Harrah's Bringing Horseshoe Brand to Council Bluffs, Iowa Market

[Cubswin]

LAS VEGAS, Nov 17, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (HET) announced plans to rebrand Bluffs Run Casino under the Horseshoe brand as part of an $85 million renovation and expansion of the Iowa property.


The project marks the first time Harrah's will be expanding the Horseshoe brand beyond the three Horseshoe casinos in Indiana, Mississippi and Louisiana that were acquired in the purchase of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. earlier this year.

"The Horseshoe brand represents the finest in casino entertainment for avid gamblers," said Gary Loveman, Harrah's president and chief executive officer. "Horseshoe Council Bluffs will provide an exciting gaming experience without parallel in the Omaha metropolitan area, and provide an effective complement to Harrah's Council Bluffs. We are optimistic about the Horseshoe brand's potential in this market, and will actively examine additional opportunities to use this brand across the country and the world."

Horseshoe Council Bluffs will be the largest casino in the Council Bluffs market, with 69 percent more gaming space than the existing casino. In keeping with Horseshoe's reputation for high-quality table-game products, 36 table games and a 20-table poker room will be added to the casino.

The new 68,000-square-foot casino will offer an additional 250 slot machines, bringing the casino's total to 2,376. Harrah's also plans to add a new parking garage and entertainment venue. The property's greyhound racetrack will remain in operation, and retain the Bluffs Run brand.

Pending regulatory approval, construction is slated to begin in February, with completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2006.

"Iowa's stable regulatory and tax environment played a crucial role in our decision to make this significant investment in Council Bluffs," Loveman said.

Various subsidiaries of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. own or manage 28 casinos in the United States, primarily under the Harrah's and Horseshoe brand names. Founded 67 years ago, Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its valued customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.

[Clarkmeister]

It's a dog track for crying out loud. It'll always be a dive.

[Chief911]

But It'll be a nice upgrade from the cramped 7 table room that they have now at Harrah's. Heck, they have yet to even offer tournaments.

Nick

[Clarkmeister]

I've played in that Harrah's room before. Softest game I've seen in a long time. I talked the 5-10 table into playing 10-20 with a half-kill. Yummy. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Chief911]

When were you there Clarkmeister? Let me know if you are there again, I'll head over.

Nick

[Your Mom]

Harrah's is where I play live poker. Softest games I have ever played and that includes online 1/2. Most normal game is 5/10 with full kill, but the 10/20 half fill is spread quite a bit as well. Only 6 tables in the joint though. Really cramped- shitty room

[CarlSpackler]

Yea, I met my parents for dinner at Harrah's last night, and put my name on the wait list at the poker room. I think I was like #12 when I put my name in. We ate dinner and talked, and roughly 1 hour 45 minutes later, I'm still only about #4 on the list. It's just ridiculous. I waited for 4 hours one Friday night, before I could get on a table (they originally told me a 1.5 hour wait). Needless to say, I'm looking forward to never going to Harrah's again once Bluff's Run's poker room is finished.

And yes--these are the softest limit games I've ever played in, live or online.

[Clarkmeister]

"I'm looking forward to never going to Harrah's again once Bluff's Run's poker room is finished."

Harrah's owns both properties in case you didn't know.