8-K

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                              ---------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 16, 2001 (January 12,
                                                  2001)

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


           DELAWARE                 1-10410                    62-1411755
 (State or other jurisdiction     (Commission               (I.R.S. Employer
       of incorporation)          File Number)             Identification No.)


         ONE HARRAH'S COURT
          LAS VEGAS, NEVADA                                       89119
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                        (Zip Code)


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


          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         On January 15, 2001, the Registrant announced that its board of
directors had approved the Registrant's participation in the proposed bankruptcy
reorganization plan filed by JCC Holding Company, owner of the Harrah's New
Orleans Casino. The Registrant owns approximately 43 percent of JCC Holding
Company. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(1).

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

                  (c)      Exhibits

                           99(1)    Text of press release, dated January 15,
                                    2001, of the Registrant.


                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                  HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.


Date: January 16, 2001            By: /s/ Stephen H. Brammell
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                      Name:  Stephen H. Brammell
                                      Title: Senior Vice President and
                                             General Counsel

EX-99.1

                                                                   Exhibit 99(1)

          Harrah's Entertainment Board Approves Harrah's Participation
                       In JCC Holding Reorganization Plan

         LAS VEGAS, Jan 15, 2001 - Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET), said
today that its board of directors has approved the company's participation in
the proposed bankruptcy reorganization plan filed by JCC Holding Co., owner of
the Harrah's New Orleans Casino. Harrah's Entertainment owns 43 percent of JCC
Holding.

         JCC Holding announced Friday that other principal creditors and bank
lenders have agreed to the proposed plan. JCC also said Louisiana Gov. Mike
Foster's administration has agreed to a plan proposal to reduce the minimum
annual payment to the state and the guaranty required for those payments.

         JCC Holding said New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial and the City Council
have committed to a $5 million reduction in certain payments the casino makes to
the city.

         If JCC Holding's proposed plan is completed, it could put the New
Orleans casino on a stable financial footing. However, the Louisiana Legislature
must approve, among other things, a reduction in the minimum payment for the
reorganization to proceed, and others must also approve all facets of the
proposed plan.

         JCC Holding's monthly revenues, which have averaged approximately $19.7
million since opening in October 1999, have been inadequate to support its
current capital structure, minimum payments to the State of Louisiana and costs
associated with the ground lease from the City of New Orleans. Based on its
projections, JCC said, its plan should enable the restructured company to meet
its future financial obligations.

         Under the proposed plan:
o        About $500 million of debt would be eliminated;


o        Current equity would be eliminated;

o        Current JCC Holding bondholders and bank lenders would own 51 percent
         of the restructured company;

o        Harrah's Entertainment would own 49 percent, in exchange for debt it
         would give up;

o        Harrah's would appoint three members of a new seven-member board of
         directors;

o        Harrah's would hold about $50 million of the restructured company's
         $125 million of total debt;

o        The reorganized JCC would obtain a new $35 million revolving-credit
         facility, which may be provided or guaranteed by Harrah's;

o        The management fee JCC would pay Harrah's Entertainment would change.
         The current fee, which is a base fee of 3 percent of net revenue, would
         change to an entirely incentive-based fee that would be 30 percent of
         earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and
         management fees;

o        Food and hotel restrictions on Harrah's New Orleans would be relaxed,
         allowing JCC greater flexibility in offering food and hotel services;

o        The minimum payments JCC must make to the State of Louisiana would
         change to $50 million in the first year and $60 million thereafter. The
         current minimum payment is $100 million annually;

o        Harrah's Entertainment would guarantee JCC's minimum annual payment
         obligations to the State of Louisiana for four years. The
         minimum-payment guarantee provides for Harrah's Entertainment to
         guarantee Louisiana up


         to $50 million in the first year, and $60 million each in the
         subsequent three years;

o        Costs associated with the City lease would be reduced by $5 million
         annually.

         More information about Harrah's Entertainment, the leading
consumer-marketing company in the gaming industry, can be obtained at
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 21 casinos in the United States under the Harrah's, Showboat, and Rio
brand names. With a combined database of more than 19 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.

         This release includes "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify
for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be
identified by phrases such as the company "believes," "expects," "anticipates,"
"foresees," "forecasts," "estimates" or other words or phrases of similar
import. Similarly, such statements herein that describe the company's business
strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals are also
forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in forward-looking statements. Such risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, economic, bank, equity and
debt-market condition, changes in laws or regulations, third-party relations and
approvals, decisions of courts, regulators and governmental bodies, factors
affecting leverage, including interest rates, abnormal gaming holds, and effects
of competition.

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