<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a2077193z8-k.txt
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>

<PAGE>

                                  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


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<S>                                                      <C>
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):         April 17, 2002 (April 17, 2002)
</TABLE>


                          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)


<PAGE>


ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

     On April 17, 2002, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. issued a press release, a
copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(1) and incorporated herein by
reference.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

                  (c)      Exhibits

                           99(1) Text of press release, dated April 17, 2002, of
                                 the Registrant.


<PAGE>


                                    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:    April 17, 2002                 By:  /s/ Brad L. Kerby
                                            -----------------------------------
                                            Name:      Brad L. Kerby
                                            Title:     Vice President, Corporate
                                                       Counsel, and Secretary

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