Harrah's Entertainment Names Pete Weien SVP, GM at Harveys Casinos in Iowa

Press Release: Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.
August 10, 2001
LAS VEGAS, NV -- Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET) has announced that Peter J. Weien has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager of both the Harveys Casino Hotel and the Bluffs Run Casino and Racetrack in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Weien replaces Harveys General Manager Verne Welch, who has elected to serve as a consultant to the Harrah's management team.

Harrah's acquired the two Iowa facilities, as well as Harveys casinos in Nevada and Colorado, on July 31 in a $625 million transaction that expanded Harrah's geographic distribution to 25 casinos in 12 states.

``During his career at Harrah's, Pete has demonstrated strong project-planning and management abilities,'' said Gary Loveman, Harrah's Entertainment President and Chief Operating Officer. ``Those attributes will serve Pete well as he oversees our entry into what is a new market for Harrah's and will help facilitate integration of the Iowa casinos into the Harrah's portfolio.''

Weien began his career at Harrah's in 1987 and worked on a variety of casino projects for the company's corporate-development department. In 1998, Weien became executive assistant to then-COO Loveman and Harrah's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Phil Satre. He was later promoted to vice president of the corporate development department.

Weien was instrumental in development of Harrah's Indian gaming business, which includes Harrah's Ak-Chin, Prairie Band and Cherokee casinos, as well as the Harrah's Rincon hotel-casino under construction near San Diego. He was also actively involved in four major acquisitions - Showboat, the Rio, Players International, Inc. and Harveys - over the past four years.

Weien is a graduate of Michigan State University and Harrah's Excellence in Management and Excellence in Leadership programs. He also won the company's Corporate Excellence Award.

More information about Harrah's Entertainment is available on the company's Web site, www.harrahs.com. Founded more than 60 years ago, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the most recognized and respected name in the casino-entertainment industry, operating 25 casinos in the United States under the Harrah's, Showboat, Rio and Harveys brand names. With a combined database of more than 24 million players, Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its target customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.

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Contact: 

     Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., Las Vegas
     Gary Thompson, (702) 407-6529 (Media)
     Josh Hirsberg, (702) 407-6376 (Investors)