DEBT.    Funds from the new debt discussed above, as well as proceeds from our Credit Agreement, were used to retire certain of our outstanding debt, in particular those debt obligations assumed in our acquisition transactions, to reduce our effective interest rate and/or lengthen maturities. The following table summarizes the debt obligations, in addition to our previous credit and letter of credit facilities that we have retired over the last three years:

Issuer

  Date
Retired

  Debt Extinguished
  Face
Value
Retired

 
   
   
  (In millions)

Horseshoe Gaming   August 2004   Senior Subordinated Notes due 2009   $ 534.1
Harrah's Operating Co   December 2003   Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005     147.1
Harrah's Operating Co   August 2003   Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005     12.4
JCC   December 2002   Senior Notes due 2008     28.2

        In July 2003, our Board of Directors authorized the Company to retire, from time to time through cash purchases, portions of our outstanding debt in open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. These repurchases will be funded through available cash from operations and borrowings from our established debt programs. Such repurchases will depend on prevailing market conditions, the Company's liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. As of December 31, 2004, $159.5 million of our 77/8% Senior Subordinated Notes had been retired under this authorization.

        Charges of $19.1 million representing premiums paid and write-offs of unamortized deferred financing costs associated with the early retirement of portions of our 77/8% Senior Subordinated Notes and of our previous credit and letter of credit facilities were recorded in 2003. In compliance with SFAS No. 145, these charges no longer qualify for presentation as extraordinary items and are, therefore, included in Income from continuing operations in our Consolidated Statements of Income.

        Subsequent to the end of 2004, we retired an additional $58.3 million of our 77/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due in December 2005. The loss on the early extinguishment of this debt, expected to be $2.2 million, will be reported in our first quarter 2005 results.

        PARENT COMPANY GUARANTEE OF SUBSIDIARY DEBT.    Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. ("HOC"), a 100% owned subsidiary and the principal asset of Harrah's Entertainment, is the issuer of certain debt securities that have been guaranteed by Harrah's Entertainment. Due to the comparability of HOC's consolidated financial information with that of Harrah's Entertainment, separate financial statements and other disclosures regarding HOC have not been presented. Management has determined that such information is not material to holders of HOC's debt securities. Harrah's Entertainment has no independent assets or operations, its guarantee of HOC's debt securities is full and unconditional and its only other subsidiary is minor. There are no significant restrictions on

64



Harrah's Entertainment's ability to obtain funds from its subsidiaries by dividends or loans. In addition, the amount of consolidated retained earnings representing undistributed earnings of 50-percent-or-less owned persons accounted for under the equity method is less than 0.5 percent and there are no significant restrictions on the payment of dividends by the Company.

        FAIR MARKET VALUE.    Based on the borrowing rates available as of December 31, 2004, for debt with similar terms and maturities and market quotes of our publicly traded debt, the fair value of our long-term debt at December 31 was as follows:

 
  December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
 
 
  Carrying
Value

  Market
Value

  Carrying
Value

  Market
Value

 
 
  (In millions)

 
Outstanding debt   $ (5,152.9 ) $ (5,414.7 ) $ (3,673.5 ) $ (3,977.8 )
Interest rate swaps (used for hedging purposes)     (5.1 )   (5.1 )   0.2     0.2  

        CAESARS ACQUISITION.    In connection with the pending acquisition of Caesars, we will assume approximately $4.2 billion of Caesars' outstanding debt. (See Note 2.)

Note 8—Leases

        We lease both real estate and equipment used in our operations and classify those leases as either operating or capital leases following the provisions of SFAS No. 13, "Accounting for Leases." At December 31, 2004, the remaining lives of our operating leases ranged from one to 40 years, with various automatic extensions totaling up to 60 years.

        Rental expense associated with operating leases for continuing operations is charged to expense in the year incurred and was included in the Consolidated Statements of Income as follows:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Noncancelable                    
  Minimum   $ 39,008   $ 40,252   $ 32,866  
  Contingent     2,895     3,898     4,726  
  Sublease     (99 )   (201 )   (287 )
Other     26,922     15,643     37,058  
   
 
 
 
    $ 68,726   $ 59,592   $ 74,363  
   
 
 
 

65


        Our future minimum rental commitments as of December 31, 2004, were as follows:

 
  Noncancelable
Operating
Leases

2005   $ 43,150
2006     33,683
2007     31,360
2008     30,552
2009     28,291
Thereafter     400,607
   
  Total minimum lease payments   $ 567,643
   

        In addition to these minimum rental commitments, certain of these operating leases provide for contingent rentals based on a percentage of revenues in excess of specified amounts.

Note 9—Write-downs, Reserves and Recoveries

        Our operating results include various pretax charges to record asset impairments, contingent liability reserves, project write-offs, demolition costs and recoveries of previously recorded reserves and other non-routine transactions. In 2004, we began tracking demolition costs separate from project opening costs. The components of Write-downs, reserves and recoveries for continuing operations were as follows:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Contribution to The Harrah's Foundation   $ 10,000   $   $  
Demolition costs     5,785          
Write-off of abandoned assets and other costs     4,815     2,615     6,300  
Settlement of litigation     3,525          
Termination of contracts     2,000         168  
Reversal of prior year Iowa gaming tax accrual     (16,558 )        
Impairment of goodwill         6,315      
Impairment of long-lived assets         2,469     1,501  
Settlement of sales tax contingency         (923 )   (6,464 )
Charge for structural repairs at Reno             5,000  
Recoveries from previously impaired assets and reserved amounts             (1,968 )
   
 
 
 
    $ 9,567   $ 10,476   $ 4,537  
   
 
 
 

        We account for the impairment of long-lived assets to be held and used by evaluating the carrying value of the long-lived assets in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of the underlying operating unit when indications of impairment are present. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are evaluated in relation to the estimated fair value of such assets less costs to sell.

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Note 10—Income Taxes

        Our federal and state income tax provision/(benefit) allocable to our Consolidated Statements of Income and our Consolidated Balance Sheets line items was as follows:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interests   $ 190,641   $ 155,568   $ 174,445  
Discontinued operations     18,460     16,993     23,684  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle             (2,831 )
Stockholders' equity                    
  Unrealized gain/(loss) on available-for-sale securities         215     (239 )
  Unrealized gain/(loss) on derivatives qualifying as cash flow hedges     415          
  Compensation expense for tax purposes in excess of amounts recognized for financial reporting purposes     (26,838 )   (15,537 )   (23,970 )
  Other             800  
   
 
 
 
    $ 182,678   $ 157,239   $ 171,889  
   
 
 
 

        Income tax expense attributable to Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interests consisted of the following:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
United States                  
  Current                  
    Federal   $ 100,723   $ 112,325   $ 122,923
    State     12,345     15,221     23,369
  Deferred     75,880     29,715     28,153
Other countries                  
  Current            
  Deferred     1,693     (1,693 )  
   
 
 
    $ 190,641   $ 155,568   $ 174,445
   
 
 

67


        The differences between the statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate expressed as a percentage of Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interests were as follows:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Statutory tax rate   35.0 % 35.0 % 35.0 %
Increases/(decreases) in tax resulting from:              
  State taxes, net of federal tax benefit   1.9   2.7   3.0  
  Goodwill amortization     0.5    
  Tax credits   (0.4 ) (0.5 ) (0.4 )
  Political contributions/lobbying expenses   0.3   0.1   0.1  
  Officers' life insurance/insurance proceeds   (0.9 ) (1.1 ) 0.2  
  Meals and entertainment   0.1   0.1   0.3  
  Minority interests in partnership earnings   (0.6 ) (1.0 ) (1.0 )
  Other   0.7   0.5   (0.1 )
   
 
 
 
    Effective tax rate   36.1 % 36.3 % 37.1 %
   
 
 
 

        The components of our net deferred tax balance included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows:

 
  2004
  2003
 
Deferred tax assets              
  Compensation programs   $ 72,829   $ 64,343  
  Bad debt reserve     18,134     19,225  
  Self-insurance reserves     16,072     7,960  
  Deferred income     757     512  
  Project opening costs and prepaid expenses         9,746  
  Net operating losses     54,232     58,377  
  Other     41,661     44,962  
  Valuation allowance     (52,886 )   (55,688 )
   
 
 
      150,799     149,437  
   
 
 
Deferred tax liabilities              
  Property     (397,750 )   (286,201 )
  Management and other contracts     (20,214 )   (20,782 )
  Intangibles     (91,103 )   (92,822 )
  Investments in nonconsolidated affiliates     (3,060 )   (11,983 )
  Project opening costs and prepaid expenses     (22,060 )    
   
 
 
      (534,187 )   (411,788 )
   
 
 
    Net deferred tax liability   $ (383,388 ) $ (262,351 )
   
 
 

        The Company anticipates that state NOLs valued at $1,172 (subject to a full valuation allowance) will expire in 2005. The remaining state NOLs and other deferred tax assets subject to a valuation allowance will expire between 2006 and 2023. In the event the valuation allowance of $52,886 for 2004 is ultimately unnecessary, $18,432 of this total would reduce goodwill, and the remaining $34,454 would

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reduce tax expense. The Company has adjusted the individual deferred tax asset and liability amounts previously reported for 2003 to the amounts stated above to conform to the presentation for 2004. The previously reported amounts did not included those NOLs as well as additional deferred state tax assets and liabilities that were unlikely to ever be realized. As the net increase to these deferred tax assets was offset by a corresponding increase to the valuation allowance, there was no change to the overall net deferred tax liability.

Note 11—Supplemental Cash Flow Information

        The increase in Cash and cash equivalents due to the changes in long-term and working capital accounts was as follows:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Long term accounts                    
  Deferred costs and other   $ (43,763 ) $ (71,068 ) $ (36,737 )
  Deferred credits and other     (7,499 )   38,895     8,867  
   
 
 
 
    Net change in long-term accounts   $ (51,262 ) $ (32,173 ) $ (27,870 )
   
 
 
 
Working capital accounts                    
  Receivables   $ (14,844 ) $ (8,005 ) $ 14,295  
  Inventories     379     (1,311 )   869  
  Prepayments and other     6,255     50,355     82,415  
  Accounts payable     11,030     5,910     (2,308 )
  Accrued expenses     29,499     (92,645 )   (149,133 )
   
 
 
 
    Net change in working capital accounts   $ 32,319   $ (45,696 ) $ (53,862 )
   
 
 
 

        SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH PAID FOR INTEREST AND TAXES.    The following table reconciles our Interest expense, net of interest capitalized, as reported in the Consolidated Statements of Income, to cash paid for interest.

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
 
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized   $ 271,802   $ 234,419   $ 240,220  
Adjustments to reconcile to cash paid for interest                    
  Net change in accruals     (28,329 )   (9,201 )   (6,825 )
  Amortization of deferred finance charges     (7,397 )   (6,185 )   (5,573 )
  Net amortization of discounts and premiums     (1,671 )   (1,141 )   (1,596 )
   
 
 
 
Cash paid for interest, net of amount capitalized   $ 234,405   $ 217,892   $ 226,226  
   
 
 
 
Cash payments for income taxes, net of refunds   $ 116,562   $ 114,289   $ 145,873  
   
 
 
 

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Note 12—Commitments and Contingencies

        CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS.    We continue to pursue additional casino development opportunities that may require, individually and in the aggregate, significant commitments of capital, up-front payments to third parties, guarantees by Harrah's Entertainment of third-party debt and development completion guarantees.

        We may guarantee all or part of the debt incurred by Indian tribes, with which we have entered into a management contract, to fund development of casinos on the Indian lands. For all existing guarantees of Indian debt, we have obtained a first lien on certain personal property (tangible and intangible) of the casino enterprise. There can be no assurance, however, that the value of such property would satisfy our obligations in the event these guarantees were enforced. Additionally, we have received limited waivers from the Indian tribes of their sovereign immunity to allow us to pursue our rights under the contracts between the parties and to enforce collection efforts as to any assets in which a security interest is taken. The aggregate outstanding balance as of December 31, 2004, of Indian debt that we have guaranteed was $246.7 million. The outstanding balance of all of our debt guarantees at December 31, 2004 is $251.2 million. Our maximum obligation under all of our debt guarantees is $292.0 million. Our obligations under these debt guarantees extend through April 2009.

        Some of our guarantees of the debt for casinos on Indian lands have been modified since January 1, 2003, triggering the requirements under Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 45, "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others," to recognize a liability for the estimated fair value of those guarantees. Liabilities, representing the fair value of our guarantees, and corresponding assets, representing the portion of our management fee receivable attributable to our agreements to provide the related guarantees, were recorded and are being amortized over the lives of the related agreements. We estimate the fair value of the obligation by considering what premium would have been required by us or by an unrelated party. The amounts recognized represent the present value of the premium in interest rates and fees that would have been charged to the tribes if we had not provided the guarantees. The balance of the liability for the guarantees and of the related assets at December 31, 2004 and 2003, was $5.5 million and $7.0 million, respectively.

        In February 2005, we entered into an agreement with the State of Louisiana whereby we extended our guarantee of an annual payment obligation of JCC, our wholly-owned subsidiary, of $60 million owed to the State of Louisiana. The guarantee was extended for one year to March 31, 2008.

        Excluding the guarantees discussed above, as of December 31, 2004, we had commitments and contingencies of $536.0 million, including construction-related commitments.

        The agreements under which we manage casinos on Indian lands contain provisions required by law which provide that a minimum monthly payment be made to the tribe. That obligation has priority over scheduled payments of borrowings for development costs and over the management fee earned and paid to the manager. In the event that insufficient cash flow is generated by the operations of the Indian-owned properties to fund this payment, we must pay the shortfall to the tribe. Subject to certain limitations as to time, such advances, if any, would be repaid to us in future periods in which operations generate cash flow in excess of the required minimum payment. These commitments will terminate upon the occurrence of certain defined events, including termination of the management contract. As of December 31, 2004, the aggregate monthly commitment for the minimum guaranteed

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payments pursuant to these contracts, which extend for periods of up to 83 months from December 31, 2004, is $1.2 million. The maximum exposure for the minimum guaranteed payments to the tribes is unlikely to exceed $96.1 million as of December 31, 2004.

        SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS.    As of December 31, 2004, the Company has severance agreements with 28 of its senior executives, which provide for payments to the executives in the event of their termination after a change in control, as defined. These agreements provide, among other things, for a compensation payment of 1.5 to 3.0 times the executive's average annual compensation, as defined, as well as for accelerated payment or accelerated vesting of any compensation or awards payable to the executive under any of Harrah's Entertainment's incentive plans. The estimated amount, computed as of December 31, 2004, that would be payable under the agreements to these executives based on the compensation payments and stock awards aggregated approximately $166.8 million. The estimated amount that would be payable to these executives does not include an estimate for the tax gross-up payment, provided for in the agreements, that would be payable to the executive if the executive becomes entitled to severance payments which are subject to a federal excise tax imposed on the executive.

        SELF-INSURANCE.    We are self-insured for various levels of general liability, workers' compensation and employee medical coverage. Insurance claims and reserves include accruals of estimated settlements for known claims, as well as accruals of actuarial estimates of incurred but not reported claims.

Note 13—Litigation

        We are involved in various inquiries, administrative proceedings and litigation relating to contracts, acquisitions and sales of property and other matters arising in the normal course of business. While any proceeding or litigation has an element of uncertainty, management believes that the final outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or our results of operations.

Note 14—Employee Benefit Plans

        We have established a number of employee benefit programs for purposes of attracting, retaining and motivating our employees. The following is a description of the basic components of these programs.

        EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARDS.    Under the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Award Plan (the "2004 Plan"), non-qualified stock options, restricted stock, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, performance stock units, dividend equivalents, stock payments, deferred stock, restricted stock units, other stock based awards and performance-based awards may be granted to employees, consultants of the Company and members of our Board of Directors. Shares available under the 2001 Executive Stock Incentive Plan were deregistered and are now available under the 2004 Plan. Non-management members of the Company's Board of Directors may be granted shares under the 1996 Non-Management Directors Stock Incentive Plan, which has been amended to provide that grants of shares after May 1, 2005, shall be made under the 2004 Plan. Unissued shares under the 1996 Non-Management Directors Stock Incentive Plan are now available under the 2004 Plan. Our employees may also be granted options to purchase shares of common stock under the Harrah's Entertainment 2001 Broad-based Incentive Plan (the "2001 Plan").

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        A summary of activity of the 2004 Plan and the Company's former plans, which are equity compensation plans approved by our stockholders, for 2002, 2003 and 2004 is as follows:

 
   
  Number of Common Shares
 
 
  Weighted Avg.
Exercise Price
(Per Share)

  Options
Outstanding

  Available
For Grant

 
Balance—December 31, 2001   $ 22.65   8,683,778   7,219,214  
  Restricted shares issued     N/A     (221,931 )
  Restricted shares canceled     N/A     78,091  
  Granted     46.80   2,910,560   (2,910,560 )
  Exercised     19.40   (2,510,678 )  
  Canceled     30.96   (267,063 ) 267,063  
  Rio plans cancellations     18.88   (2,000 )  
         
 
 
Balance—December 31, 2002     31.30   8,814,597   4,431,877  
  Restricted shares issued     N/A     (60,061 )
  Restricted shares canceled     N/A     101,934  
  Granted     43.18   2,968,175   (2,968,175 )
  Exercised     20.65   (1,754,901 )  
  Canceled     40.06   (409,309 ) 409,309  
  Rio plans cancellations     12.44   (3,400 )  
         
 
 
Balance—December 31, 2003     36.54   9,615,162   1,914,884  
  Additional shares authorized     N/A     5,000,000  
  Shares transferred from Directors plan     N/A     10,065  
  Restricted shares issued     N/A     (22,000 )
  Restricted shares canceled     N/A     17,761  
  Granted     52.33   3,197,832   (3,197,832 )
  Exercised     31.44   (2,817,965 )  
  Canceled     45.45   (553,464 ) 553,464  
         
 
 
Balance—December 31, 2004     42.89   9,441,565   4,276,342  
         
 
 

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        200,000 shares were authorized for issuance under the 2001 Plan, which is an equity compensation plan not approved by stockholders. No additional shares will be authorized under the 2001 Plan. A summary of activity of this plan is as follows:

 
   
  Number of
Common Shares

 
 
  Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
(Per Share)

 
 
  Options
Outstanding

  Available
For Grant

 
Balance—December 31, 2002   $ 47.03   189,675   10,325  
  Granted     43.50   22,367   (22,367 )
  Canceled     46.73   (35,814 ) 35,814  
         
 
 
Balance—December 31, 2003     46.64   176,228   23,772  
  Restricted shares issued     N/A     (495 )
  Granted     58.74   6,000   (6,000 )
  Exercised     46.87   (57,888 )  
  Canceled     46.33   (12,939 ) 12,939  
         
 
 
Balance—December 31, 2004     47.20   111,401   30,216  
         
 
 

        STOCK OPTIONS.    Stock options grants typically vest in equal installments over a three-year period and allow the option holder to purchase stock over specified periods of time, generally seven to ten years from the date of grant, at a fixed price equal to the market value at the date of grant.

        The following tables summarize additional information regarding the options, which were granted under the 2004 Plan and Harrah's Entertainment's former plans and were outstanding at December 31:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
Options exercisable at December 31   2,585,747   2,910,617   2,344,106
Weighted average fair value per share of options granted per year   $34.99   $28.63   $17.34
 
  Options Outstanding
   
   
 
  Options Exercisable
 
   
  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contract
Life

   
Range of
Exercise
Prices

  Number
Outstanding

  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

  Number
Exercisable

  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

$13.84–$32.65   2,350,134   4.6 years   $ 26.81   1,396,217   $ 25.85
40.33–  46.14   2,740,991   5.2 years     44.24   451,032     43.56
47.03–  59.16   4,350,440   5.8 years     50.73   738,498     47.03
   
           
     
    9,441,565             2,585,747      
   
           
     

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        The following tables summarize additional information regarding the options, which were granted under the 2001 Plan and were outstanding at December 31:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
Options exercisable at December 31     50,242     54,918  
Weighted average fair value per share of options granted per year   $ 46.77   $ 47.03   N/A
 
  Options Outstanding
   
   
 
  Options Exercisable
 
   
  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contract
Life

   
Range of
Exercise
Prices

  Number
Outstanding

  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

  Number
Exercisable

  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

$43.50–$44.89   14,254   5.5 years   $ 43.50   3,687   $ 43.50
44.90–  58.74   97,147   4.6 years     47.75   46,555     47.03
   
           
     
    111,401             50,242      
   
           
     

        RESTRICTED STOCK.    Employees may also be granted restricted stock under the 2004 Plan. Restricted shares granted have restrictions that may include, but not be limited to, the right to vote, receive dividends on or transfer the restricted stock. Restricted shares may be subject to forfeiture during a specified period or periods prior to vesting. The shares generally vest in equal installments over a period of three years. The compensation arising from a restricted stock grant is based upon the market price at the grant date. Such expense is deferred and amortized to expense over the vesting period.

        Members of the Board of Directors can receive either 50% or 100% of his or her director fees in restricted shares. Shares issued to Board members as director fees cannot be disposed of until the recipient is no longer a member of the Board of Directors.

        The Company has issued Time Accelerated Restricted Stock Award Plan ("TARSAP") awards to certain key executives. The initial TARSAP program was completed in January 2002. During 2002, 2003 and 2004, additional TARSAP awards were issued to certain key executives, which will vest on January 1, 2007, if the executive continues in active employment until that date. These shares are eligible for earlier annual vesting beginning in 2003 over two years (three years for shares awarded in 2002) based on the Company's financial performance in each of the years 2002 through 2005, and the remaining unvested shares will vest on January 1, 2007. The expense arising from TARSAP awards is being amortized to expense over the periods in which the restrictions lapse.

        The number and weighted average grant-date fair value of restricted shares granted, and the amortization expense recognized, during 2004, 2003 and 2002, including the TARSAP awards but excluding issues to our Board of Directors, were as follows:

 
  2004
  2003
  2002
Number of shares granted     22,495     60,061     221,931
Weighted average grant price per share   $ 54.00   $ 45.29   $ 43.77
Amortization expense (in millions)   $ 6.7   $ 8.0   $ 7.8
Unvested shares as of December 31     923,389     1,021,720     1,458,617

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        SAVINGS AND RETIREMENT PLAN.    We maintain a defined contribution savings and retirement plan, which, among other things, allows pretax and after-tax contributions to be made by employees to the plan. Under the plan, participating employees may elect to contribute up to 20% of their eligible earnings. Through 2003, the Company fully matched the first six percent of employees' contributions; however, effective January 1, 2004, the Company match is 50% for the first six percent of employees' contributions. Amounts contributed to the plan are invested, at the participant's direction, in up to 14 separate funds, including a Harrah's company stock fund. Participants become vested in the matching contribution over five years of credited service. Our contribution expense for this plan was $14.8 million, $30.1 million and $29.2 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

        Employees of Horseshoe Gaming continue to participate in Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. 401(k) Plan until January 1, 2006, when they will be eligible to participate in Harrah's Entertainment's plan. Under the Horseshoe Gaming plan, employees may elect to make pretax contributions of up to 50% of their eligible earnings (five percent for certain executives). The Company fully matches the first two percent of employees' contributions and 50% of the next four percent of the employees' contributions. Amounts contributed to the plan are invested, at the participant's direction, in up to 12 separate funds plus, effective January 2005, a Harrah's company stock fund. Participants become vested in the matching contributions over four years of credited service. Harrah's Entertainment's contribution expense for the six months of 2004 that we owned Horseshoe Gaming was $1.8 million.

        DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS.    Harrah's maintains deferred compensation plans, (collectively, "DCP") and an Executive Supplemental Savings Plan ("ESSP") under which certain employees may defer a portion of their compensation. Amounts deposited into these plans are unsecured liabilities of the Company. Amounts deposited into DCP earn interest at rates approved by the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors. The ESSP is a variable investment plan, which allows employees to direct their investments by choosing from several investment alternatives. The total liability included in Deferred credits and other for these plans at December 31, 2004 and 2003 was $113.0 million and $104.3 million, respectively. In connection with the administration of one of these plans, we have purchased company-owned life insurance policies insuring the lives of certain directors, officers and key employees.

        An additional deferred compensation plan, Executive Supplemental Savings Plan II ("ESSPII") will be available, beginning in 2005, to certain executive officers, directors and other key employees of the Company. Eligible employees may elect to defer a percentage of their salary and/or bonus under ESSPII, and the Company may make matching contributions with respect to deferrals of salary to those participants who are eligible to receive matching contributions under the Company's 40l(k) plan and discretionary contributions. Employees vest in matching and discretionary contributions over five years or, under certain conditions, employees may immediately vest.

        MULTI-EMPLOYER PENSION PLAN.    We have approximately 6,850 employees covered under collective bargaining agreements, and the majority of those employees are covered by union sponsored, collectively bargained multi-employer pension plans. We contributed and charged to expense $8.2 million, $7.2 million and $4.7 million in 2004, 2003 and 2002, respectively, for such plans. The plans' administrators do not provide sufficient information to enable us to determine our share, if any, of unfunded vested benefits.

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Note 15—Nonconsolidated Affiliates

        As of December 31, 2004, our investments in nonconsolidated affiliates consisted primarily of interests in a horse-racing facility and in a joint venture that was pursuing development of casinos in the United Kingdom. We also own an interest in a golf course near Harrah's Tunica. Harrah's Tunica, including our investment in the golf course, is currently held for sale (see Note 3).

        Our Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates are reflected in our accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:

 
  2004
  2003
Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates            
  Accounted for under the equity method   $ 5,973   $ 6,360
  Accounted for at historical cost     177     177
   
 
    $ 6,150   $ 6,537
   
 

Note 16—Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)

 
  First
Quarter

  Second
Quarter

  Third
Quarter

  Fourth
Quarter

  Year
 
  (In thousands, except per share amounts)

2004(1)                              
Revenues   $ 1,012,394   $ 1,037,210   $ 1,309,657   $ 1,189,065   $ 4,548,326
Income from operations     176,273     192,060     257,816     164,959     791,108
Income from continuing operations     74,838     84,136     110,679     59,872     329,525
Net income     81,731     90,237     118,785     76,956     367,709
Earnings per share—basic(3)                              
  From continuing operations     0.68     0.75     1.00     0.54     2.97
  Net income     0.74     0.81     1.07     0.69     3.31
Earnings per share—diluted(3)                              
  From continuing operations     0.67     0.74     0.99     0.53     2.92
  Net income     0.73     0.79     1.06     0.68     3.26
2003(2)                              
Revenues   $ 964,976   $ 990,256   $ 1,043,412   $ 950,221   $ 3,948,865
Income from operations     175,134     176,674     203,228     123,739     678,775
Income from continuing operations     70,323     73,619     89,029     28,093     261,064
Net income     81,080     76,684     99,483     35,376     292,623
Earnings per share—basic(3)                              
  From continuing operations     0.65     0.68     0.82     0.25     2.40
  Net income     0.75     0.71     0.91     0.32     2.69
Earnings per share—diluted(3)                              
  From continuing operations     0.64     0.66     0.80     0.25     2.36
  Net income     0.74     0.69     0.90     0.32     2.65

(1)
2004 First Quarter includes $2.0 million in pretax charges for project opening costs and $3.3 million in pretax charges for write-downs, reserves and recoveries; Second Quarter includes $3.9 million in pretax charges for project opening costs and $5.0 million in pretax credits for write-

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(2)
2003 Second Quarter includes $4.1 million in pretax charges for project opening costs and $2.1 million in pretax charges for early retirement of debt; Third Quarter reflects a reclass of a $0.1 million charge for loss on sale of ownership interests in a nonconsolidated affiliate to Income from operations; and Fourth Quarter includes $15.9 million pretax charges for early retirement of a portion of the 77/8% Senior Subordinated Notes and a $6.3 million pretax charge for goodwill impairment at our Reno property. 2003 results reflect Harrah's Vicksburg, Harveys Colorado, Harrah's Tunica and Harrah's East Chicago as discontinued operations.

(3)
The sum of the quarterly per share amounts may not equal the annual amount reported, as per share amounts are computed independently for each quarter and for the full year.

ITEM 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

        Not applicable.

ITEM 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

        Our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), as of December 31, 2004. Based on such evaluation, they have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable SEC rules and forms.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting

        (a)   Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

        Internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) refers to the process designed by, or under the supervision of, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over our financial reporting.

        We have evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004. This evaluation was performed using the internal control evaluation framework

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developed by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on such evaluation, management has concluded that, as of such date, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.

        Deloitte and Touche LLP has issued an attestation report on management's assessment of our internal control over financial reporting. This report follows this Item 9A.

        (b)   Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

        There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.
Las Vegas, Nevada

        We have audited management's assessment, included in the accompanying Management's Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management's assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

        We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management's assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

        A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company's principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

        In our opinion, management's assessment that the Company maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2004, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

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        We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004 of the Company and our report dated February 28, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Las Vegas, Nevada
February 28, 2005

ITEM 9B. Other Information.

        Not applicable.

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PART III

ITEM 10. Directors and Executive Officers.

Executive Officers

Name and Age

  Positions and Offices Held and Principal
Occupations or Employment During Past 5 Years

Gary W. Loveman (44)   Director since 2000; Chairman of the Board since January 1, 2005; Chief Executive Officer since January 2003; President since April 2001; Chief Operating Officer from May 1998 to January 2003; member of the three-executive Office of the President from May 1999 to April 2001; Executive Vice President from May 1998 to May 1999; Associate Professor of Business Administration, Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration from 1994 to 1998; Director of Coach, Inc., a designer and marketer of high-quality handbags and women's and men's accessories traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

Charles L. Atwood (56)

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since April 2001; Treasurer from October 1996 to November 2003; Vice President from October 1996 to April 2001; Director, Equity Residential, an owner and operator of multi-family properties traded on the New York Stock Exchange, since July 2003.

Jerry L. Boone (50)

 

Senior Vice President, Human Resources since February 2004; Vice President, Human Resources, Harrah's New Orleans from April 2000 to February 2004; Vice President, Gaming Operations, Harrah's New Orleans from September 1998 to April 2000.

John M. Boushy (50)

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Integration Officer since July 2004; Senior Vice President, Operations Products & Services from February 2001 to July 2004; Senior Vice President, Information Technology from February 2001 to February 2004; Chief Information Officer from February 2001 to January 2003; Senior Vice President Brand Operations and Information Technology from 1999 to 2001; Senior Vice President Information Technology and Marketing Services from 1993 to 1999.

Stephen H. Brammell (47)

 

Senior Vice President and General Counsel since July 1999; Secretary since June 2004, from November 2002 to July 2003 and from May 2000 to February 2001; Vice President and Associate General Counsel from 1997 to 1999; Associate General Counsel from 1993 to 1997.

Janis L. Jones (55)

 

Senior Vice President, Communications/Government Relations since November 1999; Mayor of Las Vegas, Nevada, from 1991 to 1999.

Anthony D. McDuffie (44)

 

Vice President since November 1999; Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since November 2001; Assistant Controller from 1994 to 2001.
     

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Richard E. Mirman (38)

 

Senior Vice President, Business Development since April 2003; Senior Vice President, New Business Development and Chief Marketing Officer from January 2003 to April 2003; Senior Vice President, Marketing from April 2000 to January 2003; Vice President, Relationship Marketing from 1998 to 2000.

David W. Norton (36)

 

Senior Vice President, Retention Marketing since November 2003; Senior Vice President, Relationship Marketing from January 2003 to November 2003; Vice President, Loyalty Marketing from October 1998 to January 2003.

Virginia E. Shanks (44)

 

Senior Vice President, Acquisition Marketing since November 2003; Western Division Senior Vice President—Marketing from January 2003 to November 2003; Western Division Vice President—Marketing from July 1998 to January 2003.

Timothy S. Stanley (39)

 

Senior Vice President, Information Technology and Chief Information Officer since February 2004; Vice President—Information Technology and Chief Information Officer from January 2003 to February 2004; Vice President—Information Technology from February 2001 to January 2003; Managing Partner, Las Vegas, for USWeb Corporation, an e-Business consulting firm since acquired by marchFIRST, Inc., from December 1999 to February 2001; Vice President—Information Technology, National Airlines, Inc., from August 1998 to January 2000. National Airlines, Inc. filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in December 2000 and ceased operations in November 2002.

Kenneth M. Weil (44)

 

Senior Vice President, Slots since November 2004; Executive Vice President, Victoria's Secret Direct, from October 1998 to October 2004.

Timothy J. Wilmott (46)

 

Chief Operating Officer since January 2003; Eastern Division President from 1997 to January 2003.

Code of Ethics

        In February 2003, our Board adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer and is intended to qualify as a "code of ethics" as defined by rules recently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This Code, filed as Exhibit 14 to this Report, is designed to deter wrongdoing and to promote:

82


        The remaining information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2005 Annual Meeting to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

ITEM 11. Executive Compensation.

        The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2005 Annual Meeting to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

ITEM 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 
  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

Plan Category

  Number of securities to be issued
upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights

  Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
  Number of
securities remaining
available for future
issuance under equity
compensation plans(1)

Equity compensation plans approved by stockholders(2)   9,441,565   $ 42.89   4,276,342
Equity compensation plans not approved by stockholders(3)   111,401     47.20   30,216
   
       
Total   9,552,966     42.94   4,306,558
   
       

(1)
Excluding securities reflected in column (a).

(2)
Includes the Company's 2004 Equity Incentive Award Plan, 2001 Executive Stock Incentive Plan, 1996 Non-Management Directors Stock Incentive Plan, 1990 Restricted Stock Plan, and the 1990 Stock Option Plan.

(3)
Includes the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 2001 Broad-Based Stock Incentive Plan, a description of which is set forth in Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements set forth elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in Part II, Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. The 2001 Broad-Based Stock Incentive Plan is intended to qualify as a "broadly-based" plan under Section 312.03 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

        The remaining information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2005 Annual Meeting to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

ITEM 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.

        The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2005 Annual Meeting to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

ITEM 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.

        The information required by this Item is incorporated by reference to our definitive proxy statement for our 2005 Annual Meeting to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to regulation 14A within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

83



PART IV

ITEM 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules.

        (a)   1. Financial statements of the Company (including related notes to consolidated financial statements) filed as part of this report are listed below:

No.
   
2 (1) Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 10, 2003, by and among Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp., and each of the stockholders of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 17, 2003, File No. 1-10410.)

2

(2)

Amendment No. 1 to Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 25, 2004, by and between Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. and Jack B. Binion (as Sellers' Representative). (Incorporated by reference from Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed July 16, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

2

(3)

Partnership Interest Purchase Agreement dated as of January 20, 2004 by and among Harrah's Shreveport/Bossier City Investment Company, LLC, Harrah's Bossier City Investment Company, LLC Red River Entertainment of Shreveport Partnership in Commendam, Boyd Shreveport, L.L.C., Boyd Red River, L.L.C., and Boyd Gaming Corporation. (Incorporated by reference to the exhibit filed with the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed January 23, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

2

(4)

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 14, 2004, by and among Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. and Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 15, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

2

(5)

Asset Purchase Agreement, dated September 28, 2004, by and among Showboat Marina Casino Partnership, Tunica Partners II L.P., GNOC Corporation, Bally's Olympia Limited Partnership, Bally's Park Place, Inc., Land Ventures Realty, LLC and Resorts International Holdings, LLC. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 27, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)
     

84



3

(1)

Certificate of Incorporation of The Promus Companies Incorporated; Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of The Promus Companies Incorporated dated April 29, 1994; Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of The Promus Companies Incorporated dated May 26, 1995; and Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of The Promus Companies Incorporated dated June 30, 1995, changing its name to Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, filed March 6, 1996, File No. 1-10410.)

3

(2)

Bylaws of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as amended November 12, 2002. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed March 10, 2003, File No. 1-10410.)

4

(1)

Rights Agreement dated as of October 5, 1996, between Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and The Bank of New York, which includes the form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Special Stock of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. as Exhibit A, the form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Special Shares as Exhibit C. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed August 9, 1996, File No. 1-10410.)

4

(2)

First Amendment, dated as of February 21, 1997, to Rights Agreement between Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and The Bank of New York. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, filed March 11, 1997, File No. 1-10410.)

4

(3)

Second Amendment, dated as of April 25, 1997, to Rights Agreement, dated as of October 25, 1996, between Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and The Bank of New York. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997, filed May 13, 1997, File No. 1-10410.)

4

(4)

Letter to Stockholders dated July 23, 1997 regarding Summary of Rights To Purchase Special Shares As Amended Through April 25, 1997. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997, filed August 13, 1997, File No. 1-10410.)

4

(5)

Certificate of Elimination of Series B Special Stock of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., dated February 21, 1997. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, filed March 11, 1997, File No. 1-10410.)

4

(6)

Certificate of Designations of Series A Special Stock of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., dated February 21, 1997. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, filed March 11, 1997, File No. F1-10410.)

4

(7)

Indenture, dated as of December 9, 1998, among Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. as Issuer, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as Trustee relating to the 77/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2005. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, filed March 19, 1999, File No. 1-10410.)
     

85



4

(8)

Indenture, dated as of December 18, 1998, among Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. as obligor, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and IBJ Schroder Bank & Trust Company, as Trustee relating to the 71/2% Senior Notes Due 2009. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., File No. 333-69263, filed December 18, 1998.)

4

(9)

Indenture, dated as of January 29, 2001, between Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., as Issuer, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee, relating to the 8.0% Senior Notes Due 2011. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 28, 2001, File No. 1-10410.)

4

(10)

Indenture, dated as of June 14, 2001, between Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., as Issuer, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and Firstar Bank, N.A., as Trustee, relating to the 71/8% Senior Notes due 2007. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., File No. 333-68360, filed August 24, 2001.)

4

(11)

Indenture, dated as of December 11, 2003, between Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., as Issuer, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, relating to the 5.375% Senior Notes due 2013. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, filed March 4, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

4

(12)

Registration Rights Agreement dated December 11, 2003 among Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as Initial Purchasers, relating to the 5.375% Senior Notes due 2013. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, filed March 4, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

4

(13)

Indenture, dated as of June 25, 2004, between Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., as Issuer, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, relating to the 5.50% Senior Notes due 2010. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, filed August 9, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

4

(14)

Form of Exchange Note (included in Exhibit 4(13)).

4

(15)

Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 25, 2004, among Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc., as Representative of the Initial Purchasers, relating to the 5.50% Senior Notes due 2010. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, filed August 9, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

*10

(1)

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of June 24, 2004, among Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., as Borrower, The Lenders, Syndication Agent, Co-Documentation Agents named therein, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Banc of America Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers.
     

86



10

(2)

Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 31, 2005 among Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. as Guarantor, Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. as Borrower, The Lenders, Syndication Agent and Co-Documentation Agents Herein Named and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and Banc of America Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed February 4, 2005, File No. 1-10410.)

10

(3)

Purchase Agreement, dated June 22, 2004, among Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and J. P. Morgan Securities Inc., as representative of the initial purchasers relating to the 5.50% Senior Notes due 2010. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, filed August 9, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

10

(4)

Issuing and Paying Agent Agreement, dated as of May 19, 2000, among Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., as Issuer, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and Bank One, National Association, as issuing and paying agent; Corporate Commercial Paper Master Note in favor of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company, by Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., as Issuer, and Bank One, N.A., as Paying Agent. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 14, 2000, File No. 1-10410.)

10

(5)

Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2000, among Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., as Issuer, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and Banc of America Securities LLC, as Dealer. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 14, 2000, File No. 1-10410.)

10

(6)

Commercial Paper Dealer Agreement, dated as of May 3, 2000, among Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., as Issuer, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., as Guarantor, and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, as Dealer. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 14, 2000, File No. 1-10410.)

10

(7)

Form of Interest Rate Swap Agreements with BNP Paribas, JP Morgan Chase Bank, and The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, filed May 7, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

10

(8)

Tax Sharing Agreement, dated June 30, 1995, between The Promus Companies Incorporated and Promus Hotel Corporation. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1995, filed August 14, 1995, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(9)

Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into by The Promus Companies Incorporated and each of its directors and executive officers. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10, File No. 1-10410, filed on December 13, 1989.)

†10

(10)

Financial Counseling Plan of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. as amended January 1996. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, filed March 6, 1996, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(11)

The Promus Companies Incorporated 1996 Non-Management Director's Stock Incentive Plan dated April 5, 1995. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement for the May 26, 1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed April 25, 1995.)
     

87



†10

(12)

Amendment dated February 20, 1997 to 1996 Non-Management Director's Stock Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997, filed May 13, 1997, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(13)

Amendment dated as of November 15, 2000 to the 1996 Non-Management Directors Stock Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 28, 2001, File No. 1-10410.)

10

(14)

Summary Plan Description of Executive Term Life Insurance Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, filed March 11, 1997, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(15)

Executive Supplemental Savings Plan dated February 21, 2001. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 11, 2001, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(16)

First Amendment, dated May 2, 2001, to the Executive Supplemental Savings Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 13, 2001, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(17)

2001 Restatement of the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Supplemental Savings Plan, amended and restated effective April 1, 2001. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2001, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(18)

Second Amendment to the 2001 Restatement of the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Supplemental Savings Plan approved November 13, 2001. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 filed March 8, 2002, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(19)

Third Amendment dated January 1, 2003 to the 2001 Restatement of the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Supplemental Savings Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed March 10, 2003, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(20)

Fourth Amendment dated August 19, 2004 to the 2001 Restatement of the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Supplemental Savings Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, filed November 8, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(21)

Fifth Amendment dated December 16, 2004 to the 2001 Restatement of the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Supplemental Savings Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed December 17, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(22)

Executive Supplemental Savings Plan II effective as of January 1, 2005. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed December 17, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

*†10

(23)

First Amendment to the Executive Supplemental Savings Plan II effective as of January 25, 2005

*†10

(24)

Second Amendment to the Executive Supplemental Savings Plan II effective as of February 11, 2005

†10

(25)

Employment Agreement dated as of September 4, 2002, between Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and Philip G. Satre. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-Q filed November 12, 2002, File No. 1-10410.)
     

88



†10

(26)

Severance Agreement dated January 1, 2003, entered into with Philip G. Satre. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed March 10, 2003, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(27)

Amendment, dated as of May 9, 2001, to Deferred Compensation Agreement dated October 1, 1986, between Philip G. Satre and Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. successor to Harrah's Club, as amended January 1, 1987 and December 13, 1993. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 13, 2001, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(28)

Employment Agreement dated as of September 4, 2002, between Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and Gary W. Loveman. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed November 12, 2002, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(29)

Severance Agreement dated January 1, 2003 entered into with Gary W. Loveman (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed March 10, 2003, File No. 1-10410.)

*†10

(30)

Employment Agreement effective as of July 26, 2004, between Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. and John M. Boushy.

†10

(31)

Form of Employment Agreement between Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. and Charles L. Atwood, Stephen H. Brammell, Jerry Boone, Janis L. Jones, Anthony D. McDuffie, Richard E. Mirman, David W. Norton, Virginia E. Shanks, Timothy S. Stanley, Kenneth M. Weil, and Timothy J. Wilmott. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, filed March 5, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(32)

Form of Severance Agreement entered into with Charles L. Atwood, Jerry Boone, John M. Boushy, Stephen H. Brammell, Janis L. Jones, Anthony D. McDuffie, Richard E. Mirman, David W. Norton, Virginia E. Shanks, Timothy S. Stanley, Kenneth M. Weil, and Timothy J. Wilmott. (Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, filed March 5, 2004, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(33)

The Promus Companies Incorporated 1990 Stock Option Plan, as amended July 29, 1994. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1994, filed August 11, 1994, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(34)

Amendment, dated April 5, 1995, to The Promus Companies Incorporated 1990 Stock Option Plan as adjusted on December 12, 1996. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, filed March 11, 1997, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(35)

Amendment, dated February 26, 1998, to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 1998, filed May 14, 1998, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(36)

Amendment, dated April 30, 1998, to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998, filed August 7, 1998, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(37)

Amendment, dated October 29, 1998, to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, filed March 19, 1999, File No. 1-10410.)
     

89



†10

(38)

The Promus Companies Incorporated 1990 Restricted Stock Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 1989, filed March 28, 1990, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(39)

Amendment, dated April 5, 1995, to The Promus Companies Incorporated 1990 Restricted Stock Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Proxy Statement for the May 26, 1995 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, filed April 25, 1995.)

†10

(40)

Amendment, dated February 26, 1998, to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 1990 Restricted Stock Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 1998, filed May 14, 1998, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(41)

Amendment, dated April 30, 1998, to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 1990 Restricted Stock Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998, filed August 7, 1998, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(42)

Amendment, dated October 29, 1998, to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 1990 Restricted Stock Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, filed March 19, 1999, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(43)

Deferred Compensation Plan dated October 16, 1991. (Incorporated by reference from Amendment No. 2 to the Company's and Embassy's Registration Statement on Form S-1, File No. 33-43748, filed March 18, 1992.)

†10

(44)

Amendment, dated May 26, 1995, to The Promus Companies Incorporated Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed June 15, 1995, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(45)

Amendment dated April 24, 1997, to Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.'s Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997, filed August 13, 1997, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(46)

Amendment dated as of November 15, 2000 to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 28, 2001, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(47)

Amendment dated as of February 26, 2003 to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed March 10, 2003, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(48)

Amended and Restated Executive Deferred Compensation Plan dated as of October 27, 1995. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, filed March 6, 1996, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(49)

Amendment dated April 24, 1997 to Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.'s Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997, filed August 13, 1997, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(50)

Amendment dated April 30, 1998 to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998, filed August 7, 1998, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(51)

Amendment dated October 29, 1998 to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, filed March 19, 1999, File No. 1-10410.)
     

90



†10

(52)

Restated Amendment, dated July 18, 1996, to Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, filed March 11, 1997, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(53)

Amendment dated as of November 15, 2000 to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 28, 2001, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(54)

Amendment dated as of February 21, 2001 to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 11, 2001, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(55)

Amendment dated as of January 1, 2003 to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed March 10, 2003, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(56)

Letter Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., dated August 31, 2000, concerning appointment as Escrow Agent under Escrow Agreement for deferred compensation plans. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed November 13, 2000, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(57)

Amendment to Escrow Agreement, dated April 26, 2000, between Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., Successor to Bank of America, N.A. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed November 13, 2000, File No. 1-10410.)

10

(58)

Trust Agreement dated June 20, 2001 by and between Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (the "Company") and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A. (the "Trustee"). (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed November 9, 2001, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(59)

Time Accelerated Restricted Stock Award Plan ("TARSAP") program dated December 12, 1996. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, filed March 11, 1997, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(60)

Amendment to Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 12, 1999, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(61)

Amendment to Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 1990 Stock Option Plan, dated as of February 23, 2000. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 14, 2000, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(62)

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 2000 Senior Executive Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 14, 2000, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(63)

TARSAP Deferral Plan dated July 28, 1999. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed November 12, 1999, Filed No. 1-10410.)

†10

(64)

Time Accelerated Restricted Stock Award Plan II (TARSAP II) dated April 26, 2000. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed August 14, 2000, File No. 1-10410.)
     

91



†10

(65)

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 2001 Executive Stock Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., File No. 333-63856, filed June 26, 2001.)

†10

(66)

Amendment dated as of January 1, 2003 to the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 2001 Executive Stock Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed March 10, 2003, File No. 1-10410.)

†10

(67)

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Award Plan. (Incorporated by reference from Annex B to the Company's Proxy Statement, filed March 4, 2004.)

†10

(68)

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. 2005 Senior Executive Incentive Plan. (Incorporated by reference from Annex C to the Company's Proxy Statement, filed March 4, 2004.)

*12

 

Computations of ratios.

14

 

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Principal Officers, adopted February 26, 2003. (Incorporated by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed March 10, 2003, File No. 1-10410.)

*21

 

List of subsidiaries of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.

*23

 

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

*31

(1)

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated March 1, 2005.

*31

(2)

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated March 1, 2005.

*32

(1)

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated March 1, 2005.

*32

(2)

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated March 1, 2005

*99

 

Description of Governmental Regulation.

*
Filed herewith.

Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement required to be filed as an exhibit to this Form pursuant to Item 15(c) of Form 10-K.

92


SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

    HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.    

March 1, 2005

 

By:

/s/  
GARY W. LOVEMAN        
Gary W. Loveman
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and President

 

 

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/  BARBARA T. ALEXANDER      
Barbara T. Alexander
  Director   March 1, 2005

/s/  
FRANK J. BIONDI, JR.      
Frank J. Biondi, Jr.

 

Director

 

March 1, 2005

/s/  
JOE M. HENSON      
Joe M. Henson

 

Director

 

March 1, 2005

/s/  
RALPH HORN      
Ralph Horn

 

Director

 

March 1, 2005

/s/  
GARY W. LOVEMAN      
Gary W. Loveman

 

Director, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President

 

March 1, 2005

/s/  
R. BRAD MARTIN      
R. Brad Martin

 

Director

 

March 1, 2005

/s/  
GARY G. MICHAEL      
Gary G. Michael

 

Director

 

March 1, 2005
         

93



/s/  
ROBERT G. MILLER      
Robert G. Miller

 

Director

 

March 1, 2005

/s/  
BOAKE A. SELLS      
Boake A. Sells

 

Director

 

March 1, 2005

/s/  
CHRISTOPHER J. WILLIAMS      
Christopher J. Williams

 

Director

 

March 1, 2005

/s/  
CHARLES L. ATWOOD      
Charles L. Atwood

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

March 1, 2005

/s/  
ANTHONY D. MCDUFFIE      
Anthony D. McDuffie

 

Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

 

March 1, 2005

94


Schedule II

HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
(In thousands)

Column A

  Column B
  Column C
  Column D
  Column E
 
   
  Additions
   
   

Description

  Balance at
Beginning
of Period

  Charged
to Costs
and
Expenses

  Charged
to Other
Accounts

  Deductions
from
Reserves

  Balance
at End
of Period

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2004                              
Allowance for doubtful accounts                              
  Current   $ 51,466   $ 13,442   $ 7,277 (d) $ (23,596 )(a) $ 48,589
   
 
 
 
 
  Long-term   $ 80   $   $   $ (80)   $
   
 
 
 
 

Liability to sellers under acquisition agreement(b)

 

$

24,494

 

$


 

$


 

$

(847)

 

$

23,647
   
 
 
 
 
Reserve for structural repairs(c)   $ 3,083   $   $   $ (2,413)   $ 670
   
 
 
 
 

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Allowance for doubtful accounts                              
  Current   $ 55,860   $ 4,950   $ 81   $ (9,425 )(a) $ 51,466
   
 
 
 
 
  Long-term   $ 155   $   $   $ (75)   $ 80
   
 
 
 
 

Liability to sellers under acquisition agreement(b)

 

$

25,641

 

$


 

$


 

$

(1,147)

 

$

24,494
   
 
 
 
 
Reserve for structural repairs(c)   $ 5,000   $   $ 147   $ (2,064)   $ 3,083
   
 
 
 
 

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Allowance for doubtful accounts                              
  Current   $ 60,149   $ (2,521 ) $ 8,225 (d) $ (9,993 )(a) $ 55,860
   
 
 
 
 
  Long-term   $ 24,989   $   $   $ (24,834 )(e) $ 155
   
 
 
 
 

Liability to sellers under acquisition agreement(b)

 

$

26,220

 

$


 

$


 

$

(579)

 

$

25,641
   
 
 
 
 
Reserve for structural repairs(c)   $   $ 5,000   $   $   $ 5,000
   
 
 
 
 

(a)
Uncollectible accounts written off, net of amounts recovered.

(b)
We acquired Players International, Inc., ("Players") in March 2000. In 1995, Players acquired a hotel and land adjacent to its riverboat gaming facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana, for cash plus future payments to the seller based on the number of passengers boarding the riverboat casinos during a defined term. In accordance with the guidance provided by APB 16 regarding the recognition of liabilities assumed in a business combination accounted for as a purchase, Players estimated the net present value of the future payments to be made to the sellers and recorded that amount as a component of the total consideration paid to acquire these assets. Our recording of this liability in connection with the purchase price allocation process following the Players acquisition was originally reported in 2000. The long-term portion of this liability is included in Deferred credits and other on our Consolidated Balance Sheets; the current portion of this obligation is included in Accrued expenses on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

(c)
During 2002, we discovered that water leaks had caused considerable damage to a hotel tower at our property in Reno, Nevada. Following an initial assessment of the extent of the damage, our design and construction department (assisted by third-party experts) estimated that the costs to repair the damage would total approximately $5 million.

(d)
2004 Charged to Other Accounts consists primarily of the balance acquired from our acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. on July 1, 2004. 2002 Charged to Other Accounts consists primarily of the balance acquired from our acquisition and consolidation of JCC Holding Company in our financial statements and re-established accounts that had been previously deemed uncollectible.

(e)
In 2000, National Airlines, Inc., ("NAI") filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, and we recorded write-offs and reserves for our investment in and loans to NAI and our estimated net exposure under letters of credit issued on behalf of NAI. In June 2001, we abandoned all rights to our equity ownership interest in NAI and removed the investment balance and associated reserves from our balance sheet. Since we no longer held an equity investment in NAI, we transferred our reserve balance related to NAI to a long-term receivable and an associated allowance for doubtful accounts. In 2002, we removed the receivable and associated allowance from our general ledger.


HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME/(LOSS) TO TOTAL EBITDA AND PROPERTY EBITDA
(In thousands)

 
  Year Ended December 31,
 
 
  2004
  2003
  2002
  2001
  2000
 
Net income/(loss)   $ 367,709   $ 292,623   $ 235,029   $ 208,967   $ (12,060 )
Add/(less):                                
  Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax benefits of $2,831             91,169          
  Income from discontinued operations, net of tax provision of $18,460, $16,993, $23,684, $18,977 and $18,505     (38,184 )   (31,559 )   (43,986 )   (35,179 )   (34,368 )
  Provision for income taxes     190,641     155,568     174,445     107,747     (3,478 )
  Interest expense     271,802     234,419     240,220     255,801     227,130  
  Depreciation and amortization (property)     327,188     294,336     278,935     260,616     211,659  
  Corporate depreciation and amortization (included in Corporate expense)     15,869     13,234     14,023     15,930     21,110  
  Amortization of intangible assets     9,439     4,798     4,493     23,333     20,112  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Total EBITDA     1,144,464     963,419     994,328     837,215     430,105  

Add/(less):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Minority interests     8,623     11,563     13,965     12,616     13,768  
  Other income, including interest income     (9,483 )   (2,913 )   (2,137 )   (28,219 )   (3,866 )
  Losses on early extinguishments of debt         19,074         36     1,104  
  Corporate expense     66,818     52,602     56,626     52,746     50,472  
  Less: Corporate depreciation and amortization (included in Corporate expense)     (15,869 )   (13,234 )   (14,023 )   (15,929 )   (21,110 )
  Project opening costs     9,526     7,352     1,703     12,421     8,190  
  Write-downs, reserves and recoveries     9,567     10,476     4,537     17,225     226,094  
  Losses on interests in nonconsolidated affiliates     879     999     1,670     4,614     99,329  
  Merger and integration costs for Caesars acquisition     2,331                  
  Headquarters relocation costs                     2,983  
  Venture restructuring costs                 2,524     400  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Property EBITDA   $ 1,216,856   $ 1,049,338   $ 1,056,669   $ 895,249   $ 807,469  
   
 
 
 
 
 

This Reconciliation should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in our 2004 Form 10-K.




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PART I
PART II
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share amounts)
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per share amounts)
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (In thousands) (Notes 5, 7, 14 and 15)
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Dollars in thousands, unless otherwise stated)
PART III
PART IV
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME/(LOSS) TO TOTAL EBITDA AND PROPERTY EBITDA (In thousands)

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Exhibit 10(1)

        Published CUSIP Number: 413626AAO

EXECUTION

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of June 24, 2004

among

HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

as Guarantor

HARRAH'S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

as Borrower

The Lenders, Syndication Agent

And Co-Documentation Agents Herein Named

and

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

and

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS   1
 
1.1

 

Defined Terms

 

1
 
1.2

 

Use of Defined Terms

 

22
 
1.3

 

Accounting Terms

 

22
 
1.4

 

Rounding

 

22
 
1.5

 

Exhibits and Schedules

 

22
 
1.6

 

Other Interpretive Provisions

 

22
 
1.7

 

Letter of Credit Amounts

 

23
 
1.8

 

Times of Day

 

23

ARTICLE 2 LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

24
 
2.1

 

Committed Loans—General

 

24
 
2.2

 

Base Rate Loans

 

25
 
2.3

 

Eurodollar Rate Loans

 

25
 
2.4

 

Letters of Credit

 

25
 
2.5

 

Swing Line

 

28
 
2.6

 

Voluntary Increase to the Aggregate Commitments

 

30
 
2.7

 

Voluntary Reduction of the Aggregate Commitments

 

31
 
2.8

 

Optional Termination of Aggregate Commitments

 

31
 
2.9

 

Additional Borrowers

 

31
 
2.10

 

Payment Presumptions by Administrative Agent

 

32
 
2.11

 

Sharing of Payments by Lenders

 

33

ARTICLE 3 PAYMENTS AND FEES

 

34
 
3.1

 

Principal and Interest

 

34
 
3.2

 

Arrangement Fee

 

35
 
3.3

 

Upfront Fees; Amendment Fees

 

35
 
3.4

 

Facility Fees

 

35
 
3.5

 

Letter of Credit Fees

 

35
 
3.6

 

Agency Fees

 

36
 
3.7

 

Increased Commitment Costs

 

36
 
3.8

 

Eurodollar Costs and Related Matters

 

36
 
3.9

 

Default Rate

 

39
 
3.10

 

Computation of Interest and Fees

 

39
         

i


 
3.11

 

Non-Business Days

 

39
 
3.12

 

Manner and Treatment of Payments

 

39
 
3.13

 

Funding Sources

 

40
 
3.14

 

Failure to Charge Not Subsequent Waiver

 

40
 
3.15

 

Fee Determination Detail

 

40
 
3.16

 

Survivability

 

40

ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

41
 
4.1

 

Existence and Qualification; Power; Compliance With Laws

 

41
 
4.2

 

Authority; Compliance With Other Agreements and Instruments and Government Regulations

 

41
 
4.3

 

No Governmental Approvals Required

 

41
 
4.4

 

Significant Subsidiaries

 

42
 
4.5

 

Financial Statements

 

42
 
4.6

 

No Other Liabilities; No Material Adverse Effect

 

42
 
4.7

 

Title to Property

 

42
 
4.8

 

Litigation

 

43
 
4.9

 

Binding Obligations

 

43
 
4.10

 

No Default

 

43
 
4.11

 

ERISA

 

43
 
4.12

 

Regulations T, U and X; Investment Company Act

 

43
 
4.13

 

Disclosure

 

43
 
4.14

 

Tax Liability

 

43
 
4.15

 

Projections

 

44
 
4.16

 

Hazardous Materials

 

44
 
4.17

 

Gaming Laws

 

44
 
4.18

 

Solvency

 

44

ARTICLE 5 AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

44
 
5.1

 

Preservation of Existence

 

44
 
5.2

 

Maintenance of Properties

 

44
 
5.3

 

Maintenance of Insurance

 

45
 
5.4

 

Compliance With Laws

 

45
 
5.5

 

Inspection Rights

 

45
 
5.6

 

Keeping of Records and Books of Account

 

45
 
5.7

 

Use of Proceeds

 

45
         

ii



ARTICLE 6 NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

45
 
6.1

 

Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets

 

45
 
6.2

 

Hostile Tender Offers

 

46
 
6.3

 

Change in Nature of Business

 

46
 
6.4

 

Liens, Negative Pledges, Sale Leasebacks and Rights of Others

 

46
 
6.5

 

Total Debt Ratio

 

47
 
6.6

 

Interest Coverage Ratio

 

47
 
6.7

 

Subsidiary Indebtedness

 

47

ARTICLE 7 INFORMATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

 

48
 
7.1

 

Financial and Business Information

 

48
 
7.2

 

Compliance Certificates

 

50
 
7.3

 

Borrower Materials

 

50

ARTICLE 8 CONDITIONS

 

51
 
8.1

 

Initial Advances, Etc.

 

51
 
8.2

 

Any Increasing Advance, Etc.

 

52

ARTICLE 9 EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT

 

53
 
9.1

 

Events of Default

 

53
 
9.2

 

Remedies Upon Event of Default

 

54

ARTICLE 10 ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

56
 
10.1

 

Appointment and Authority

 

56
 
10.2

 

Rights as a Lender

 

56
 
10.3

 

Exculpatory Provisions

 

56
 
10.4

 

Reliance by Administrative Agent

 

57
 
10.5

 

Delegation of Duties

 

57
 
10.6

 

Resignation by Administrative Agent

 

58
 
10.7

 

Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders

 

59
 
10.8

 

No Other Duties, Etc

 

59
 
10.9

 

Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim

 

59
 
10.10

 

No Obligations of Parent or Borrowers

 

59

ARTICLE 11 MISCELLANEOUS

 

60
 
11.1

 

Cumulative Remedies; No Waiver

 

60
 
11.2

 

Amendments; Consents

 

60
 
11.3

 

Costs, Expenses and Taxes

 

61
         

iii


 
11.4

 

Obligations of Lenders Several

 

61
 
11.5

 

Survival of Representations and Warranties

 

61
 
11.6

 

Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication

 

62
 
11.7

 

Execution of Loan Documents

 

63
 
11.8

 

Successors and Assigns

 

63
 
11.9

 

Sharing of Setoffs

 

67
 
11.10

 

Indemnity by Parent and Borrowers

 

68
 
11.11

 

Nonliability of the Lenders

 

68
 
11.12

 

No Third Parties Benefitted

 

69
 
11.13

 

Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality

 

69
 
11.14

 

Removal of a Lender

 

70
 
11.15

 

Further Assurances

 

71
 
11.16

 

Integration

 

71
 
11.17

 

Governing Law, Jurisdiction, Etc.

 

71
 
11.18

 

Severability of Provisions

 

71
 
11.19

 

Headings

 

71
 
11.20

 

Time of the Essence

 

72
 
11.21

 

Foreign Lenders and Participants

 

72
 
11.22

 

Gaming Boards

 

72
 
11.23

 

Nature of the Borrowers' Obligations

 

72
 
11.24

 

Designated Senior Debt

 

72
 
11.25

 

Gaming Regulations

 

72
 
11.26

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

 

73
 
11.27

 

USA Patriot Act Notice

 

73
 
11.28

 

Payments Set Aside

 

73
 
11.29

 

Purported Oral Amendments

 

73

iv


AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

        This AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT ("Agreement"), dated as of June 24, 2004, is entered into among Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Company"), each of the Subsidiaries that becomes a borrower pursuant to Section 2.9 hereof (the Company and each such borrower are individually a "Borrower" and collectively the "Borrowers"), as Borrowers, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Parent"), as Guarantor, Bank of America, N.A. and each lender whose name is set forth on the signature pages of this Agreement and each other lender which may hereafter become a party to this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.8 (collectively, the "Lenders" and individually, a "Lender"), Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Syndication Agent, Citicorp USA, Inc., JPMorgan Chase Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and The Royal Bank of Scotland, PLC as Co-Documentation Agents, and Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent. While not party to this Agreement, Banc of America Securities LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association have served as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Book Managers.

RECITALS

A.
Parent and Borrowers have requested that the Lenders provide the credit facilities described herein to provide for their common working capital needs and for the refinancing of certain existing Indebtedness of Borrower, including without limitation the Existing Credit Agreement, all as further set forth in Section 5.7.

B.
The parties to this Agreement agree that the Company shall be jointly and severally liable for all of the Obligations hereunder, as more particularly set forth in Section 11.23, notwithstanding any allocation of the Obligations to the nominal account of any other Borrower.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

        1.1    Defined Terms.    As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

1


Pricing Level
  Base Rate Margin
  Facility Fee
  Letter of Credit Fee
Eurodollar Margin

I   0.000%   0.125%   0.375%
II   0.000%   0.150%   0.550%
III   0.000%   0.175%   0.725%
IV   0.000%   0.200%   0.900%
V   0.000%   0.250%   1.050%
VI   0.015%   0.300%   1.400%

2


3


4


5


6


7


Eurodollar Rate   =   Eurodollar Base Rate
1.00-Eurodollar Reserve Percentage

        Where,

8


9


10


11


12


13



14


15


16


17


Applicable Pricing Level
  Total Debt Ratio
  Debt Rating
Pricing Level I   Not Applicable   A-/A3 or higher
Pricing Level II   Not Applicable   BBB+/Baa1
Pricing Level III   < 3.25:1.00   BBB/Baa2
Pricing Level IV   > 3.25:1.00 but < 3.75:1.00   BBB-/Baa3
Pricing Level V   > 3.75:1.00 but < 4.25:1.00   BB+/Ba1
Pricing Level VI   > 4.25:1.00 but < 4.75:1.00   BB/Ba2 or lower or unrated

18


19


20


21


        1.2    Use of Defined Terms.    Any defined term used in the plural shall refer to all members of the relevant class, and any defined term used in the singular shall refer to any one or more of the members of the relevant class.

        1.3    Accounting Terms.    All accounting terms not specifically defined in this Agreement shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data required to be submitted by this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein. In the event that Generally Accepted Accounting Principles change during the term of this Agreement such that the covenants contained in Sections 6.5 and 6.6 would then be calculated in a different manner or with different components,

        1.4    Rounding.    Any financial ratios required to be maintained by Parent and Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed in this Agreement and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a round-up if there is no nearest number) to the number of places by which such ratio is expressed in this Agreement.

        1.5    Exhibits and Schedules.    All Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement, either as originally existing or as the same may from time to time be supplemented, modified or amended, are incorporated herein by this reference. A matter disclosed on any Schedule shall be deemed disclosed on all Schedules.

        1.6    Other Interpretive Provisions.    With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

22


        1.7    Letter of Credit Amounts.    Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to the amount of a Letter of Credit at any time shall be deemed to mean the maximum face amount of such Letter of Credit after giving effect to all increases thereof contemplated by such Letter of Credit or the Issuer Documents related thereto, whether or not such maximum face amount is in effect at such time.

        1.8    Times of Day.    Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to California local time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

23


ARTICLE 2
LOANS AND LETTERS OF CREDIT

        2.1    Committed Loans—General.    

24


        2.2    Base Rate Loans.    Each request by a Borrower for a Base Rate Loan shall be made pursuant to a Request for Loan (or telephonic or other request for loan referred to in the second sentence of Section 2.1(b), if applicable) received by the Administrative Agent, at the Administrative Agent's Office, not later than 9:00 a.m. California local time, on the date (which must be a Business Day) of the requested Base Rate Loan. All Committed Loans shall constitute Base Rate Loans unless properly designated as a Eurodollar Rate Loan pursuant to Section 2.3.

        2.3    Eurodollar Rate Loans.    

        2.4    Letters of Credit.    

25


26


27


        2.5    Swing Line.    

28


29


        2.6    Voluntary Increase to the Aggregate Commitments.    

30


        2.7    Voluntary Reduction of the Aggregate Commitments.    Borrowers shall have the right, at any time and from time to time, without penalty or charge, upon at least three Business Days prior written notice to the Administrative Agent, voluntarily to reduce or to terminate, permanently and irrevocably, in aggregate principal amounts in an integral multiple of $1,000,000 but not less than $10,000,000, all or a portion of the then undisbursed portion of the Aggregate Commitments, provided that any such reduction or termination shall be accompanied by payment of all accrued and unpaid commitment fees with respect to the portion of the Aggregate Commitments being reduced or terminated. The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify the Lenders of any reduction of the Aggregate Commitments under this Section 2.7.

        2.8    Optional Termination of Aggregate Commitments.    Following the occurrence of a Change in Control, the Requisite Lenders may in their sole and absolute discretion elect, during the sixty day period immediately subsequent to the later of

        2.9    Additional Borrowers.    From time to time following the Closing Date and when no Default or Event of Default exists, Parent and Company (and each other Borrower then a party to this Agreement) may jointly designate one or more additional Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries as additional co-borrowers under the Aggregate Commitments in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.9.

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Prior to the effectiveness of any such designation each such additional Borrower shall have duly authorized, executed and delivered to the Administrative Agent each of the following:

        2.10    Payment Presumptions by Administrative Agent.    

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        2.11    Sharing of Payments by Lenders.    If any Lender shall, by exercising any right of setoff or counterclaim or otherwise, obtain payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of the Committed Loans made by it, or the participations in L/C Obligations or in Swing Line Advances held by it resulting in such Lender's receiving payment of a proportion of the aggregate amount of such Committed Loans or participations and accrued interest thereon greater than its pro rata share thereof as provided herein, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion shall

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ARTICLE 3
PAYMENTS AND FEES

        3.1    Principal and Interest.    

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        3.2    Arrangement Fee.    On the Closing Date, Parent and the Company shall pay to each Lead Arranger an arrangement fee in the amount heretofore agreed upon by letter agreement among Parent, the Company and each such Lead Arranger. Such arrangement fees are for the services of the Lead Arrangers in arranging the credit facilities under this Agreement and are fully earned when paid. These arrangement fees are earned as of the date hereof and are nonrefundable.

        3.3    Upfront Fees; Amendment Fees.    


        3.4    Facility Fees.    On the last day of each Pricing Period, Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent, for the respective accounts of the Lenders, pro rata according to their Applicable Percentage, a facility fee equal to

        3.5    Letter of Credit Fees.    Concurrently with the issuance of each Letter of Credit, Borrowers shall pay a letter of credit issuance fee to the relevant Issuing Lender, for the sole account of that Issuing Lender, in an amount set forth in a letter agreement between the Parent and each Issuing Lender. Each letter of credit issuance fee is nonrefundable. On each Quarterly Payment Date and on the Maturity Date, Borrowers shall also pay to the Administrative Agent in arrears, for the ratable account of the Lenders in accordance with their Applicable Percentage, letter of credit fees in an amount equal to the Letter of Credit Fee per annum times the actual daily L/C Obligations of all Letters of Credit for the period from the Closing Date or the most recent Quarterly Payment Date.

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        3.6    Agency Fees.    Borrowers shall pay to the Administrative Agent an agency fee in such amounts and at such times as heretofore agreed upon by letter agreement among Parent, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent. The agency fee is for the services to be performed by the Administrative Agent in acting as Administrative Agent and is fully earned on the date paid. The agency fee paid to the Administrative Agent is solely for its own account and is nonrefundable.

        3.7    Increased Commitment Costs.    If any Lender shall determine that the introduction after the Closing Date of any applicable law, rule, regulation or guideline regarding capital adequacy, or any change therein or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any central bank or other Governmental Agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by such Lender (or its Eurodollar Lending Office) or any corporation controlling the Lender, with any request, guidelines or directive regarding capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such central bank or other authority, affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender and (taking into consideration such Lender's or such corporation's policies with respect to capital adequacy and such Lender's desired return on capital) determines that the amount of such capital is increased, or the rate of return on capital is reduced, as a consequence of its obligations under this Agreement, then such Lender shall promptly give notice to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent of such determination. Thereafter, the Borrowers shall pay to such Lender, within five Business Days following written demand therefor (setting forth the additional amounts owed to such Lender and the basis of the calculation thereof in reasonable detail), additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender in light of such circumstances, to the extent reasonably allocable to such obligations under this Agreement. Each Lender shall afford treatment to Borrowers under this Section 3.7 which is substantially similar to that which such Lender affords to its other similarly situated customers.

        3.8    Eurodollar Costs and Related Matters.    

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        3.9    Default Rate.    If any installment of principal or interest or any fee or cost or other amount payable under any Loan Document to any Creditor is not paid when due, then such overdue Obligations shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus the Base Rate Margin plus 2%, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. In addition, if any Event of Default has occurred and remains continuing, then at the option of the Requisite Lenders, all of the Obligations shall thereafter bear interest at a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the sum of the Base Rate plus the Base Rate Margin plus 2%, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws. Accrued and unpaid interest on past due amounts (including, without limitation, interest on past due interest) shall be compounded monthly, on the last day of each calendar month, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Laws.

        3.10    Computation of Interest and Fees.    Computation of interest on Base Rate Loans calculated with reference to the prime rate shall be calculated on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and the actual number of days elapsed; computation of interest on Base Rate Loans calculated by reference to the Federal Funds Rate, and on Eurodollar Rate Loans and all fees under this Agreement shall be calculated on the basis of a year of 360 days and the actual number of days elapsed. Each Borrower acknowledges that such latter calculation method will result in a higher yield to the Lenders than a method based on a year of 365 or 366 days. Interest shall accrue on each Loan for the day on which the Loan is made; interest shall not accrue on a Loan, or any portion thereof, for the day on which the Loan or such portion is paid. Any Loan that is repaid on the same day on which it is made shall bear interest for one day.

        3.11    Non-Business Days.    Subject to clause (b) of the definition of "Interest Period," if any payment to be made by Borrowers or any other Party under any Loan Document shall come due on a day other than a Business Day, payment shall instead be considered due on the next succeeding Business Day and the extension of time shall be reflected in computing interest and fees.

        3.12    Manner and Treatment of Payments.    

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        3.13    Funding Sources.    Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to obligate any Lender to obtain the funds for any Loan or Advance in any particular place or manner or to constitute a representation by any Lender that it has obtained or will obtain the funds for any Loan or Advance in any particular place or manner.

        3.14    Failure to Charge Not Subsequent Waiver.    Any decision by the Creditors not to require payment of any interest (including interest arising under Section 3.9), fee, cost or other amount payable under any Loan Document, or to calculate any amount payable by a particular method, on any occasion shall in no way limit or be deemed a waiver of the Creditor's right to require full payment of any interest (including interest arising under Section 3.9), fee, cost or other amount payable under any Loan Document on any other or subsequent occasion.

        3.15    Fee Determination Detail.    Each Creditor shall provide reasonable detail to Parent and the Borrowers regarding the manner in which the amount of any payment to that Creditor under Article 3 has been determined, concurrently with demand for such payment.

        3.16    Survivability.    All of the Parent's and the Borrowers' obligations under Sections 3.7 and 3.8 shall survive for ninety days following the date on which the Commitments are terminated and all Loans hereunder are fully paid.

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ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

        Parent and each Borrower represents and warrants to the Creditors, as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Date, and as of the date of the making of each Advance and the Issuance of each Letter of Credit that:

        4.1    Existence and Qualification; Power; Compliance With Laws.    Parent and each of the Borrowers are duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of formation. Parent and each of the Borrowers are duly qualified or registered to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the ownership or leasing of its Properties makes such qualification or registration necessary, except where the failure so to qualify or register and to be in good standing would not constitute a Material Adverse Effect. Parent and each of the Borrowers have all requisite corporate or partnership power (as applicable) and authority to conduct their respective business, to own and lease their respective Properties and to execute and deliver each Loan Document to which it is a Party and to perform its Obligations. All outstanding shares of capital stock of Parent and each of the Borrowers are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable and no holder thereof has any enforceable right of rescission under any applicable state or federal securities Laws. Parent and each of the Borrowers are in compliance with all Laws and other legal requirements applicable to their respective business, have obtained all authorizations, consents, approvals, orders, licenses and permits from, and have accomplished all filings, registrations and qualifications with, or obtained exemptions from any of the foregoing from, any Governmental Agency that are necessary for the transaction of their business, except where the failure so to comply, file, register, qualify or obtain exemptions does not constitute a Material Adverse Effect.

        4.2    Authority; Compliance With Other Agreements and Instruments and Government Regulations.    The execution, delivery and performance by Parent and each Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a Party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or partnership action, as applicable, and do not and will not:

        4.3    No Governmental Approvals Required.    Except as set forth in Schedule 4.3 or previously obtained or made, no authorization, consent, approval, order, license or permit from, or filing, registration or qualification with, any Governmental Agency is or will be required to authorize or permit under applicable Laws the execution, delivery and performance by Parent or the Borrowers of the Loan Documents to which any of them is a Party. All authorizations from, or filings with, any

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Governmental Agency described in Schedule 4.3 will be accomplished as of the Closing Date or such other date as is specified in Schedule 4.3.

        4.4    Significant Subsidiaries.    

        4.5    Financial Statements.    Parent and Borrowers have furnished to the Lenders the audited consolidated financial statements of Parent and its Subsidiaries for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2003. The financial statements described above fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and changes in financial position of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods, in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, consistently applied.

        4.6    No Other Liabilities; No Material Adverse Effect.    As of the Closing Date, Parent and its Subsidiaries do not have any material liability or material contingent liability not reflected or disclosed in the financial statements described in Section 4.5, other than liabilities and contingent liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business since the date of such financial statements. As of the Closing Date, no circumstance or event has occurred that constitutes a Material Adverse Effect since December 31, 2003.

        4.7    Title to Property.    Parent and its Subsidiaries have valid title to the Property reflected in the financial statements described in Section 4.5, other than immaterial items of Property and Property subsequently sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business, free and clear of all Liens and Rights of Others, other than Liens or Rights of Others described in Schedule 4.7, as permitted by Section 6.4, and any other matters which do not have a Material Adverse Effect.

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        4.8    Litigation.    There are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending as to which Parent or any of its Subsidiaries have been served or have received notice or, to the knowledge of Parent and the Borrowers, threatened against or affecting Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or any Property of any of them before any Governmental Agency in which there is any reasonable possibility of an adverse decision which could materially adversely affect the business, consolidated financial position or results of operations of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or which in any manner draws into question the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents.

        4.9    Binding Obligations.    Each of the Loan Documents will, when executed and delivered by Parent and the Borrowers party thereto, constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Party, enforceable against such Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by Debtor Relief Laws or equitable principles relating to the granting of specific performance and other equitable remedies as a matter of judicial discretion.

        4.10    No Default.    No event has occurred and is continuing that is a Default or Event of Default.

        4.11    ERISA.    

        4.12    Regulations T, U and X; Investment Company Act.    No part of the proceeds of any Loan hereunder will be used to purchase or carry, or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying, any Margin Stock in violation of Regulations T, U or X. Neither Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is or is required to be registered as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

        4.13    Disclosure.    No written statement made by a Senior Officer of Parent or any Borrower to any Creditor in connection with this Agreement, including without limitation the statements made in the Confidential Offering Memorandum, or in connection with any Loan, Advance or Letter of Credit as of the date thereof contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted a material fact necessary to make the statement made not misleading in light of all the circumstances existing at the date the statement was made.

        4.14    Tax Liability.    Parent and its Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns which are required to be filed, and have paid, or made provision for the payment of, all taxes with respect to the periods, Property or transactions covered by said returns, or pursuant to any assessment received by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, except

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        4.15    Projections.    As of the Closing Date, to the best knowledge of Parent and the Borrowers, the assumptions set forth in the Projections are reasonable and consistent with each other and with all facts known to Parent and the Borrowers, and the Projections are:

        4.16    Hazardous Materials.    Parent and the Borrowers have reasonably concluded that Hazardous Materials Laws are unlikely to have a material adverse effect on the business, financial position, results of operations or prospects of the Parent and its Subsidiaries, considered as a whole.

        4.17    Gaming Laws.    Parent and each of its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all Gaming Laws that are applicable to them and their businesses.

        4.18    Solvency.    As of the Closing Date, and giving effect to the transactions contemplated to occur on the Closing Date, Parent and each of its Subsidiaries are Solvent.

ARTICLE 5
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

        So long as any Advance remains unpaid, or any other Obligation remains unpaid or unperformed, or any portion of the Commitments remains in force, Parent and each Borrower shall, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, unless the Administrative Agent (with the written approval of the Requisite Lenders) otherwise consents:

        5.1    Preservation of Existence.    Preserve and maintain their respective existences in the jurisdiction of their formation and all material authorizations, rights, franchises, privileges, consents, approvals, orders, licenses, permits, or registrations from any Governmental Agency that are necessary for the transaction of their respective business, except where the failure to so preserve and maintain the existence of any Subsidiary and such authorizations would not constitute a Material Adverse Effect and except that a merger permitted by Section 6.1 shall not constitute a violation of this covenant; and qualify and remain qualified to transact business in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary in view of their respective business or the ownership or leasing of their respective Properties except where the failure to so qualify or remain qualified would not constitute a Material Adverse Effect.

        5.2    Maintenance of Properties.    Maintain, preserve and protect all of their respective depreciable Properties in good order and condition, subject to wear and tear in the ordinary course of business, and not permit any waste of their respective Properties, except where the failure to maintain, preserve and protect a particular item of depreciable Property would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

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        5.3    Maintenance of Insurance.    Maintain liability, casualty and other insurance (subject to customary deductibles and retentions) with financially sound and responsible insurance companies in such amounts and against such risks as is carried by responsible companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar assets in the general areas in which Parent and its Subsidiaries operate, and will furnish to the Administrative Agent upon request information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so carried. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent and its Subsidiaries may self-insure with respect to such risks with respect to which companies of established reputation engaged in the same general line of business in the same general area usually self-insure.

        5.4    Compliance With Laws.    Comply within the time period, if any, given for such compliance by the relevant Governmental Agency or Authorities with enforcement authority, with all Laws and Requirements of Law, including without limitation Hazardous Materials Laws, ERISA and all Gaming Laws, except that Parent and its Subsidiaries need not comply with a Requirement of Law then being contested by any of them in good faith by appropriate proceedings, except where the failure to so comply may not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

        5.5    Inspection Rights.    Upon reasonable notice, at any time during regular business hours and as often as requested (but not so as to materially interfere with the business of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries), permit the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or any authorized employee, agent or representative thereof, to examine, audit and make copies and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and to visit and inspect the Properties of, the Parent and its Subsidiaries and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Parent and its Subsidiaries with any of their officers, key employees or accountants and, upon request, furnish promptly to the Administrative Agent or any Lender true copies of all financial information made available to the senior management of the Parent.

        5.6    Keeping of Records and Books of Account.    Keep adequate records and books of account reflecting all financial transactions in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, consistently applied, and in material conformity with all applicable requirements of any Governmental Agency having regulatory jurisdiction over Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

        5.7    Use of Proceeds.    Use the proceeds of Loans

ARTICLE 6
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

        So long as any Advance remains unpaid, or any other Obligation remains unpaid or unperformed, or any portion of the Commitments remains in force, Parent and each Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, unless the Administrative Agent (with the written approval of the Requisite Lenders) otherwise consents:

        6.1    Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets.    Merge or consolidate with or into any Person, or sell lease or otherwise transfer all or any substantial part of the assets of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, except:

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        6.2    Hostile Tender Offers.    Make any offer to purchase or acquire, or consummate a purchase or acquisition of, 5% or more of the capital stock of any corporation or other equity securities of any business entity if the board of directors or management of such corporation or business entity has notified Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in writing that it opposes such offer or purchase and such notice has not been withdrawn or superseded.

        6.3    Change in Nature of Business.    Make any material change in the nature of the business of Parent and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or acquire more than 49% of the capital stock or other equity securities of any Person which is engaged in a line of business other than the lines of business reasonably related to or incidental to the business engaged in by Parent and its Subsidiaries.

        6.4    Liens, Negative Pledges, Sale Leasebacks and Rights of Others.    Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien, Negative Pledge or Right of Others of any nature upon or with respect to any of their respective Properties, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or enter into any Sale and Leaseback with respect to any such Properties except:

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        6.5    Total Debt Ratio.    Permit the Total Debt Ratio to exceed 4.50:1.00 as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter.

        6.6    Interest Coverage Ratio.    Permit the Interest Coverage Ratio to be less than 3.00:1.00 as of the last day of any Fiscal Quarter.

        6.7    Subsidiary Indebtedness.    Permit any Subsidiary of Parent which is not a Borrower hereunder to create, assume, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness or Contingent Obligations with respect to Indebtedness other than:

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ARTICLE 7
INFORMATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

        7.1    Financial and Business Information.    So long as any Advance remains unpaid, or any other Obligation remains unpaid or unperformed, or any portion of the Aggregate Commitments remains in force, Parent and the Borrowers shall, unless the Administrative Agent (with the written approval of the Requisite Lenders) otherwise consents, deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, at Parent's and Borrowers' sole expense:

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        7.2    Compliance Certificates.    So long as any Advance remains unpaid, or any other Obligation remains unpaid or unperformed, or any portion of the Commitments remains outstanding, Parent and Borrowers shall deliver to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, at Parent's and Borrowers' sole expense, concurrently with the financial statements required pursuant to Sections 7.1(a) and 7.1(c), a Compliance Certificate signed on Parent's and Borrowers' behalf by a Senior Officer.

        7.3    Borrower Materials.    The Borrower hereby acknowledges that (a) the Administrative Agent and/or the Arranger will make available to the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders materials and/or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrower hereunder (collectively, "Borrower Materials") by posting the Borrower Materials on IntraLinks or another similar electronic system (the "Platform") and (b) certain of the Lenders may be "public-side" Lenders (i.e. Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to the Borrower or its securities) (each a "Public Lender"). The Borrower hereby agrees that (w) all Borrower Materials that are to be made available to Public Lenders shall be clearly and conspicuously marked "PUBLIC" which, at a minimum, shall mean that the word "PUBLIC" shall appear prominently on the first page thereof:; (x) by marking Borrower Materials "PUBLIC," the Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arranger, the Issuing Lenders and the Lenders to treat such Borrower Materials as either publicly available information or not material information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to the Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws; (v) all Borrower Materials marked "PUBLIC" are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated "Public Investor," and (z) the Administrative Agent and the Arranger shall be entitled to treat any Borrower Materials that are not marked "PUBLIC" as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated "Public Investor."

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ARTICLE 8
CONDITIONS

        8.1    Initial Advances, Etc.    The obligation of each Lender to make the initial Advance to be made by it, the obligation of the Swing Line Lender to make Swing Line Advances and the obligation of the relevant Issuing Lenders to issue the initial Letters of Credit, are each subject to the following conditions precedent, each of which shall be satisfied prior to the making of the initial Advances (unless all of the Lenders, in their sole and absolute discretion, shall agree otherwise):

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        8.2    Any Increasing Advance, Etc.    The obligation of each Lender to make any Committed Advance which would increase the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Committed Advances, the obligation of the relevant Issuing Lender to issue each Letter of Credit and the obligation of the Swing Line Lender to make Swing Line Advances, is subject to the following conditions precedent:

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ARTICLE 9
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT

        9.1    Events of Default.    The existence or occurrence of any one or more of the following events, whatever the reason therefor and under any circumstances whatsoever, shall constitute an Event of Default:

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        9.2    Remedies Upon Event of Default.    Without limiting any other rights or remedies of the Creditors provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, or the Loan Documents, or by applicable Law, or in equity, or otherwise:

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ARTICLE 10
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

        10.1    Appointment and Authority.    Each of the Lenders and the Issuing Lender hereby irrevocably appoints Bank of America to act on its behalf as the Administrative Agent hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such actions on its behalf and to exercise such powers as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof or thereof, together with such actions and powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lender, and neither any Borrower nor any other Loan Party shall have rights as a third party beneficiary of any of such provisions.

        10.2    Rights as a Lender.    The Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder shall have the same rights and powers in its capacity as a Lender as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, include the Person serving as the Administrative Agent hereunder in its individual capacity. Such Person and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower or any Subsidiary or other Affiliate thereof as if such Person were not the Administrative Agent hereunder and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

        10.3    Exculpatory Provisions.    The Administrative Agent shall not have any duties or obligations except those expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent:

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        10.4    Reliance by Administrative Agent.    The Administrative Agent shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall not incur any liability for relying upon, any notice, request, certificate, consent, statement, instrument, document or other writing (including any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper Person. The Administrative Agent also may rely upon any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to have been made by the proper Person, and shall not incur any liability for relying thereon. In determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan, or the issuance of a Letter of Credit, that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender or the Issuing Lender, the Administrative Agent may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender or the Issuing Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender or the Issuing Lender prior to the making of such Loan or the issuance of such Letter of Credit. The Administrative Agent may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for the Borrowers), independent accountants and other experts selected by it, and shall not be liable for any action taken or not taken by it in accordance with the advice of any such counsel, accountants or experts.

        10.5    Delegation of Duties.    The Administrative Agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub

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agent may perform any and all of its duties and exercise its rights and powers by or through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub agent, and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent.

        10.6    Resignation by Administrative Agent.    

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        10.7    Non-Reliance on Administrative Agent and Other Lenders.    Each Lender and the Issuing Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender and the Issuing Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender or any of their Related Parties and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

        10.8    No Other Duties, Etc.    Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, none of the Lead Arrangers, Syndication Agent, Co-Documentation Agents or listed on the cover page hereof shall have any powers, duties or responsibilities under this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, except in its capacity, as applicable, as the Administrative Agent, a Lender or the Issuing Lender hereunder.

        10.9    Administrative Agent May File Proofs of Claim.    In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or L/C Obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on any Loan Party) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise

        10.10    No Obligations of Parent or Borrowers.    Nothing contained in this Article 10 shall be deemed to impose upon Parent or Borrowers any obligation in respect of the due and punctual performance by the Administrative Agent of its obligations to the Lenders under any provision of this Agreement, and Parent and Borrowers shall have no liability to any Creditor in respect of any failure by any Creditor to perform any of its obligations to any other Creditor under this Agreement.

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ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS

        11.1    Cumulative Remedies; No Waiver.    The rights, powers, privileges and remedies of the Creditors provided herein or in any Note or other Loan Document are cumulative and not exclusive of any right, power, privilege or remedy provided by Law or equity. No failure or delay on the part of any Creditor in exercising any right, power, privilege or remedy may be, or may be deemed to be, a waiver thereof; nor may any single or partial exercise of any right, power, privilege or remedy preclude any other or further exercise of the same or any other right, power, privilege or remedy. The terms and conditions of Article 8 hereof are inserted for the sole benefit of the Creditors; the same may be waived in whole or in part, with or without terms or conditions, in respect of any Loan or Letter of Credit without prejudicing the Creditors rights to assert them in whole or in part in respect of any other Loan or Letter of Credit.

        11.2    Amendments; Consents.    No amendment, modification, supplement, extension, termination or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, no approval or consent thereunder, and no consent to any departure by Parent, Borrowers or any other Party therefrom, may in any event be effective unless in writing signed by the Requisite Lenders (and, in the case of any amendment, modification or supplement of or to any Loan Document to which Parent or any Borrower is a party, signed by Parent and that Borrower and, in the case of any amendment, modification or supplement to Article 10, signed by the Administrative Agent), and then only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose given; provided, however, that without the approval in writing of all the Lenders, no amendment, modification, supplement, termination, waiver or consent may be effective:

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        11.3    Costs, Expenses and Taxes.    The Borrowers shall pay within two Business Days after demand, accompanied by an invoice therefor, the reasonable costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and the Joint Lead Arrangers in connection with the negotiation, preparation, syndication, execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and any amendment thereto or waiver thereof which is requested by Borrowers or is entered into when any Default or Event of Default exists. Following any Event of Default, each Borrower shall pay on demand, accompanied by an invoice therefor, the reasonable costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent and each of the other Creditors in connection with the restructuring, reorganization (including a bankruptcy reorganization) and enforcement or attempted enforcement of the Loan Documents, and any matter related thereto. The foregoing costs and expenses shall include filing fees, recording fees, title insurance fees, appraisal fees, search fees, and other out-of-pocket expenses and the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of any legal counsel (including allocated costs of legal counsel employed by any Creditor), independent public accountants and other outside experts retained by any of the Creditors, whether or not such costs and expenses are incurred or suffered by the Creditors in connection with or during the course of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings of the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof. Such costs and expenses shall also include, in the case of any amendment or waiver of any Loan Document requested by the Parent or the Borrowers, the administrative costs of the Administrative Agent reasonably attributable thereto. Each Borrower shall pay any and all documentary and other taxes, excluding, in the case of each Creditor and its Eurodollar Lending Office thereof, (i) taxes imposed on or measured in whole or in part by its net income or capital and franchise taxes imposed on it, (ii) any withholding taxes or other taxes based on net income (other than withholding taxes and taxes based on net income resulting from or attributable to any change following the Closing Date in any law, rule or regulation or any change following the Closing Date in the interpretation or administration of any law, rule or regulation by any Governmental Agency) or (iii) any withholding taxes or other taxes based on net income for any period with respect to which it has failed to provide the Parent with the appropriate form or forms required by Section 11.21, to the extent such forms are then required by applicable Laws, and all costs, expenses, fees and charges payable or determined to be payable in connection with the filing or recording of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or writing to be delivered hereunder or thereunder, or in connection with any transaction pursuant hereto or thereto, and shall reimburse, hold harmless and indemnify the Creditors from and against any and all loss, liability or legal or other expense with respect to or resulting from any delay in paying or failure to pay any such tax, cost, expense, fee or charge or that any of them may suffer or incur by reason of the failure of any Party to perform any of its Obligations. Any amount payable to the Creditors under this Section 11.3 shall bear interest from the second Business Day following the date of demand for payment at the Default Rate.

        11.4    Obligations of Lenders Several.    The obligations of the Lenders hereunder to make Committed Advances, to fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swing Line Advances are several and not joint. The failure of any Lender to make any Committed Loan or to fund any such participation on any date required hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its corresponding obligation to do so on such date, and no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to so make its Committed Loan or to purchase its participation.

        11.5    Survival of Representations and Warranties.    All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof. Such representations and warranties have been or will be relied upon by the Administrative Agent and each Lender, regardless of any investigation made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that the Administrative Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at the time of any Credit Extension, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Loan or any other Obligation hereunder shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding.

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        11.6    Notices; Effectiveness; Electronic Communication.    

62


        11.7    Execution of Loan Documents.    Unless the Administrative Agent otherwise specifies with respect to any Loan Document,

        11.8    Successors and Assigns.    

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64


65


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        11.9    Sharing of Setoffs.    Each Lender severally agrees that if it, through the exercise of any right of setoff, banker's lien or counterclaim against Parent, any Borrower, or otherwise, receives payment of the Obligations held by it that is ratably more than any other Lender, through any means, receives in payment of the Obligations held by that Lender, then, subject to applicable Laws:

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        11.10    Indemnity by Parent and Borrowers.    Parent and each Borrower jointly and severally (but as between Parent and Borrowers, ratably) agrees to indemnify, save and hold harmless each of the Creditors and the Arranger and their Affiliates, directors, officers, agents, attorneys and employees (collectively the "Indemnitees") from and against: (a) Any and all claims, demands, actions or causes of action (except a claim, demand, action, or cause of action for any amount excluded from the definition of "Taxes" in Section 3.12(d)) if the claim, demand, action or cause of action arises out of or relates to any act or omission (or alleged act or omission) of Parent, any Borrower, its Affiliates or any of its officers, directors or shareholders relating to the Commitments, the use or contemplated use of proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit, or the relationship of Parent, Borrowers and the Creditors under this Agreement; (b) Any administrative or investigative proceeding by any Governmental Agency arising out of or related to a claim, demand, action or cause of action described in clause (a) above; and (c) any Indemnitee that proposes to settle or compromise any claim or proceeding for which Parent or the Borrowers may be liable for payment of indemnity hereunder shall give Parent and the Borrowers written notice of the terms of such proposed settlement or compromise reasonably in advance of settling or compromising such claim or proceeding and shall obtain Parent's and the Borrowers' prior consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld). In connection with any claim, demand, action or cause of action covered by this Section 11.10 against more than one Indemnitee, all such Indemnitees shall be represented by the same legal counsel (which may be a law firm engaged by the Indemnitees or attorneys employed by an Indemnitee or a combination of the foregoing) selected by the Indemnitees; provided, that if such legal counsel determines in good faith that representing all such Indemnitees would or could result in a conflict of interest under Laws or ethical principles applicable to such legal counsel or that a defense or counterclaim is available to an Indemnitee that is not available to all such Indemnitees, then to the extent reasonably necessary to avoid such a conflict of interest or to permit unqualified assertion of such a defense or counterclaim, each Indemnitee shall be entitled to separate representation, with all such legal counsel using reasonable efforts to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort by counsel for all Indemnitees; and further provided that the Administrative Agent (as an Indemnitee) shall at all times be entitled to representation by separate legal counsel (which may be a law firm or attorneys employed by the Administrative Agent or a combination of the foregoing). Any obligation or liability of the Parent and the Borrowers to any Indemnitee under this Section 11.10 shall survive the expiration or termination of this Agreement and the repayment of all Loans and the payment and performance of all other Obligations owed to the Lenders.

        11.11    Nonliability of the Lenders.    Parent and each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that:

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        11.12    No Third Parties Benefitted.    This Agreement is made for the purpose of defining and setting forth certain obligations, rights and duties of Parent, the Borrowers and the Creditors in connection with the Loans, Letters of Credit and Swing Line Advances, and is made for the sole benefit of Parent, the Borrowers, the Creditors, and the Creditors' successors and assigns, and, subject to Section 6.1 successors to Borrowers by permitted merger. Except as provided in Sections 11.8 and 11.11, no other Person shall have any rights of any nature hereunder or by reason hereof.

        11.13    Treatment of Certain Information; Confidentiality.    Each of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the Issuing Lenders agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed

69


        11.14    Removal of a Lender.    Parent and the Borrowers shall have the right to remove a Lender as a party to this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11.14 in the event that such Lender:

70


        11.15    Further Assurances.    Parent and its Subsidiaries shall, at their expense and without expense to the Creditors, do, execute and deliver such further acts and documents as any Creditor from time to time reasonably requires for the assuring and confirming unto the Creditors of the rights hereby created or intended now or hereafter so to be, or for carrying out the intention or facilitating the performance of the terms of any Loan Document.

        11.16    Integration.    This Agreement, together with the other Loan Documents, comprises the complete and integrated agreement of the parties on the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, written or oral, on the subject matter hereof. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Agreement and those of any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement shall control and govern; provided that the inclusion of supplemental rights or remedies in favor of the Creditors in any other Loan Document shall not be deemed a conflict with this Agreement. Each Loan Document was drafted with the joint participation of the respective parties thereto and shall be construed neither against nor in favor of any party, but rather in accordance with the fair meaning thereof.

        11.17    Governing Law, Jurisdiction, Etc.    

        11.18    Severability of Provisions.    Any provision in any Loan Document that is held to be inoperative, unenforceable or invalid as to any party or in any jurisdiction shall, as to that party or jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable or invalid without affecting the remaining provisions or the operation, enforceability or validity of that provision as to any other party or in any other jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of all Loan Documents are declared to be severable.

        11.19    Headings.    Article and Section headings in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are included for convenience of reference only and are not part of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents for any other purpose.

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        11.20    Time of the Essence.    Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.

        11.21    Foreign Lenders and Participants.    Each Lender that is not a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code shall deliver to Parent and the Administrative Agent, prior to receipt of any payment subject to withholding under the Code (or upon accepting an assignment of an interest herein), two duly signed completed copies of either IRS Form W-8BEN or any successor thereto (relating to such Lender and entitling it to an exemption from, or reduction of, withholding tax on all payments to be made to such Lender by Parent and the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement) or IRS Form W-8ECI or any successor thereto (relating to all payments to be made to such Lender by Parent and the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement) or such other evidence satisfactory to Parent, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent that such Lender is entitled to an exemption from, or reduction of, U.S. withholding tax, including any exemption pursuant to Section 881(c) of the Code. Thereafter and from time to time, each such Person shall (a) promptly submit to Parent (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), such additional duly completed and signed copies of one of such forms (or such successor forms as shall be adopted from time to time by the relevant United States taxing authorities) as may then be available under then current United States laws and regulations to avoid, or such evidence as is satisfactory to Parent and the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent of any available exemption from, United States withholding taxes in respect of all payments to be made to such Person by Parent and the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement and (b) take such steps as shall not be materially disadvantageous to it, in the reasonable judgment of such Lender, and as may be reasonably necessary (including the re-designation of its Eurodollar Lending Office, if any) to avoid any requirement of applicable laws that Parent or the Borrowers make any deduction or withholding for taxes from amounts payable to such Person.

        11.22    Gaming Boards.    The Creditors agree to cooperate with all Gaming Boards in connection with the administration of their regulatory jurisdiction over Parent and its Subsidiaries, including the provision of such documents or other information as may be requested by any such Gaming Board relating to Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or to the Loan Documents.

        11.23    Nature of the Borrowers' Obligations.    The Company hereby agrees that it shall be liable for all of the Obligations on a joint and several basis, notwithstanding which of the Borrowers may have directly received the proceeds of any particular Loan or Advance or the benefit of a particular Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, the principal liability of each Borrower hereafter designated under Section 2.9 for Loans, Swing Line Advances and Letters of Credit shall be limited to Loans and Letters of Credit made to that Borrower and Letters of Credit issued for the account of that Borrower under the Aggregate Sublimit of that Borrower. Each of the Borrowers acknowledges and agrees that, for purposes of the Loan Documents, Parent and its Subsidiaries constitute a single integrated financial enterprise and that each receives a benefit from the availability of credit under this Agreement. Borrowers each waive all defenses arising under the Laws of suretyship, to the extent such Laws are applicable, in connection with their obligations under this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, each Borrower agrees to the Joint Borrower Provisions set forth in Exhibit I, incorporated by this reference.

        11.24    Designated Senior Debt.    Parent and each Borrower hereby irrevocably designate the Obligations and this Agreement as "Designated Senior Indebtedness" and "Senior Indebtedness" within the meanings given to those terms in Section 1.1 of the Supplemental Indenture dated December 9, 1998 entered into with respect to the Existing Subordinated Debt among the Company, Parent and IBJ Schroeder Bank & Trust Company and any replacement, amendment or modification of such Existing Subordinated Debt, this Section constituting a certificate of Parent and the Borrower issued to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders to that effect.

        11.25    Gaming Regulations.    Each party to this Agreement hereby acknowledges that the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents is subject to applicable

72



Gaming Laws (and Parent and Borrower represent and warrant that all requisite approvals necessary thereunder to enter into the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly obtained except as set forth in Schedule 4.3).

        11.26    Waiver of Jury Trial.    EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 11.26.

        11.27    USA Patriot Act Notice.    Each Lender that is subject to the Act (as hereinafter defined) and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notify the Loan Parties that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the "Act"), it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Loan Parties, which information includes the name and address of the Loan Parties and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify the Loan Parties in accordance with the Act.

        11.28    Payments Set Aside.    To the extent that any payment by or on behalf of a Borrower is made to the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or any Lender, or the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or any Lender exercises its right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Lender or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party, in connection with any proceeding under any Debtor Relief Law or otherwise, then

        11.29    Purported Oral Amendments.    PARENT AND EACH BORROWER EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS MAY ONLY BE AMENDED OR MODIFIED, OR THE PROVISIONS HEREOF OR THEREOF WAIVED OR SUPPLEMENTED, BY AN INSTRUMENT IN WRITING THAT COMPLIES WITH SECTION 11.2. PARENT AND EACH BORROWER AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT RELY ON ANY COURSE OF DEALING, COURSE OF PERFORMANCE, OR ORAL OR WRITTEN STATEMENTS BY ANY REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OF THE CREDITORS THAT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH SECTION 11.2 TO EFFECT AN AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, WAIVER OR SUPPLEMENT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.

73


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

    HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  JONATHAN S. HALKYARD      
Jonathan S. Halkyard,
Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

 

 
    HARRAH'S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  JONATHAN S. HALKYARD      
Jonathan S. Halkyard,
Vice President and Treasurer
       


 

 

 

 
    BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Administrative Agent

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  MOLLY J. OXFORD      
    Its: Vice President

 

 

 

 
    BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as a Lender

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  SCOTT L. FABER      
    Its: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

    BANK OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  LYSA D. LAI      
    Name: Lysa D. Lai
    Title: Assistant Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    THE GOVERNOR AND COMPANY OF THE BANK OF IRELAND

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  PAUL KERNAN      
    Name: Paul Kernan
    Title: Authorised Signatures

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  DAVID MC GARRY      
    Name: David Mc Garry
    Title: Authorised Signatures
       


 

 

 

 
    THE BANK OF NEW YORK

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  MEHRASA RAYGANI      
    Name: Mehrasa Raygani
    Title: Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  MICHAEL MITCHELL      
    Name: Michael Mitchell
    Title: Director
       


 

 

 

 
    BANK OF SCOTLAND

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  KAREN WORKMAN      
    Name: Karen Workman
    Title: Assistant Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    BANK OF TAIWAN, NEW YORK AGENCY

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  EUNICE SHIOU-JSU YEH      
    Name: Eunice Shiou-Jsu Yeh
    Title: Senior Vice President & General Manager
       


 

 

 

 
    BARCLAYS BANK, PLC

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  L. PETER YETMAN      
    Name: L. Peter Yetman
    Title: Director
       


 

 

 

 
    BNP PARIBAS

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  JANICE S. H. HO      
    Name: Janice S. H. Ho
    Title: Director

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  C. BETTLES      
    Name: C. Bettles
    Title: Managing Director
       


 

 

 

 
    CHANG HWA COMMERCIAL BANK

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  MING-HSIEN LIN      
    Name: Ming-Hsien Lin
    Title: Senior Vice President & General Manager
       


 

 

 

 
    CITICORP USA, INC.

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  FREDDY BOOM      
    Name: Freddy Boom
    Title: Director

 

 

 

 

    COMERICA WEST INCORPORATED

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  KEVIN T. URBAN      
    Name: Kevin T. Urban
    Title: Corporate Banking Representative
       


 

 

 

 
    COMMERZBANK AG, NEW YORK AND GRAND CAYMAN BRANCHES

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  CHRISTIAN JAGENBERG      
    Name: Christian Jagenberg
    Title: Senior Vice President and Manager

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  WERNER SCHMIDBAUER      
    Name: Werner Schmidbauer
    Title: Senior Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  STEVEN P. LAPHAM      
    Name: Steven P. Lapham
    Title: Managing Director
       


 

 

 

 
    E. SUN COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD., LOS ANGELES BRANCH

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  BENJAMIN LIN      
    Name: Benjamin Lin
    Title: Executive Vice President & General Manager
       


 

 

 

 
    ERSTE BANK NEW YORK

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  ROBERT J. WAGMAN      
    Name: Robert J. Wagman
    Title: Vice President

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  BRYAN J. LYNCH      
    Name: Bryan J. Lynch
    Title: First Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  JAMES H. MOORE JR.      
    Name: James H. Moore
    Title: Senior Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    HIBERNIA NATIONAL BANK

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  ROSS S. WALES      
    Name: Ross S. Wales
    Title: Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    HUA NAN COMMERCIAL BANK, LTD.

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  JENG-FANG GEENG      
    Name: Jeng-Fang Geeng
    Title: General Manager
       


 

 

 

 
    BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG,
NEW YORK BRANCH

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  MARIANNE WEINZINGER      
    Name: Marianne Weinzinger
    Title: Director

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  TRICIA GRIEVE      
    Name: Tricia Grieve
    Title: Director
       


 

 

 

 
    JPMORGAN CHASE BANK

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  DONALD S. SHOKRIAN      
    Name: Donald S. Shokrian
    Title: Managing Director
       


 

 

 

 
    KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  MICHAEL J. VEGH      
    Name: Michael J. Vegh
    Title: Assistant Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD.

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  MARK GRONICH      
    Name: Mark Gronich
    Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

    NATIONAL CITY BANK OF THE MIDWEST

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  RUSSELL H. LIEBETRAU, JR.      
    Name: Russell H. Liebetrau, Jr.
    Title: Senior Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    OAK BROOK BANK

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  HENRY WESSEL      
    Name: Henry Wessel
    Title: Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  MARIA AMARAL-LEBLANC      
    Name: Maria Amaral-LeBlanc
    Title: Senior Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION,
LOS ANGELES OFFICE

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  AL GALLUZZO      
    Name: Al Galluzzo
    Title: Senior Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    TAIPEI BANK, NEW YORK AGENCY

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  JAMES CHANG      
    Name: James Chang
    Title: Assistant Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    TRUSTMARK NATIONAL BANK

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  CRAIG E. SOSEBEE      
    Name: Craig E. Sosebee
    Title: First Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    UFJ BANK LIMITED

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  TOSHIKO BOYD      
    Name: Toshiko Boyd
    Title: Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  CLIFFORD F. CHO      
    Name: Clifford F. Cho
    Title: Assistant Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  RYAN STIPE      
    Name: Ryan Stipe
    Title: Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  STEVEN L. HIPSMAN      
    Name: Steven L. Hipsman
    Title: Director
       


 

 

 

 
    WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  CLARK A. WOOD      
    Name: Clark A. Wood
    Title: Vice President
       


 

 

 

 
    WHITNEY NATIONAL BANK

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  ROBERT L. BROWNING      
    Name: Robert L. Browning
    Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 



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Exhibit 10(23)

FIRST AMENDMENT TO
THE HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
EXECUTIVE SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS PLAN II

        WHEREAS, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (the "Company") maintains the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Supplemental Savings Plan II (the "Plan") in order to provide its key executives with an opportunity and incentive to save for retirement and other purposes; and

        WHEREAS, Section 12.1(a) of the Plan provides that the EDCP Committee has the right to amend the Plan provided such amendment does not have a material adverse financial effect on the Company or the Plan; and

        WHEREAS, the EDCP Committee has approved the adoption of this First Amendment.

        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Plan is hereby amended, effective as January 25, 2005, as follows:

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the EDCP Committee has caused this First Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized member on this 25th day of January, 2005.

    THE EDCP COMMITTEE OF
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  JERRY BOONE      
    Name: Jerry Boone
    Title: Sr. Vice President, Human Resources
       



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Exhibit 10(24)

SECOND AMENDMENT TO
THE HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
EXECUTIVE SUPPLEMENTAL SAVINGS PLAN II

        WHEREAS, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (the "Company") maintains the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Supplemental Savings Plan II (the "Plan") in order to provide its key executives with an opportunity and incentive to save for retirement and other purposes; and

        WHEREAS, Section 12.1(a) of the Plan provides that the EDCP Committee has the right to amend the Plan provided such amendment does not have a material adverse financial effect on the Company or the Plan; and

        WHEREAS, the EDCP Committee has approved the adoption of this Second Amendment.

        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Plan is hereby amended, effective as February 11, 2005, as follows:

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the EDCP Committee has caused this Second Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized member on this 11th day of February, 2005.

    THE EDCP COMMITTEE OF
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

 

 

 

 
    By: /s/  JERRY BOONE      
    Name: Jerry Boone
    Title: Sr. Vice President, Human Resources
       



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Exhibit 10(30)


EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

        This Employment Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of the Effective Date set forth below, by and between HARRAH'S OPERATING COMPANY, INC. ("Company" or "Harrah's") and JOHN BOUSHY ("Executive"). This Agreement supersedes and replaces the prior employment agreement between the Company and Executive dated March 1, 2003.

        The Company and Executive agree as follows:

        1.     Employment. The Company hereby employs Executive as Chief Integration Officer at Grade Level 35 to lead the integration process for the merger of Caesars Entertainment, Inc.'s operations into those of the Company.

        2.     Duties. During the term of this Agreement ("active employment"), Executive shall devote substantially all of his working time, energies, and skills to the benefit of the Company's business. Executive agrees to serve the Company diligently and to the best of his ability, and to follow the policies and directions of the Company.

        3.     Compensation. Executive's compensation and benefits during his active employment shall be as follows:

        4.     Insurance and Benefits. Executive will be eligible to participate in each employee benefit plan and receive each executive benefit that the Company provides for its senior executives, in accordance with the applicable plan rules.

        5.     Term. The term of this Agreement shall be for three (3) years, beginning on The Effective Date, subject to early termination as provided herein.

        6.     No Cause Termination/Non-Renewal of Agreement. The Company may terminate Executive's active employment at any time without cause upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice ("no cause termination"). The Company also, in its sole discretion, may elect not to extend the term of this Agreement or enter into a new Agreement upon expiration of this Agreement ("non-renewal of Agreement"). In the event of such no cause termination or non-renewal of Agreement by the Company, Executive shall be entitled only to the salary and benefits set forth below after the last day worked by Executive following termination of the Executive's employment with the Company (the "Separation Date") unless otherwise specified in this Agreement.


Benefits

  Benefit Termination Date
Base Salary (rate as of Separation Date)   Eighteen (18) months (78 weeks) ("Salary Continuation Period") from the Separation Date

PTO and Service Credit

 

Separation Date (accrued PTO will be paid within thirty (30) days of Separation Date).

Use of Credit Cards

 

Separation Date

Bonus—Payment Eligibility

 

(i) Eligible for prior year bonus if Executive's employment is terminated during payment year but prior to payment; (ii) eligible for prorated bonus for current year if in job for more than six (6) months and Separation Date occurs after June 30; (iii) not eligible for bonus for year following Separation Date.

Insurance, including health, vision, dental insurance and contributions to health care spending accounts within company policy, (excluding life insurance)

 

End of Salary Continuation Period; provided, however, that Executive shall be eligible for the continuation of health insurance benefits for the Life Coverage Period as provided under the provisions of paragraph 10 below. If the Life Coverage Period benefits are not applicable, the eighteen (18)-month COBRA rights period for health insurance will commence on the last day of the Salary Continuation Period. Harrah's Benefit Service Center will furnish the COBRA information. Executive has thirty-one (31) days from the last day of the month in which he is actively at work to convert his life insurance. Executive must contact Harrah's Benefit Service Center to obtain the required form to effectuate the conversion of his life insurance

Retaining Existing Stock Options for Vesting and Other Rights

 

Annual Stock Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights ("SARS") continue to vest and can be exercised through the end of Salary Continuation Period. Exercise of vested annual Stock Options/SARS after Salary Continuation Period per plan rules. Accelerated vesting of all annual Stock Options/SARS if Change of Control (as defined in paragraph 11 below) occurs during Salary Continuation Period.

Restricted Stock (Non-TARSAP)

 

Separation Date

Eligibility for New SARS

 

Separation Date.
     

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TARSAP II

 

Next potential vesting installment of TARSAP II, after Separation Date, if the installment is earned will vest for Executive (all, part, or none) at the CEO's and HRC's discretion. If a Change in Control (as defined in paragraph 11 below) occurs during Salary Continuation Period, Executive will only be entitled to the next potential vesting installment of TARSAP II not otherwise earned. Unvested shares at the end of Salary Continuation are forfeited.

Use of Financial Counseling per Plan Provisions

 

End of Salary Continuation Period. The maximum remaining benefit shall be annual benefit remaining as of Separation Date.

Savings and Retirement Plan Deduction (Active Participation)

 

Separation Date.

Employee Supplemental Savings Plan (ESSP) (Active Participation)

 

Separation Date. ESSP distribution date will commence when Salary Continuation ends, in accordance with plan and as selected previously by Executive.

        7.     Death of Executive. Upon the death of Executive during his active employment, his salary and all rights and benefits hereunder will terminate (unless otherwise provided for herein), and his estate and beneficiary(ies) will receive the benefits to which they are entitled under the terms of the Company's benefit plans and programs by reason of a participant's death during employment, including the applicable rights and benefits under the Company's stock and stock option plans. Under the Stock Option Plan/SARS Plan, upon death fifty percent (50%) of the unvested annual Stock Options/SARS, if any, will vest, and the other fifty percent (50%) of the unvested annual Stock Options/SARS will terminate. All earned PTO will also be paid to Executive's estate. The amount of PTO is fixed at $50,256 minus standard deductions. If Executive dies during the Salary Continuation Period, all of the provisions of the previous sentence apply except that the remaining salary continuation will be paid in a lump sum to Executive's estate.

        8.     Termination by Company for Cause. The Company shall have the right to terminate Executive's active employment for cause. All salary and benefits shall cease, except COBRA rights and as otherwise provided in applicable benefit plans. All earned PTO will be paid to Executive. The amount of PTO is fixed at $50,256 minus standard deductions. Termination for cause shall be effective immediately upon notice sent or given to Executive. For purposes of this Agreement, the term "cause" shall mean: (i) conviction of any crime that materially discredits the Company or is materially detrimental to the reputation or goodwill of the Company; (ii) being found unsuitable for a gaming license or having a gaming license denied or revoked by any gaming regulatory authority in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina; Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, or any other state in which the Company currently or in the future conducts business; (iii) commission of any material act of fraud or dishonesty against the Company, or commission of an immoral or unethical act that materially reflects negatively on the Company, or engaging in willful misconduct; (iv) material breach of Executive's obligations under paragraph 2 of this Agreement, as so determined by the HET Board of Directors; and (v) Executive's (a) willful, knowing and material violation of, or noncompliance with, any securities laws or stock exchange listing rules, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, provided that such violation or noncompliance resulted in material economic harm to the

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Company, or (b) a final judicial order or determination prohibiting Executive from service as an officer pursuant to the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange. Executive shall first be provided with written notice of the claim(s) against him under the above provisions and given a reasonable opportunity (not to exceed thirty (30) days) to cure, if possible, and to contest said claim(s) before the HET Board of Directors.

        9.     Voluntary Termination/Notice Period. Executive may terminate this Agreement voluntarily at any time and for any or no reason during its term upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the Company, except as specified in this paragraph. If Executive elects to terminate his employment with the Company in order to work or act in competition with the Company as described in paragraph 13(a) of this Agreement, Executive must give the Company six (6) months' prior written notice of his intention to do so; provided, however, that such six (6)-month notice shall not be required or applicable if Executive's prospective employment is to be with one of those companies which satisfies the provisions of Paragraph 13(d) below. The written notice provided by Executive shall specify the last day to be worked by Executive ("Separation Date"), which Separation Date must be at least thirty (30) days or six (6) months (as appropriate) after the date the notice is received by the Company. Unless otherwise specified herein, or in a writing executed by both parties, Executive shall not receive any of the benefits provided in this Agreement after the Separation Date set forth in his written notice except for benefits that may be available to Executive under paragraph 10 below (to the extent set forth in paragraph 10) and applicable rights and benefits that apply to employees generally upon termination of employment.

        Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, Executive may also, acting reasonably and in good faith, terminate this Agreement, with thirty (30) days' written notice, if a pattern exists, based on the objective evidence taken as a whole, showing that material decisions are being made regarding the integration of Caesars Entertainment, Inc., without Executive's meaningful involvement and participation. The fact that Executive does not agree with any material decision after meaningful involvement and participation, will not act to trigger Executive's right to terminate this Agreement. Executive must first appeal to and confer with the Company's COO and the CEO, and request that the making of such decisions without Executive's meaningful involvement and participation cease, and give adequate, reasonable opportunity to remedy this situation. Should Executive elect to terminate his employment in strict accordance with the terms of this paragraph ("Non-Involvement Provision"), Executive shall be entitled to receive severance payments and the other benefits under Paragraph 6 as adjusted by the following calculation:

The following examples are for purposes of illustration. If termination under this provision occurs

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        In addition, should executive terminate the agreement under the Non-Involvement Provision before July 26, 2005, all unvested Stock Options/SARS granted under paragraph 3c of this Agreement will be reduced based upon the following:

Period From

  Reduction in shares
July 26, 2004—Oct. 25, 2004   60,000 shares
Oct. 26, 2004—Jan. 25, 2005   45,000 shares
Jan. 26, 2005—Apr. 25, 2005   30,000 shares
Apr. 26, 2004—July 25, 2005   15,000 shares
July 26, 2005 and thereafter   0 shares

All other terms under paragraph 6 for"no cause termination" will be applicable.

        In addition, if, during the term of this Agreement, the objective evidence, taken as a whole as determined reasonably and in good faith by the Company, indicates that the integration of Caesars Entertainment, Inc.'s operations into the Company's operations has successfully been concluded, and the Company has not offered Executive a position which maintains or increases Executive's impact and responsibilities to the Company, Executive may also, after consultation with the CEO and COO, give notice of his desire to terminate this Agreement (the "Successful Integration Termination"), and the termination of Executive's employment as a result of the Successful Integration Termination will be treated as if his employment was terminated as a "no cause termination" under paragraph 6 of this Agreement.

        10.   Certain Health Insurance Benefits. If (i) Executive reaches the age of fifty (50) and, when added to his number of years of continuous service with the Company (including employment with its affiliates, predecessors, successors, and assigns), including any period of salary continuation, the sum of his age and years of service equals or exceeds sixty-five (65), and at any time after the occurrence of both such events Executive's employment is terminated pursuant to paragraph 6 above; or (ii) Executive reaches the age of fifty-five (55) and has attained ten (10) years of continuous service with the Company (including employment with its affiliates, predecessor, successors, and assigns), including any period of salary continuation, and at any time after the occurrence of both such events Executive's employment terminates for any reason other than by the Company for "Cause" as described in paragraph 6 above; or (iii) in the reasonable judgment of the Company Executive has completed the successful integration of Caesar's Entertainment, Inc.'s operations into the Company's operations, regardless of his age or years of service at such time, Executive and his then-eligible dependents shall be entitled to participate in the Company's group health insurance plan, as amended from time to time by the Company, after Executive's Separation Date or the end of the Salary Continuation Period, as applicable, for the remainder of Executive's life ("Life Coverage Period"). During the Life Coverage Period, Executive shall pay twenty percent (20%) of the then prevailing health insurance premium (revised annually) on an after-tax basis each quarter, and the Company shall pay eighty percent (80%) of said premium on an after-tax basis, which contribution will be imputed income to Executive. As soon after the Separation Date as Executive becomes eligible for Medicare coverage, the Company's group health insurance plan shall become secondary to Medicare.

        Notwithstanding the forgoing provisions that provide that Executive and his dependents shall be entitled to participate in the Company's group health insurance plan, in the event that the terms of the Company's group health insurance plan should at any time not permit coverage of Executive and his dependents under the plan as contemplated above, the Company will, during the Life Coverage Period, arrange for an individual health insurance policy with identical or better coverage to be provided to Executive and his dependents at no greater out-of-pocket cost and expense to Executive than that contemplated above. And, if the Company is unable to secure an individual insurance policy for Executive and his dependents, the Company shall, during the Life Coverage Period, provide health care benefits to Executive and his dependents on a self-insured basis. In the event that the Company

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provides such health care benefits on a self-insured basis, Executive's cost for such insurance coverage shall be calculated in accordance with the formula provided above as if Executive and his dependents were insured under the Company's group health insurance plan.

        If Executive engages in any of the prohibited activities described in paragraphs 13(a)(i) and (ii) below (except as permitted under paragraph 13(d) below), during the Life Coverage Period, the entitlement of Executive and his then-eligible dependents to participate in the Company's group health insurance plan shall terminate automatically, without any further action or notice by either party, subject to applicable COBRA rights, which shall commence on the Separation Date. If Executive becomes employed during the Life Coverage Period by any company (including any company in the race track, casino or casino hotel/casino resort business that pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 13(d) below is excluded from the provisions of paragraph 13(a) of this Agreement) that does not compete with the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, the Company's group health insurance plan shall become secondary to any primary health insurance plan or coverage made available to Executive by that company, if any, as long as Executive is employed by such company.

        Executive also shall receive the benefits and be bound by the provisions of this paragraph 10 if a Change in Control, as defined in Executive's Severance Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2003, with Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (the "Severance Agreement"), occurs during Executive's active employment with the Company and if the Severance Agreement is in force when the Change of Control occurs.

        If there exists a dispute between the Company and Executive relating to the parties' rights and obligations under Section 10, and the dispute involves the use of attorneys on the part of the Company or Executive, the prevailing party in such dispute shall be entitled to be reimbursed by the other party for any attorneys' fees incurred in resolving such dispute. If there is no prevailing party, each party shall bear his own expenses.

        11.   Change in Control. If a Change in Control, as defined in Executive's Severance Agreement, occurs during Executive's active employment, and if the Severance Agreement is in force when the Change in Control occurs, then the Severance Agreement supersedes and replaces this Agreement, except paragraphs 10, 12, 13 (to the extent provided in paragraph 13) and 14. If, prior to a Change in Control (as defined above), Executive's active employment has been terminated for any reason by either party or this Agreement is not renewed by the Company, then Executive's Severance Agreement terminates automatically upon Executive's Separation Date.

        12.   Disability. If Executive becomes disabled (as defined below) prior to the termination of his active employment or the non-renewal of this Agreement, he will be entitled to apply at his option for the Company's long-term disability benefits. If he is accepted for such benefits, then the terms and provisions of the Company's benefit plans and the programs (including the Company's Stock Option, SARS and Restricted Stock Plans) that are applicable in the event of such disability of an employee shall apply in lieu of the salary and benefits under this Agreement, except that he will be entitled to the lifetime group insurance benefits described in paragraph 10. If Executive is disabled so that he cannot perform his duties (as reasonably determined by the HRC), then the Company may terminate his duties under this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, disability will be the inability of Executive, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform the essential functions of the job. In such event, he will receive eighteen (18) months salary continuation (offset by any long term disability benefits to which he is entitled), together with all other benefits, and during such period of salary continuation any Stock Options/SARS and restricted stock grants then in existence will continue in force for vesting purposes. Executive, if disabled, shall also be eligible for lifetime health benefits as if he has completed the eligibility requirements of paragraph 10 and at the rates set forth in paragraph 10. However, during such period of salary continuation for disability, Executive will not be eligible to participate in the annual bonus plan, nor will he be eligible to receive SARS or restricted

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stock grants or any other long-term incentive awards except to the extent approved by the HRC. After the eighteen (18) months of salary continuation has expired, per plan documents, fifty percent (50%) of any remaining unvested annual options/SARS, if any, will vest and the other fifty percent (50%) of the unvested annual options/SARS will terminate. All PTO will also be paid out. The amount of PTO is fixed at $50,256 minus standard deductions. The payment of PTO will also survive the occurrence of a Change in Control and be paid out pursuant to its terms.

        If Executive becomes disabled during the Salary Continuation Period, he will be entitled only to the salary and benefits described in paragraphs 6 and 10 above, for the periods set forth in those respective paragraphs.

        Executive shall also receive the benefits and be bound by the provisions of this paragraph 12 if a Change in Control, as defined in Executive's Severance Agreement, occurs during Executive's active employment and if the Severance Agreement is in force when the Change in Control occurs.

        13.   Non-Competition.

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        14.   Confidential Information.

8


        15.   Injunctive Relief. Executive acknowledges and agrees that the terms provided in paragraphs 13 and 14 are the minimum necessary to protect the Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries, its successors and assigns in the use and enjoyment of the Confidential Information and the good will of the business of the Company. Executive further agrees that damages cannot fully and adequately compensate the Company in the event of a breach or violation of the restrictive covenants (Confidential Information and Non-Competition) and that without limiting the right of the Company to pursue all other legal and equitable remedies available to it, that the Company shall be entitled to seek injunctive relief, including but not limited to a temporary restraining order, temporary injunction and permanent injunction, to prevent any such violations or any continuation of such violations for the protection of the Company. The granting of injunctive relief will not act as a waiver by the Company to pursue any and all additional remedies.

        16.   Post Employment Cooperation. Upon the termination of his active employment, Executive will cooperate with, and provide information to, the Company in assuring an orderly transition of all matters being handled by him. Upon the Company providing reasonable notice to him, he will also appear as a witness at the Company's request and/or assist the Company in any litigation, bankruptcy or similar matter in which the Company or any affiliate thereof is a party; provided that the Company will defray any approved out-of-pocket expenses incurred by him in connection with any such appearance and that, if Executive is no longer receiving salary compensation from the Company, the Company will compensate him for all time spent, at either his then current compensation rate or his salary rate as of the Separation Date, whichever is higher. The Company agrees further to indemnify him as prescribed in his Indemnification Agreement and Article TENTH of the Certificate of Incorporation of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.

        17.   Release. Upon the termination of Executive's active employment, and in consideration of the receipt of the salary and benefits described in this Agreement, except for claims arising from the covenants, agreements, and undertakings of the Company as set forth herein and except as prohibited by statutory language, Executive will be required to sign an agreement that forever and unconditionally waives, and releases Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., their subsidiaries and affiliates, and their officers, directors, agents, benefit plan trustees, and employees ("Released Parties") from any and all claims, whether known or unknown, and regardless of type, cause or nature, including but not limited to claims arising under all salary, vacation, insurance, bonus, stock, and all other benefit plans, and all state and federal anti-discrimination, civil rights and human rights laws, ordinances and statutes, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, concerning his employment with Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates, and the cessation of that employment. The release does not waive his indemnification rights described in the Indemnification Agreement between Executive and the Company, dated July 30, 1993, applicable to all senior executives; nor does it or will it release Company from its continuing obligations to Executive under this Agreement, including the Company's obligations under paragraph 10 above to provide Executive and his dependents with health insurance coverage during the Life Coverage Period (to the extent set forth in paragraph 10).

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        18.   General Provisions.

If to Executive:   John Boushy
159 Augusta Street
Henderson, NV 89074
     
If to Company:   Harrah's Operating Company, Inc.
One Harrah's Court
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Attn: General Counsel

        19.   Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Nevada as to all matters, including but not limited to matters of validity, construction, effect and performance.

        20.   Jurisdiction. Any judicial proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any right arising out of, this Agreement or any agreement identified herein may be brought only in state or federal courts of the State of Nevada, and by the execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto accepts for themselves the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of such courts (and the appropriate appellate courts) in any such proceedings, waives any objection to venue laid therein and agrees to be bound by the judgment rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement or any agreement identified herein.

        21.   No Conflicting Agreement. By signing this Agreement, Executive warrants that he is not a party to any restrictive covenant, agreement or contract which limits the performance of his duties and responsibilities under this Agreement or under which such performance would constitute a breach.

        22.   Headings. The paragraph and subparagraph headings are for convenience or reference only and shall not define or limit the provisions hereof.

        23.   Amendments. Any amendments to this Agreement must be in writing and signed by both parties.

        24.   Binding Agreement. This Agreement is binding on the parties and their heirs, successors and assigns.

        25.   Survival of Provisions. The provisions of this Agreement shall survive the termination of Executive's employment with the Company if so provided herein and if necessary or desirable fully to accomplish the purposes of such provisions, including without limitation the rights and obligations of Executive under paragraphs 6, 7, 10, 13, 14, 15 and 16 hereof.

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

    Harrah's Operating Company, Inc.
         
/s/ JOHN BOUSHY
John Boushy
Executive
  By:   /s/ GARY LOVEMAN
Gary Loveman
President and Chief Executive Officer
         
Executive        
Date:       Date:    
   
     

        Guarantee of Performance and Payment by Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.

        For good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in order to induce Executive to enter into the foregoing Employment Agreement, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., parent company of Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., hereby guarantees the performance of Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., under the Employment Agreement and Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., hereby guarantees all payments to Executive under the Employment Agreement.

    Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.
       
    By: /s/ GARY LOVEMAN
Gary Loveman
President and Chief Executive Officer

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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

Exhibit 12

HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
COMPUTATION OF RATIOS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except ratio amounts)

 
  2004(a)
  2003(b)
  2002(c)
  2001(d)
  2000(e)
 
Return on Revenues-Continuing                                
Income/(loss) from continuing operations   $ 329,525   $ 261,064   $ 282,212   $ 173,788   $ (46,428 )
Revenues     4,548,326     3,948,865     3,747,866     3,317,445     2,977,811  
  Return     7.2 %   6.6 %   7.5 %   5.2 %   (1.6 )%

Return on Average Invested Capital—Continuing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Income/(loss) from continuing operations   $ 329,525   $ 261,064   $ 282,212   $ 173,788   $ (46,428 )
Add: Interest expense after tax     172,187     147,450     149,417     159,236     141,388  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    $ 501,712   $ 408,514   $ 431,629   $ 333,024   $ 94,960  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Average invested capital   $ 6,154,866   $ 5,087,001   $ 4,866,693   $ 4,442,581   $ 4,009,036  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Return     8.2 %   8.0 %   8.9 %   7.5 %   2.4 %
   
 
 
 
 
 
Return on Average Invested Capital—Net Income                                
Net income/(loss)   $ 367,709   $ 292,623   $ 235,029   $ 208,967   $ (12,060 )
Add: Interest expense after tax     172,187     147,450     149,417     159,236     141,388  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    $ 539,896   $ 440,073   $ 384,446   $ 368,203   $ 129,328  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Average invested capital   $ 6,718,979   $ 5,780,245   $ 5,551,218   $ 5,054,779   $ 4,504,205  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Return     8.0 %   7.6 %   6.9 %   7.3 %   2.9 %
   
 
 
 
 
 
Return on Average Equity—Continuing                                
Income/(loss) from continuing operations   $ 329,525   $ 261,064   $ 282,212   $ 173,788   $ (46,428 )
Average equity     1,887,844     1,627,834     1,458,941     1,347,257     1,431,255  
  Return     17.5 %   16.0 %   19.3 %   12.9 %   (3.2 )%

Return on Average Equity—Net Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Net income/(loss)   $ 367,709   $ 292,623   $ 235,029   $ 208,967   $ (12,060 )
Average equity     1,887,844     1,627,834     1,458,941     1,347,257     1,431,255  
  Return     19.5 %   18.0 %   16.1 %   15.5 %   (0.8 )%

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(f)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Income/(loss) from continuing operations   $ 329,525   $ 261,064   $ 282,212   $ 173,788   $ (46,428 )
Add:                                
  Provision for income taxes     190,641     155,568     174,445     107,747     (3,478 )
  Interest expense     271,802     234,419     240,220     255,801     227,130  
  Interest included in rental expense     22,942     19,931     24,130     17,816     12,813  
  Amortization of capitalized interest     555     624     702     880     1,053  
  Loss/(income) from equity investments     879     871     (4,388 )   (426 )   317,103  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings as defined   $ 816,344   $ 672,477   $ 717,321   $ 555,606   $ 508,193  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed charges:                                
  Interest expense   $ 271,802   $ 234,419   $ 240,220   $ 255,801   $ 227,130  
  Capitalized interest     4,085     2,349     3,537     9,309     7,960  
  Interest included in rental expense     22,942     19,931     24,130     17,816     12,813  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Total fixed charges   $ 298,829   $ 256,699   $ 267,887   $ 282,926   $ 247,903  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Ratio of earnings to fixed charges     2.7     2.6     2.7     2.0     2.0  
   
 
 
 
 
 

(a)
2004 includes $9.6 million in pretax charges for write-downs, reserves and recoveries and $2.3 million in pretax charges related to our pending acquisition of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. 2004 also includes the financial results of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corporation from its July 1, 2004, date of acquisition.

(b)
2003 includes $10.5 million in pretax charges for write-downs, reserves and recoveries and $19.1 million in pretax charges for premiums paid for, and write-offs associated with, debt retired before maturity. 2003 results have been reclassified to reflect Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica as discontinued operations.

(c)
2002 includes $4.5 million in pretax charges for write-downs, reserves and recoveries, a $6.1 million pretax charge for our exposure under a letter of credit issued on behalf of National Airlines, Inc., and a charge of $91.2 million, net of tax benefits of $2.8 million, related to a change in accounting principle. 2002 also includes the financial results of Jazz Casino Company LLC from the date of our acquisition of a majority ownership interest on June 7, 2002. 2002 results have been reclassified to reflect Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica as discontinued operations.

(d)
2001 includes $17.2 million in pretax charges for write-downs, reserves and recoveries and $26.2 million of pretax income from dispositions of nonstrategic assets and the settlement of a contingency related to a former affiliate. 2001 also includes the financial results of Harveys Casino Resorts from its July 31, 2001, date of acquisition. 2001 results have been reclassified to reflect Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica as discontinued operations.

(e)
2000 includes $220.0 million in pretax reserves for receivables not expected to be recovered from JCC Holding Company and its subsidiary, Jazz Casino Company LLC, $6.1 million in pretax charges for other write-downs, reserves and recoveries, and $39.4 million in pretax write-offs and reserves for our investment in, loans to and net estimated exposure under letters of credit issued on behalf of National Airlines, Inc. 2000 also includes the financial results of Players International, Inc., from its March 22, 2000, date of acquisition. 2000 results have been reclassified to reflect Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica as discontinued operations.

(f)
For purposes of computing this ratio, "earnings" consist of income before income taxes plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest) and minority interests (relating to subsidiaries whose fixed charges are included in the computation), excluding equity in undistributed earnings of less-than-50%-owned investments. "Fixed charges" include interest whether expensed or capitalized, amortization of debt expense, discount or premium related to indebtedness and such portion of rental expense that we deem to be representative of interest. As required by the rules which govern the computation of this ratio, both earnings and fixed charges are adjusted where appropriate to include the financial results for the Company's nonconsolidated majority-owned subsidiaries. As discussed in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the 2004 Harrah's Entertainment Annual Report, the Company has guaranteed certain third-party loans in connection with its casino development activities. The above ratio computation excludes estimated fixed charges associated with these guarantees as follows: 2004, $6.7 million; 2003, $9.5 million; 2002, $7.0 million; 2001, $4.4 million; and 2000, $5.7 million.



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Exhibit 21

HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. SUBSIDIARIES
As of December 31, 2004

Name

  Jurisdiction of
Incorporation

  Percentage of
Ownership

 
Aster Insurance Ltd.   Bermuda   100 %
Harrah's Operating Company, Inc.   Delaware   100 %
  Dusty Corporation   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Entertainment Limited   England/Wales   100 %
    Harrah's Activity Limited   England/Wales   100 %
      Harrah's Portside Limited   England/Alderney   100 %
    Harrah's Interactive Limited   England/Wales   100 %
    Harrah's Online Limited   Alderney   100 %
  Harrah South Shore Corporation   California   100 %
  Harrah's Alabama Corporation   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Arizona Corporation   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Atlantic City, Inc.   New Jersey   100 %
  Harrah's Aviation, Inc.   Tennessee   100 %
  H-BAY, LLC   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Bossier City Management Company, LLC   Nevada   100 %
  HCAL, LLC   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Chester Downs Holding Company, LLC   Delaware   100 %
    Harrah's Chester Downs Investment Company, LLC   Delaware   100 %
      Harrah's Chester Downs & Marina, L.L.C.   Pennsylvania   50 %
  Harrah's Chester Downs Management Company, LLC   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Consulting Corporation   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Illinois Corporation   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Interactive Investment Company   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Investments, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Kansas Casino Corporation   Nevada   100 %
    HPB Corporation   Kansas   100 %
  Harrah's Las Vegas, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Laughlin, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's License Company, LLC   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Management Company   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Marketing Services Corporation   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Maryland Heights LLC(1)   Delaware   54.45 %
  Harrah's Maryland Heights Operating Company   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's NC Casino Company, LLC(2)   North Carolina   99 %
  Harrah's New Jersey, Inc.   New Jersey   100 %
  Harrah's New Orleans Management Company   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's North Kansas City LLC(3)   Missouri   100 %
  Harrah's Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Company   Nova Scotia   100 %
  Harrah's of Jamaica, Ltd.   Jamaica   100 %
  Harrah's Operating Company Memphis, LLC(4)   Delaware   100 %
  Harrah's Pittsburgh Management Company   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Reno Holding Company, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Shreveport/Bossier City Holding Company, LLC   Delaware   100 %
           

1


  Harrah's Shreveport Management Company, LLC   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Shreveport Investment Company, LLC   Nevada   100 %
    Harrah's Shreveport/Bossier City Investment Company, LLC(5)   Delaware   84.3 %
      Harrah's Bossier City Investment Company, LLC   Louisiana   100 %
  Harrah's Skagit Valley Agency Corporation   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Southwest Michigan Casino Corporation   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Travel, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Tunica Corporation   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's Vicksburg Corporation   Nevada   100 %
  Harrah's West Warwick Gaming Company, LLC   Delaware   100 %
  Harrah's West Warwick Investment Company, LLC   Delaware   100 %
    Narragansett Tribe/Harrah's Casino Project Company, LLC   Rhode Island   100 %
  HHLV Management Company, LLC   Nevada   100 %
  JCC Holding Company II LLC   Delaware   100 %
    Jazz Casino Company, LLC   Louisiana   100 %
    JCC Development Company, LLC   Louisiana   100 %
    JCC Canal Development, LLC   Louisiana   100 %
    JCC Fulton Development, LLC   Louisiana   100 %
  Rio Hotel & Casino, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Rio Resort Properties, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Rio Properties, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
      Cinderlane, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
        Twain Avenue, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
      HLG, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Rio Development Company, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Rio Vegas Hotel Casino, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
  Showboat, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Ocean Showboat, Inc.   New Jersey   100 %
      Atlantic City Showboat, Inc.   New Jersey   100 %
    Showboat Development Company   Nevada   100 %
      Showboat Indiana, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
      Showboat Louisiana, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
      Showboat New Hampshire, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Showboat Land Company   Nevada   100 %
    Showboat Operating Company   Nevada   100 %
      Showboat Land LLC(6)   Nevada   1 %
    Showboat Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Company   Nova Scotia   100 %
  Trigger Real Estate Corporation   Nevada   100 %
  Waterfront Entertainment and Development, Inc.   Indiana   100 %
  Players International, LLC   Nevada   100 %
    Players Development, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Players Holding, LLC   Nevada   100 %
      PCI, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
      Players Bluegrass Downs, Inc.   Kentucky   100 %
      Players LC, LLC   Nevada   100 %
        Harrah's Lake Charles, LLC   Louisiana   100 %
      Players Maryland Heights, Inc.   Missouri   100 %
      Players Maryland Heights Nevada, LLC   Nevada   100 %
      Players Riverboat, LLC   Nevada   100 %
           

2


      Players Riverboat Management, LLC   Nevada   100 %
        Players Riverboat II, LLC(7)   Louisiana   1 %
          Harrah's Star Partnership(8)   Louisiana   99 %
        Southern Illinois Riverboat/Casino Cruises, Inc.   Illinois   100 %
      Players Resources, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
      Players Services, Inc.   New Jersey   100 %
 
Harveys Casino Resorts

 

Nevada

 

100

%
    Harveys BR Management Company, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Harveys C.C. Management Company, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Harveys Iowa Management Company, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Harveys L.V. Management Company, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Harveys Tahoe Management Company, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    HBR Realty Company, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    HCR Services Company, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Reno Projects, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    WestAd   Nevada   100 %
  Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp.   Delaware   100 %
    Casino Computer Programming, Inc.   Indiana   100 %
    Horseshoe GP, Inc.   Nevada   100 %
    Horseshoe Hammond, Inc.   Indiana   100 %
      Hammond Residential, LLC   Indiana   100 %
    Horseshoe License Company(9)   Nevada   49 %
    Horseshoe Shreveport, L.L.C.   Louisiana   100 %
    Red Oak Insurance Company Ltd.   Barbados   100 %
 
Subsidiaries of Partnerships

 

 

 

 

 
    Reno Crossroads LLC(10)   Delaware      
    Showboat Marina Finance Corporation(11)   Nevada      
    Bossier City Land Corporation(12)   Louisiana      

(1)
54.45% Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., .55% Harrah's Maryland Heights Operating Company, 4.5% Players Maryland Heights, Inc., 40.50% Players Maryland Heights Nevada, Inc.

(2)
99% Harrah's Operating Company, Inc., 1% Harrah's Management Company

(3)
Successor by merger with Harrah's North Kansas City Corporation, 100% Harrah's Operating Company, Inc.

(4)
Converted from Delaware corporation to Delaware limited liability company on 6/18/04. Harrah's Operating Company Memphis, Inc. originally formed on 12/15/99.

(5)
84.3% Harrah's Shreveport Investment Company, LLC, 9.8%Harrah's Shreveport/Bossier City Holding Company, LLC,0.9% Harrah's Shreveport Management Company, LLC , 5% Harrah's New Orleans Management Company

(6)
1% Showboat Operating Company, 99% Showboat Land Holding Limited Partnership

(7)
1% Players Riverboat Management, LLC, 99% Players Riverboat, LLC

(8)
99% Players Riverboat II, LLC, 1% Players Riverboat Management, LLC

(9)
49% Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp.; 51% Harrah's Operating Company, Inc.

(10)
100% owned by Marina Associates.

(11)
100% owned by Showboat Marina Casino Partnership

(12)
100% owned by Horseshoe Entertainment

3


HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC. PARTNERSHIPS

Name
and
Address

  Subsidiary
Serving
As Partner

  Ownership
%

  Control
%

  Other
Partner

Marina Associates
Joint Venture
(a NJ general partnership
777 Harrah's Blvd.
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
  Harrah's Atlantic City, Inc.
Harrah's New Jersey, Inc.
  48.65
51.34
%
%
48.65
51.34
%
%
N/A
N/A

Des Plaines Development
Limited Partnership
150 N. Scott Street
Joliet, IL 60431

 

Harrah's Illinois Corporation

 

80

%

83

%

Des Plaines Development Corporation (20%)

Tunica Partners L.P.
(a MS limited partnership)

 

Harrah's Tunica Corporation
(General Partner)

 

83

%

83

%

Harrah's Vicksburg Corporation 17% (Limited Partner)

Tunica Partners II L.P.

 

Harrah's Tunica Corporation (General Partner)

 

83

%

83

%

Harrah's Vicksburg Corporation 17% (Limited Partner)

Tunica Golf Course LLC
1023 Cherry Road
Memphis, TN 38117

 

Harrah's Tunica Corporation

 

33.33

%

33.33

%

HWCC-Golf Course Partners, Inc. 33.33%
Boyd Tunica, Inc. 33.33%

Turfway Park, LLC

 

Dusty Corporation

 

33.33

%

33.33

%

Dreamport, Inc. 33.33%
Keeneland Association, Inc. 33.33%

Reno Crossroads LLC
777 Harrah's Boulevard
Atlantic City, NJ 08401

 

Marina Associates

 

100

%

100

%

 

Showboat Indiana
Investment Limited Partnership

 

Showboat Indiana, Inc.
(General Partner)

 

1

%

1

%

Showboat Operating
Company (99%)
(Limited Partner)

Showboat Marina Casino
Partnership
dba
Harrah's East Chicago

 

Showboat Marina
Partnership (General Partner)
Showboat Marina
Investment Partnership
(General Partner)

 

99
  
 
1

%


%

99
 
 
1

%


%

 

Showboat Marina
Investment Partnership

 

Showboat Indiana
Investment Limited Partnership
(General Partner)

 

55

%

55

%

Waterfront Entertainment & Development Inc.
(45%)
(General Partner)

Showboat Marina
Partnership

 

Showboat Indiana
Investment Limited Partnership
(General Partner)

 

55

%

55

%

Waterfront Entertainment & Development Inc.
(45%)
(General Partner)

Showboat Land Holding
Limited Partnership

 

Showboat Land Company
(General Partner)

 

1

%

1

%

Showboat Operating Company (99%)
(Limited Partner)
                 

4



Metropolis, IL 1292 LP

 

Southern Illinois Riverboat/
Casino Cruises, Inc.
(Special Limited Partner)

 

12.5

%

 

 

API/Metropolis IL, Inc. (General Partner)
Misc. Widows & Orphans (Limited Partner)

Gala Regional Developments

 

Harrah's Activity Limited

 

50

%

50

%

Gala Joint Activities Limited (50%)

Horseshoe Entertainment

 

New Gaming Capital Partnership
(General Partner)

 

89

%

89

%

 

 

 

New Gaming Capital Partnership
(Limited Partner)

 

2.92

%

2.92

%

 

 

 

Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. (Limited Partner)

 

8.08

%

8.08

%

 

New Gaming Capital Partnership

 

Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp.
(Limited Partner)

 

99

%

99

%

 

 

 

Horseshoe GP, Inc.
(General Partner)

 

1

%

1

%

 

Robinson Property Group, Limited Partnership

 

Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. (Limited Partner)

 

99

%

99

%

 

 

 

Horseshoe GP, Inc.

 

1

%

1

%

 

5




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Exhibit 23


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement Nos. 333-39840, 333-57214, 333-63856, 333-115384, 333-121774, and 333-122048 on the respective Forms S-8 and in Amendment No. 3 to Registration Statement No. 333-119836 on Form S-4 of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and in Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement No. 333-115641 on Form S-3 of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. of our reports dated February 28, 2005, relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.'s change in 2002 in its method of accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets to conform to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets) and management's report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2004.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Las Vegas, Nevada
February 28, 2005




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CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

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Exhibit 31(1)

CERTIFICATIONS

I, Gary W. Loveman, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 1, 2005   By:   /s/  GARY W. LOVEMAN      
Gary W. Loveman
   
        Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and President



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CERTIFICATIONS

Exhibit 31(2)

I, Charles L. Atwood, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.;

2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)
designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b)
designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

c)
evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d)
disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

5.
The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

a)
all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b)
any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 1, 2005   By:   /s/  CHARLES L. ATWOOD      
Charles L. Atwood
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer



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Exhibit 32(1)

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (the "Company"), hereby certifies, to such officer's knowledge, that:

          (i)  the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2004 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

         (ii)  the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated: March 1, 2005    

 

 

/s/  
GARY W. LOVEMAN      
Gary W. Loveman
Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer and President

        The foregoing certification is being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.




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Exhibit 32(2)


Certification of Chief Financial Officer

        Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (the "Company"), hereby certifies, to such officer's knowledge, that:

          (i)  the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2004 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

         (ii)  the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated: March 1, 2005

    /s/  CHARLES L. ATWOOD      
Charles L. Atwood
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, and is not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.




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Exhibit 99

Description of Governmental Regulation

General

        The ownership and operation of our casino entertainment facilities are subject to pervasive regulation under the laws, rules and regulations of each of the jurisdictions in which we operate. Gaming laws are based upon declarations of public policy designed to protect gaming consumers and the viability and integrity of the gaming industry, including prevention of cheating and fraudulent practices. Gaming laws may also be designed to protect and maximize state and local revenues derived through taxation and licensing fees imposed on gaming industry participants and enhance economic development and tourism. To accomplish these public policy goals, gaming laws establish procedures to ensure that participants in the gaming industry meet certain standards of character and fitness, or suitability. In addition, gaming laws require gaming industry participants to:


        Typically, state regulatory environments are established by statute and are administered by a regulatory agency or agencies with interpretive authority with respect to gaming laws and regulations and broad discretion to regulate the affairs of owners, managers, and persons with financial interests in gaming operations. Among other things, gaming authorities in the various jurisdictions in which we operate:


Licensing and Suitability Determinations

        Gaming laws require us, each of our subsidiaries engaged in gaming operations, certain of our directors, officers and employees, and in some cases, our shareholders and holders of our debt securities, to obtain licenses or findings of suitability from gaming authorities. Licenses or findings of suitability typically require a determination that the applicant qualifies or is suitable. Gaming authorities have very broad discretion in determining whether an applicant qualifies for licensing or should be deemed suitable. Criteria used in determining whether to grant a license or finding of suitability, while varying between jurisdictions, generally include consideration of factors such as:


        In evaluating individual applicants, gaming authorities consider the individual's reputation for good character and criminal history and the character of those with whom the individual associates.

        Many states limit the number of licenses granted to operate gaming facilities within the state, and some states limit the number of licenses granted to any one gaming operator. Licenses under gaming laws are generally not transferable. Licenses in many of the jurisdictions in which we conduct gaming operations are granted for limited durations and require renewal from time to time. In Iowa, our ability to continue our casino operations is subject to a referendum every eight years or at any time upon petition of the voters in the county in which we operate; the most recent referendum occurred in 2002. Our New Orleans casino operates under a contract with the Louisiana gaming authorities which extends until 2014, with a ten-year renewal period. There can be no assurance that any of our licenses or our contract in New Orleans will be renewed, or with respect to our gaming operations in Iowa, that continued gambling activity will be approved in any referendum, and failure to renew any of our licenses or the New Orleans contract, or to obtain favorable results in any referendum, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, prospects and results of operations.

        In addition to us and our direct and indirect subsidiaries engaged in gaming operations, gaming authorities may investigate any individual who has a material relationship to, or material involvement with, any of these entities to determine whether such individual is suitable or should be licensed as a business associate of a gaming licensee. Our officers, directors and certain key employees must file applications with the gaming authorities and may be required to be licensed, qualified or be found suitable in many jurisdictions. Gaming authorities may deny an application for licensing for any cause which they deem reasonable. Qualification and suitability determinations require submission of detailed personal and financial information followed by a thorough investigation. The applicant must pay all the costs of the investigation. Changes in licensed positions must be reported to gaming authorities and in addition to their authority to deny an application for licensure, qualification or a finding of suitability, gaming authorities have jurisdiction to disapprove of a change in a corporate position.

        If gaming authorities were to find that an officer, director or key employee fails to qualify or is unsuitable for licensing or unsuitable to continue having a relationship with us, we would have to sever all relationships with such person. In addition, gaming authorities may require us to terminate the employment of any person who refuses to file appropriate applications.

        Moreover, in many jurisdictions, any of our stockholders or holders of our debt securities may be required to file an application, be investigated, and qualify or have his, her or its suitability determined. Many jurisdictions also require any person who acquires beneficial ownership of more than a certain percentage of our voting securities, typically 5%, to report the acquisition to gaming authorities, and gaming authorities may require such holders to apply for qualification or a finding of suitability. Most gaming authorities, however, allow an "institutional investor" to apply for a waiver. An "institutional investor" is generally defined as an investor acquiring and holding voting securities in the ordinary course of business as an institutional investor, and not for the purpose of causing, directly or indirectly, the election of a majority of the members of our board of directors, any change in our corporate charter, bylaws, management, policies or operations, or those of any of our gaming affiliates, or the taking of any other action which gaming authorities find to be inconsistent with holding our voting securities for investment purposes only. Even if a waiver is granted, an institutional investor generally may not take any action inconsistent with its status when the waiver was granted without once again becoming subject to the foregoing reporting and application obligations.



        Generally, any person who fails or refuses to apply for a finding of suitability or a license within the prescribed period after being advised it is required by gaming authorities may be denied a license or found unsuitable, as applicable. Any stockholder found unsuitable or denied a license and who holds, directly or indirectly, any beneficial ownership of our voting securities beyond such period of time as may be prescribed by the applicable gaming authorities may be guilty of a criminal offense. Furthermore, we may be subject to disciplinary action if, after we receive notice that a person is unsuitable to be a stockholder or to have any other relationship with us or any of our subsidiaries, we: (i) pay that person any dividend or interest upon our voting securities; (ii) allow that person to exercise, directly or indirectly, any voting right conferred through securities held by that person; (iii) pay remuneration in any form to that person for services rendered or otherwise; or (iv) fail to pursue all lawful efforts to require such unsuitable person to relinquish his voting securities including, if necessary, the immediate purchase of said voting securities for cash at fair market value.

        Under New Jersey gaming laws, if a holder of our debt or equity securities is required to qualify, the holder may be required file an application for qualification or divest itself of the securities. If the holder files an application for qualification, it must place the securities in trust with an approved trustee, and while the application is pending, such holder may, through the approved trustee, continue to exercise all rights incident to the ownership of the securities with the exception that the security holder may only receive a return on its investment in an amount not to exceed the actual cost of the investment (as defined by New Jersey gaming laws) until the New Jersey gaming authorities find such holder qualified. In the event the New Jersey gaming authorities find there is reasonable cause to believe that the security holder may be found unqualified, all rights incident to ownership of the securities shall vest with the trustee pending a determination on such holder's qualifications; provided, however, that during the period the securities remain in trust, the security holder may petition the New Jersey gaming authorities to direct the trustee to dispose of the trust property and distribute proceeds thereof to the security holder in an amount not to exceed the lower of the actual cost of the investment or the value of the securities on the date the trust became operative. If the security holder is ultimately not found to be qualified, the trustee is required to sell the securities and to distribute the proceeds of the sale to the applicant in an amount not exceeding the lower of the actual cost of the investment or the value of the securities on the date the trust became operative (if not already sold and distributed at the direction of the security holder) and to distribute the remaining proceeds to the state. If the security holder is found qualified, the trust agreement will be terminated.

        Additionally, our Certificates of Incorporation and the Certificate of Incorporation of our subsidiary, Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. contain provisions establishing the right to redeem the securities of disqualified holders if necessary to avoid any regulatory sanctions, to prevent the loss or to secure the reinstatement of any license or franchise, or if such holder is determined by any gaming regulatory agency to be unsuitable, has an application for a license or permit denied or rejected, or has a previously issued license or permit rescinded, suspended, revoked or not renewed. The Certificates of Incorporation of these companies also contain provisions defining the redemption price and the rights of a disqualified security holder. In the event a security holder is disqualified, the New Jersey gaming authorities are empowered to propose any necessary action to protect the public interest, including the suspension or revocation of the licenses for the casinos we operate in New Jersey.

        Many jurisdictions also require that suppliers of certain goods and services to gaming industry participants be licensed and require us to purchase and lease gaming equipment, supplies and services only from licensed suppliers.

Violations of Gaming Laws

        If we or our subsidiaries violate applicable gaming laws, our gaming licenses could be limited, conditioned, suspended or revoked by gaming authorities, and we and any other persons involved could be subject to substantial fines. Further, a supervisor or conservator can be appointed by gaming authorities to operate our gaming properties, or in some jurisdictions, take title to our gaming assets in the jurisdiction, and under certain circumstances, earnings generated during such appointment could be forfeited to the applicable state or states. Furthermore, violations of laws in one jurisdiction could



result in disciplinary action in other jurisdictions. As a result, violations by us of applicable gaming laws could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, prospects and results of operations.

Reporting and Record-keeping Requirements

        We are required periodically to submit detailed financial and operating reports and furnish any other information about us and our subsidiaries which gaming authorities may require. Under both Nevada gaming law and federal law, we are required to record and submit detailed reports of currency transactions involving greater than $10,000 at our casinos. We are required to maintain a current stock ledger which may be examined by gaming authorities at any time. If any securities are held in trust by an agent or by a nominee, the record holder may be required to disclose the identity of the beneficial owner to gaming authorities. A failure to make such disclosure may be grounds for finding the record holder unsuitable. Gaming authorities may require certificates for our stock to bear a legend indicating that the securities are subject to specified gaming laws.

Review and Approval of Transactions

        Substantially all material loans, leases, sales of securities and similar financing transactions by us and our subsidiaries must be reported to, or approved by, gaming authorities. Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries may make a public offering of securities without the prior approval of certain gaming authorities if the securities or the proceeds therefrom are intended to be used to construct, acquire or finance gaming facilities in such jurisdictions, or to retire or extend obligations incurred for such purposes. Changes in control through merger, consolidation, stock or asset acquisitions, management or consulting agreements, or otherwise are subject to receipt of prior approval of gaming authorities. Entities seeking to acquire control of us or one of our subsidiaries must satisfy gaming authorities with respect to a variety of stringent standards prior to assuming control. Gaming authorities may also require controlling stockholders, officers, directors and other persons having a material relationship or involvement with the entity proposing to acquire control, to be investigated and licensed as part of the approval process relating to the transaction.

        Certain state gaming laws and regulations establish that certain corporate acquisitions opposed by management, repurchases of voting securities and corporate defense tactics affecting us or our subsidiaries may be injurious to stable and productive corporate gaming, and as a result, prior approval may be required before we may make exceptional repurchases of voting securities above the current market price thereof and before a corporate acquisition opposed by management can be consummated. Furthermore, prior approval is required for plans of recapitalization proposed by our Board of Directors in response to a tender offer made directly to our stockholders for the purposes of acquiring control of us.

        Because licenses under gaming laws are generally not transferable, our ability to grant a security interest in any of our gaming assets is limited and subject to receipt of prior approval by gaming authorities. We are subject to extensive prior approval requirements relating to certain borrowings and security interests with respect to our New Orleans casino. If the holder of a security interest wishes operation of the casino to continue during and after the filing of a suit to enforce the security interest, it may request the appointment of a receiver approved by Louisiana gaming authorities, and under Louisiana gaming laws, the receiver is considered to have all our rights and obligations under our contract with Louisiana gaming authorities.

License Fees and Gaming Taxes

        We pay substantial license fees and taxes in many jurisdictions, including the counties and cities in which our operations are conducted, in connection with our casino gaming operations, computed in various ways depending on the type of gaming or activity involved. Depending upon the particular fee or tax involved, these fees and taxes are payable either daily, monthly, quarterly or annually. License fees and taxes and are based upon such factors as:


        In many jurisdictions, gaming tax rates are graduated such that they increase as gross revenues increase. Furthermore, tax rates are subject to change, sometimes with little notice, and we have recently experienced tax rate increases in a number of jurisdictions in which we operate. A live entertainment tax is also paid in certain jurisdictions by casino operations where entertainment is furnished in connection with the selling or serving of food or refreshments or the selling of merchandise.

Operational Requirements

        In many jurisdictions, we are subject to certain requirements and restrictions on how we must conduct our gaming operations. In many states, we are required to give preference to local suppliers and include minority-owned businesses in construction projects to the maximum extent practicable. Some of our operations are subject to restrictions on the number of gaming positions we may have, the minimum or maximum wagers allowed by our customers, and the maximum loss a customer may incur within specified time periods.

        Our land-based casino in New Orleans operates under a contract with the Louisiana Gaming Control Board and the Louisiana Economic Development and Gaming Act and related regulations. Under this authority, our New Orleans casino is subject to not only many of the foregoing operational requirements, but also to restrictions on our food and beverage operations, including with respect to the size, location and marketing of eating establishments at our casino entertainment facility. Furthermore, with respect to any hotel we may own, construct or lease that is physically connected to our New Orleans casino, we are subject to restrictions on the number of rooms within the hotel, the amount of meeting space within the hotel and the rates we may charge for rooms.

        In Mississippi, we are required to include a 500 car parking facility in close proximity to the casino complex and infrastructure facilities that will amount to at least twenty five percent of the casino cost. This requirement was increased for any new casinos in Mississippi.

        To comply with requirements of Iowa gaming laws, we have entered agreements with Iowa West Racing Association, a non-profit organization, or IWRA. We maintain a joint license with IWRA to operate our Council Bluffs casino, an excursion gambling boat. At our Bluffs Run greyhound racetrack, IWRA holds the pari-mutuel license to operate the dog track and the gaming racetrack enclosure license to operate the slot machine casino all at Bluffs Run Casino.

Indian Gaming

        The terms and conditions of management contracts and the operation of casinos and all gaming on Indian land in the United States are subject to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, or IGRA, which is administered by the National Indian Gaming Commission, or NIGC, the gaming regulatory agencies of tribal governments, and Class III gaming compacts between the tribes for which we manage casinos and the states in which those casinos are located. IGRA established three separate classes of tribal gaming—Class I, Class II and Class III. Class I includes all traditional or social games solely for prizes of minimal value played by a tribe in connection with celebrations or ceremonies. Class II gaming includes games such as bingo, pulltabs, punchboards, instant bingo and non-banked card games (those that are not played against the house), such as poker. Class III gaming includes casino-style gaming such as banked table games like blackjack, craps and roulette, and gaming machines such as slots and video poker, as well as lotteries and pari-mutuel wagering. Harrah's Ak-Chin Phoenix, Prairie Band, and Rincon provide Class II gaming and, as limited by the tribal-state compact, Class III gaming. The Eastern Band Cherokee Casino currently provides only Class III gaming.



        IGRA prohibits all forms of Class III gaming unless the tribe has entered into a written agreement or compact with the state that specifically authorizes the types of Class III gaming the tribe may offer. These compacts provide, among other things, the manner and extent to which each state will conduct background investigations and certify the suitability of the manager, its officers, directors, and key employees to conduct gaming on tribal lands. The Company has received its permanent certification from the Arizona Department of Gaming as management contractor for the Ak-Chin Indian Community's casino and has been licensed by the relevant tribal gaming authorities to manage the Ak-Chin Indian Community's casino, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation's casino, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' casino and the Rincon San Luiseno Band of Mission Indians, respectively.

        IGRA requires NIGC approval of management contracts for Class II and Class III gaming as well as the review of all agreements collateral to the management contracts. Management contracts which are not so approved are void. The NIGC will not approve a management contract if a director or a 10% shareholder of the management company: (i) is an elected member of the Indian tribal government which owns the facility purchasing or leasing the games; (ii) has been or is convicted of a felony gaming offense; (iii) has knowingly and willfully provided materially false information to the NIGC or the tribe; (iv) has refused to respond to questions from the NIGC; or (v) is a person whose prior history, reputation and associations pose a threat to the public interest or to effective gaming regulation and control, or create or enhance the chance of unsuitable activities in gaming or the business and financial arrangements incidental thereto. In addition, the NIGC will not approve a management contract if the management company or any of its agents have attempted to unduly influence any decision or process of tribal government relating to gaming, or if the management company has materially breached the terms of the management contract or the tribe's gaming ordinance, or a trustee, exercising due diligence, would not approve such management contract. A management contract can be approved only after NIGC determines that the contract provides, among other things, for: (i) adequate accounting procedures and verifiable financial reports, which must be furnished to the tribe; (ii) tribal access to the daily operations of the gaming enterprise, including the right to verify daily gross revenues and income; (iii) minimum guaranteed payments to the tribe, which must have priority over the retirement of development and construction costs; (iv) a ceiling on the repayment of such development and construction costs and (v) a contract term not exceeding five years and a management fee not exceeding 30% of net revenues (as determined by the NIGC); provided that the NIGC may approve up to a seven year term and a management fee not to exceed 40% of net revenues if NIGC is satisfied that the capital investment required, and the income projections for the particular gaming activity require the larger fee and longer term.

        Management contracts can be modified or cancelled pursuant to an enforcement action taken by the NIGC based on a violation of the law or an issue affecting suitability.

        Indian tribes are sovereign with their own governmental systems, which have primary regulatory authority over gaming on land within the tribes' jurisdiction. Therefore, persons engaged in gaming activities, including the Company, are subject to the provisions of tribal ordinances and regulations on gaming. These ordinances are subject to review by the NIGC under certain standards established by IGRA. The NIGC may determine that some or all of the ordinances require amendment, and that additional requirements, including additional licensing requirements, may be imposed on us. The possession of valid licenses from the Ak-Chin Indian Community, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, and the Rincon San Luiseno Band of Mission Indians, are ongoing conditions of our agreements with these tribes.

Riverboat Casinos

        In addition to all other regulations applicable to the gaming industry generally, some of our riverboat casinos are also subject to regulations applicable to vessels operating on navigable waterways, including regulations of the U.S. Coast Guard. These requirements set limits on the operation of the vessel, mandate that it must be operated by a minimum complement of licensed personnel, establish periodic inspections, including the physical inspection of the outside hull, and establish other mechanical and operations rules. In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard is considering regulations designed



to increase homeland security, which, if passed, could affect some of our riverboat properties and require significant expenditures to bring such properties into compliance.

Racetracks

        We operate slot machines at a greyhound racetrack in Council Bluffs, Iowa and thoroughbred racetrack in Bossier City, Louisiana. Generally, our slot operations at racetracks are regulated in the same manner as our other gaming operations in those jurisdictions except that we presently may not engage in gaming activity other than slots at the tracks and we are planning to add table games at Bluffs Run as part of the new Horseshoe facility scheduled to open in early 2006. In addition, regulations governing racetracks are typically administered separately from our other gaming operations, with separate licenses and license fee structures. For example, racing regulations may limit the number of days on which races may be held.




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