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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)  

ý

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

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2004

or

o

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

For the transition period from                             to                              

Commission File No. 1-10410


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

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

One Harrah's Court
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
(Current address of principal executive offices)

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


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

        At October 29, 2004, there were 112,066,637 shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding.





PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

        The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., a Delaware corporation, have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not include all information and notes necessary for complete financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The results for the periods indicated are unaudited, but reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that management considers necessary for a fair presentation of operating results. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of a full year of operations. These Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in our 2003 Annual Report to Stockholders.

2


HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)

 
  Sept. 30,
2004

  Dec. 31,
2003

 
(In thousands, except share amounts)

   
   
 
ASSETS              
Current assets              
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 401,970   $ 397,942  
  Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $54,410 and $51,466     115,251     90,991  
  Deferred income taxes     66,493     68,323  
  Income tax receivable     17,726     36,166  
  Prepayments and other     71,553     55,929  
  Inventories     23,110     22,546  
   
 
 
    Total current assets     696,103     671,897  
   
 
 
Land, buildings, riverboats and equipment     6,346,907     5,420,009  
Less: accumulated depreciation     (1,708,585 )   (1,581,134 )
   
 
 
      4,638,322     3,838,875  
Assets held for sale (Notes 1 and 10)     500,164     688,106  
Goodwill (Notes 3 and 4)     1,311,199     701,133  
Intangible assets (Notes 3 and 4)     843,857     315,019  
Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates     6,624     6,537  
Escrow deposit for pending acquisition (Note 4)         75,000  
Deferred costs and other     307,683     282,277  
   
 
 
    $ 8,303,952   $ 6,578,844  
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY              
Current liabilities              
  Accounts payable   $ 131,032   $ 117,941  
  Accrued expenses     663,454     463,466  
  Current portion of long-term debt (Note 6)     1,661     1,632  
   
 
 
    Total current liabilities     796,147     583,039  
Liabilities held for sale (Notes 1 and 10)     979     10,796  
Long-term debt (Note 6)     4,956,007     3,671,889  
Deferred credits and other     199,293     194,017  
Deferred income taxes     360,722     330,674  
   
 
 
      6,313,148     4,790,415  
   
 
 
Minority interests (Note 4)     32,706     49,989  
   
 
 
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 4, 6, 8 and 9)              

Stockholders' equity (Notes 2, 4 and 5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Common stock, $0.10 par value, authorized—360,000,000 shares, outstanding—111,956,767 and 110,889,294 shares (net of 36,127,198 and 35,078,478 shares held in treasury)     11,196     11,089  
  Capital surplus     1,360,602     1,277,903  
  Retained earnings     598,517     466,662  
  Accumulated other comprehensive (loss)/income     (580 )   151  
  Deferred compensation related to restricted stock     (11,637 )   (17,365 )
   
 
 
      1,958,098     1,738,440  
   
 
 
    $ 8,303,952   $ 6,578,844  
   
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

3


HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

 
  Third Quarter Ended
  Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
Sept. 30,
2004

 
Sept. 30,
2003

 
Sept. 30,
2004

 
Sept. 30,
2003

 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

   
   
   
   
 
Revenues                          
  Casino   $ 1,191,647   $ 910,178   $ 2,999,793   $ 2,617,584  
  Food and beverage     186,581     155,906     497,467     452,077  
  Rooms     105,979     92,450     293,470     254,783  
  Management fees     15,898     21,118     45,427     56,523  
  Other     59,643     51,497     161,088     140,570  
  Less: casino promotional allowances     (250,091 )   (187,737 )   (637,984 )   (522,893 )
   
 
 
 
 
      Total revenues     1,309,657     1,043,412     3,359,261     2,998,644  
   
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses                          
  Direct                          
    Casino     594,468     452,623     1,497,570     1,308,216  
    Food and beverage     75,178     68,026     205,920     192,995  
    Rooms     16,812     15,892     50,424     49,174  
  Property general, administrative and other     248,953     210,324     677,186     618,870  
  Depreciation and amortization     89,326     74,767     238,141     220,309  
  Write-downs, reserves and recoveries     3,793     3,183     2,091     3,882  
  Project opening costs     1,961     2,025     7,822     6,612  
  Corporate expense     17,432     11,496     47,964     39,342  
  Losses on interests in nonconsolidated affiliates     687     649     320     610  
  Amortization of intangible assets     3,231     1,199     5,674     3,598  
   
 
 
 
 
      Total operating expenses     1,051,841     840,184     2,733,112     2,443,608  
   
 
 
 
 
Income from operations     257,816     203,228     626,149     555,036  
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized     (78,403 )   (58,556 )   (195,503 )   (175,638 )
Losses on early extinguishments of debt         (995 )       (3,136 )
Other income, including interest income     1,271     1,682     5,369     7,177  
   
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interests     180,684     145,359     436,015     383,439  
Provision for income taxes     (67,741 )   (53,996 )   (160,073 )   (141,239 )
Minority interests     (2,264 )   (2,334 )   (6,289 )   (9,229 )
   
 
 
 
 
Income from continuing operations     110,679     89,029     269,653     232,971  
   
 
 
 
 
Discontinued operations                          
  Income from discontinued operations (including loss on disposal of none, none, none and $1,744)     14,008     16,083     36,101     37,348  
  Income tax expense     (5,902 )   (5,629 )   (15,001 )   (13,072 )
   
 
 
 
 
      Income from discontinued operations     8,106     10,454     21,100     24,276  
   
 
 
 
 
Net income   $ 118,785   $ 99,483   $ 290,753   $ 257,247  
   
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share—basic                          
  Income from continuing operations   $ 1.00   $ 0.81   $ 2.43   $ 2.14  
  Discontinued operations, net     0.07     0.10     0.19     0.23  
   
 
 
 
 
    Net income   $ 1.07   $ 0.91   $ 2.62   $ 2.37  
   
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share—diluted                          
  Income from continuing operations   $ 0.99   $ 0.80   $ 2.39   $ 2.11  
  Discontinued operations, net     0.07     0.10     0.19     0.22  
   
 
 
 
 
    Net income   $ 1.06   $ 0.90   $ 2.58   $ 2.33  
   
 
 
 
 

Dividends declared per share

 

$

0.33

 

$

0.30

 

$

0.93

 

$

0.30

 
   
 
 
 
 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

111,016

 

 

109,064

 

 

111,083

 

 

108,761

 
  Additional shares based on average market price for period applicable to:                          
      Restricted stock     484     415     470     432  
      Stock options     1,013     1,270     1,217     1,133  
   
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding     112,513     110,749     112,770     110,326  
   
 
 
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

4


HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(UNAUDITED)

 
  Nine Months Ended
 
 
  Sept. 30,
2004

  Sept. 30,
2003

 
(In thousands)

   
   
 
Cash flows from operating activities              
  Net income   $ 290,753   $ 257,247  
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash flows from operating activities:              
    Income from discontinued operations, before income taxes     (36,101 )   (37,348 )
    Losses on early extinguishments of debt         3,136  
    Depreciation and amortization     262,022     239,458  
    Write-downs, reserves and recoveries     2,091     3,882  
    Other noncash items     14,107     9,785  
    Deferred income taxes     31,878     5,712  
    Minority interests' share of income     6,289     9,229  
    Loss on ownership interest in nonconsolidated affiliate     320     610  
    Net losses/(gains) from asset sales     1,707     (352 )
    Net change in long-term accounts     81,898     (14,184 )
    Net change in working capital accounts     118,545     94,409  
   
 
 
      Cash flows provided by operating activities     773,509     571,584  
   
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities              
  Payment for businesses acquired, net of cash acquired     (1,691,437 )    
  Land, buildings, riverboats and equipment additions     (444,070 )   (285,616 )
  Escrow payment for Horseshoe acquisition (Note 4)         (75,000 )
  Minority interest buyout (Note 4)     (37,500 )    
  Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates     (334 )    
  Increase in construction payables     18,686     3,317  
  Proceeds from other asset sales     3,129     1,356  
  Proceeds from sale of ownership interests in nonconsolidated affiliate         897  
  Other     (11,005 )   (8,710 )
   
 
 
      Cash flows used in investing activities     (2,162,531 )   (363,756 )
   
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities              
  Proceeds from issuance of senior note, net of discount and issue costs     738,322      
  Borrowings under lending agreements, net of deferred financing costs     2,831,035     2,613,956  
  Repayments under lending agreements     (2,297,087 )   (1,539,665 )
  Scheduled debt retirements     (1,138 )   (1,074 )
  Loss on derivative instrument     (775 )    
  Borrowings under retired facility         161,125  
  Repayments under retired facility         (1,446,625 )
  Other short-term repayments         (60,250 )
  Early extinguishments of debt         (12,421 )
  Premiums paid on early extinguishments of debt         (904 )
  Dividends paid     (104,282 )   (33,033 )
  Purchases of treasury stock     (53,375 )   (17,937 )
  Minority interests' distributions, net of contributions     (6,367 )   (7,152 )
  Proceeds from exercises of stock options     64,429     19,799  
  Other     1,622     460  
   
 
 
      Cash flows provided by/(used in) financing activities     1,172,384     (323,721 )
   
 
 
Cash flows from assets held for sale              
  Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale     197,561     17,556  
  Net transfers from assets held for sale     23,105     22,999  
  Loss on sale of assets held for sale         889  
   
 
 
      Cash flows provided by assets held for sale     220,666     41,444  
   
 
 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     4,028     (74,449 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period     397,942     384,365  
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 401,970   $ 309,916  
   
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

5


HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(UNAUDITED)

 
  Third Quarter Ended
  Nine Months Ended
 
  Sept. 30,
2004

  Sept. 30,
2003

  Sept. 30,
2004

  Sept. 30,
2003

(In thousands)

   
   
   
   
Net income   $ 118,785   $ 99,483   $ 290,753   $ 257,247
   
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income:                        
  Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of tax provision of $73 and $215         135         397
  Realization of loss on available-for-sale securities, net of tax benefit of $10         18         18
  Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax (benefit)/provision of $(56) and $6     (105 )       10    
  Loss on derivative qualifying as cash flow hedge             (775 )  
  Reclassification of loss on derivative instrument from other comprehensive income to net income     34         34    
   
 
 
 
      (71 )   153     (731 )   415
   
 
 
 
Comprehensive income   $ 118,714   $ 99,636   $ 290,022   $ 257,662
   
 
 
 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

6


HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2004
(UNAUDITED)

Note 1—Basis of Presentation and Organization

        Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. ("Harrah's Entertainment," the "Company," "we," "our" or "us," and including our subsidiaries where the context requires) is a Delaware corporation. We operate 28 casinos in 12 states under the Harrah's, Horseshoe, Rio, Showboat, and Harveys brand names, including 11 land-based casinos, 11 riverboat or dockside casinos, one thoroughbred racing facility, one greyhound racing facility and four casinos on Indian reservations. We view each property as an operating segment and aggregate all operating segments into one reporting segment.

        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 Condensed Balance Sheets, and we ceased depreciating their assets in September 2004. 2004 results for Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica are presented as part of our discontinued operations and 2003 results have been reclassified to conform to the 2004 presentation. During 2003, we sold properties in Central City, Colorado, and Vicksburg, Mississippi. The operating results of those properties, including the losses recorded on the sales, are presented in our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for 2003 as discontinued operations. See Note 10 for further information regarding discontinued operations.

        In conjunction with our plans to acquire Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. ("Horseshoe Gaming") (see Note 4), 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 Condensed 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. No material gain or loss was recognized on the sale of Harrah's Shreveport.

Note 2—Stock-Based Employee Compensation

        As allowed under the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("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 employee stock-based compensation plans and, accordingly, do not recognize compensation expense. Furthermore, no stock-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.

        In March 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Exposure Draft, "Share-Based Payment—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 123 and 95." This proposed standard, which is expected to be effective for periods beginning after June 15, 2005, for public companies with calendar year-ends, would require that we recognize an expense for our equity-based compensation programs, including stock options. We are currently evaluating the provisions of this proposed standard to determine its impact on our future financial statements.

        SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure-an amendment of SFAS No. 123," requires that companies provide disclosure regarding the pro forma impact of the provisions of SFAS No. 123 in interim financial statements. The following table illustrates

7



the effect on net income and earnings per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to stock-based employee compensation.

 
  Third Quarter Ended
  Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
Sept. 30,
2004

 
Sept. 30,
2003

 
Sept. 30,
2004

 
Sept. 30,
2003

 
(In thousands, except per share amounts)

   
   
   
   
 
Net income, as reported   $ 118,785   $ 99,483   $ 290,753   $ 257,247  
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair-value-based method for all awards, net of related tax effects     (8,856 )   (8,648 )   (19,999 )   (17,921 )
   
 
 
 
 
Pro forma net income   $ 109,929   $ 90,835   $ 270,754   $ 239,326  
   
 
 
 
 
Earnings per share:                          
  Basic—as reported   $ 1.07   $ 0.91   $ 2.62   $ 2.37  
  Basic—pro forma     0.99     0.83     2.44     2.20  
 
Diluted—as reported

 

 

1.06

 

 

0.90

 

 

2.58

 

 

2.33

 
  Diluted—pro forma     0.98     0.82     2.40     2.17  

Note 3—Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

        The following table sets forth information concerning our goodwill as of September 30, 2004.

(In thousands)

   
Balance at December 31, 2003   $ 701,133
  Additions or adjustments     610,066
  Impairment losses    
   
Balance at September 30, 2004   $ 1,311,199
   

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

 
  September 30, 2004
  December 31, 2003
 
  Gross
Carrying
Amount

  Accumulated
Amortization

  Net
Carrying
Amount

  Gross
Carrying
Amount

  Accumulated
Amortization

  Net
Carrying
Amount

(In thousands)

   
   
   
   
   
   
Amortizing intangible assets:                                    
  Contract rights   $ 73,590   $ 9,288   $ 64,302   $ 63,590   $ 6,572   $ 57,018
  Customer relationships     97,100     7,981     89,119     13,100     5,023     8,077
   
 
 
 
 
 
    $ 170,690   $ 17,269     153,421   $ 76,690   $ 11,595     65,095
   
 
 
 
 
 
Nonamortizing intangible assets:                                    
  Trademarks                 278,645                 146,624
  Gaming rights                 411,791                 103,300
               
             
                  690,436                 249,924
               
             
Total               $ 843,857               $ 315,019
               
             

        The aggregate amortization expense for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2004, for those assets that will continue to be amortized under the provisions of SFAS No. 142 was $3.2 million and $5.7 million, respectively. Estimated annual amortization expense for those assets for

8



the years ending December 31, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 is $8.9 million, $12.9 million, $12.6 million, $11.9 million and $10.3 million, respectively.

Note 4—Acquisitions

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 Operating Company ("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 as long as the operating agreement is in effect.

        We paid approximately $43.0 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 $5.7 million of acquisition costs. The purchase price allocation is in process and will be completed by the end of 2004. It is anticipated that the intangible assets acquired in this transaction will be deemed to have indefinite lives and will, therefore, not be 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 first quarter 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 (see Note 1).

Horseshoe Gaming

        On July 1, 2004, we acquired 100 percent of the equity interests of Horseshoe Gaming for approximately $1.56 billion, including assumption of debt valued at approximately $558 million and acquisition costs. A $75 million escrow payment that was made in 2003 was applied to the purchase price. We issued a redemption notice on July 1, 2004, for all $558 million of Horseshoe'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 three properties and with the intention of growing and developing the Horseshoe brand. The purchase included casinos in Hammond, Indiana; Tunica, Mississippi; and Bossier City, Louisiana.

        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 107,100 square feet of casino space and approximately 4,360 slot machines and 140 table games to our existing portfolio. Taken together with our acquisition of intellectual property rights from Horseshoe Club, 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.

9



        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   $ 89.8  
Land, buildings, riverboats and equipment     600.0  
Long-term assets     16.9  
Intangible assets     478.0  
Goodwill     523.9  
   
 
  Total assets acquired     l,708.6  
   
 
Current liabilities     (85.1 )
Long-term debt     (558.1 )
   
 
  Total liabilities assumed     (643.2 )
   
 
    Net assets acquired   $ 1,065.4  
   
 

        Of the estimated $478.0 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 $84.0 million (15 year weighted-average useful life) and contract rights estimated at $10 million (four year estimated life). The weighted average useful life of all the amortizing intangible assets is 13.8 years.

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

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

 
   
  Nine Months Ended
 
  Quarter
Ended
Sept. 30,
2003

 
  Sept. 30,
2004

  Sept. 30,
2003

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

   
   
   
Net revenues   $ 1,210.0   $ 3,716.8   $ 3,488.2
   
 
 
Income from operations   $ 237.4   $ 692.6   $ 650.3
   
 
 
Income from continuing operations   $ 99.0   $ 289.1   $ 258.9
   
 
 
Net income   $ 109.4   $ 310.2   $ 283.2
   
 
 
Earnings per share—diluted                  
  From continuing operations   $ 0.89   $ 2.56   $ 2.35
   
 
 
  Net income   $ 0.99   $ 2.75   $ 2.57
   
 
 

        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.

10



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 Chester Downs, a 5/8-mile harness racetrack facility approximately six miles south of Philadelphia International Airport. In the third quarter, the Pennsylvania legislature passed and the governor signed a bill allowing up to 3,000 slot machines at each of eight racetracks, including Chester Downs, and four stand-alone slot parlors, with the potential for adding 2,000 more slots at each of those locations. We have commenced site work and demolition at the property. We consolidate CD&M in our financial statements.

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 28 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' approval and is expected to close in mid-2005.

Note 5—Stockholders' Equity

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

        In November 2002, our Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to three million shares of the Company's stock in the open market. These repurchases are funded through available cash and borrowings from our Credit Agreement (see Note 6). The only repurchases in 2004 occurred in June, when one million shares were repurchased at an average price of $53.37. A total of 1.5 million shares have been purchased under this authorization at an average price of $47.54, leaving 1.5 million shares available for purchase pursuant to this authorization, which expires December 31, 2004.

        In July 2004, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of 33 cents per share, payable on August 25, 2004, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 11, 2004. Quarterly cash dividends of 30 cents per share were also declared and paid in the first and second quarters of 2004 and in the third and fourth quarters of 2003. Subsequent to the end of third quarter, our Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of 33 cents per share, payable on November 24, 2004, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 10, 2004.

11



Note 6—Debt

Credit Agreement

        At December 31, 2003, we had credit facilities (the "Credit Agreement") that provided for up to $1.9625 billion in borrowings, consisted of a five-year revolving credit facility for up to $1.0625 billion and a five-year term reducing facility for up to $900 million and matured on April 23, 2008. In June 2004, the Credit Agreement was amended to convert the $1.0625 billion revolving credit facility and $900 million term reducing facility to a $2.5 billion revolving credit facility, to reduce the interest rate and to extend the maturity to April 2009. The amendment also 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 September 30, 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. At our option, we may borrow at the prime rate under the Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2004, $1.513 billion in borrowings was outstanding under the Credit Agreement with an additional $59.7 million committed to back letters of credit. After consideration of these borrowings but before consideration of amounts borrowed under the commercial paper program, $927.3 million of additional borrowing capacity was available to the Company as of September 30, 2004.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

        The Company uses interest rate swaps to manage the mix of our debt between fixed and variable rate instruments. We account for these interest rate swaps 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 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.

        Interest rate swap agreements 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.

        As of September 30, 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 major terms of the interest rate swaps are as follows.

Effective Date

  Type of
Hedge

  Fixed Rate
Received

  Variable Rate
Paid

  Notional Amount
(In millions)

  Maturity
Date

Dec. 29, 2003   Fair Value   7.875 % 7.603 % $ 50   Dec. 15, 2005
Dec. 29, 2003   Fair Value   7.875 % 7.607 %   150   Dec. 15, 2005
Jan. 30, 2004   Fair Value   7.125 % 5.808 %   200   June 1, 2007
Feb. 2, 2004   Fair Value   7.875 % 7.625 %   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

12



our 2004 interest expense for the third quarter and first nine months by $0.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

Registration of Senior Notes

        In June 2004, we issued $750 million of 5.5% Senior Notes due in 2010 in a Rule 144A private placement. We exchanged the 5.5% Senior Notes with the fully registered 5.5% Senior Notes in October 2004.

        During December 2003, we issued $500 million of 5.375% Senior Notes due in 2013 in a Rule 144A private placement. We exchanged the 5.375% Senior Notes with the fully registered 5.375% Senior Notes in June 2004.

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. At September 30, 2004, $25 million was outstanding under this program.

Debt Repurchase Program

        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 existing credit facilities. Such repurchases will depend on prevailing market conditions, the Company's liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. As of December 31, 2003, $159.5 million of our 7.875% Senior Subordinated Notes had been retired under this authorization. No additional debt was retired in the first nine months of 2004.

Note 7—Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures

Cash Paid for Interest and Taxes

        The following table reconciles our interest expense, net of interest capitalized, per the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income, to cash paid for interest:

 
  Nine Months Ended
 
 
  Sept. 30,
2004

  Sept. 30,
2003

 
(In thousands)

   
   
 
Interest expense, net of interest capitalized   $ 195,503   $ 175,638  
Adjustments to reconcile to cash paid for interest:              
  Net change in accruals     (20,050 )   (9,292 )
  Amortization of deferred finance charges     (5,483 )   (4,527 )
  Net amortization of discounts and premiums     (1,131 )   (842 )
   
 
 
    Cash paid for interest, net of amount capitalized   $ 168,839   $ 160,977  
   
 
 
    Cash refunds of income taxes, net of payments   $ 31,440   $ 40,019  
   
 
 

13


Note 8—Commitments and Contingent Liabilities

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 the Company of third-party debt and development completion guarantees.

        The agreements under 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 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 September 30, 2004, our aggregate monthly commitment for the minimum guaranteed payment pursuant to these contracts for the four managed Indian-owned facilities now open, which extend for periods of up to 86 months from September 30, 2004, is $1.2 million. The maximum exposure for the minimum guaranteed payments to the tribes is unlikely to exceed $96.6 million.

        We may guarantee all or part of the debt incurred by Indian tribes, with which we have entered into management contracts, 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 September 30, 2004, of Indian debt that we have guaranteed was $223.7 million. The outstanding balance of all of our debt guarantees, including Indian debt guarantees, at September 30, 2004, was $229.0 million. Our maximum obligation under all of our debt guarantees is $292.8 million. Our obligations under these debt guarantees extend through April 2009.

        Some of our guarantees of the debt for casinos on Indian lands were modified during 2003, resulting in the requirement under FASB 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 obligations 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 unamortized balance of the liability for the guarantees and of the related assets at September 30, 2004, was $5.9 million.

        In March 2004, 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 end March 31, 2007.

        Excluding the guarantees discussed above, as of September 30, 2004, we had commitments and contingencies of $395.1 million, including construction-related commitments.

        In accordance with previous agreements and as additional purchase price consideration, a payment of approximately $73 million, based on a multiple of the calculated annual savings, was made to Iowa

14



West Racing Association ("Iowa West"), the entity holding the pari-mutuel and gaming license for the Bluffs Run Casino in Council Bluffs, Iowa, 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 percent tax rate; however, Iowa West has taken the position that the purchase price adjustment should be based on a tax rate of 22 percent, 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. (See discussion in MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, OPERATING RESULTS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS, North Central Results, Iowa.)

Severance Agreements

        As of September 30, 2004, we have severance agreements with 27 of our 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 our incentive plans. The estimated amount, computed as of September 30, 2004, that would be payable under the agreements to these executives based on the compensation payments and stock awards aggregated approximately $110.0 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 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. We also have stop-loss coverage to protect against unexpected claims. 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 9—Litigation

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

Note 10—Discontinued Operations

        In September 2004, we entered into an agreement to sell the assets and certain related 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 Condensed Balance Sheets, and we ceased depreciating their assets in September 2004. 2004 results for Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica are presented as part of our discontinued operations and 2003 results have been reclassified to conform to the 2004 presentation. We expect to report a gain on the sale of these two properties in the quarter in which the transaction closes. 2003 discontinued operations also include the operating results, including the losses recorded on the sales, of properties in Central City, Colorado, and Vicksburg, Mississippi, both of which were sold in 2003.

15



        Summary operating results for the discontinued operations are as follows:

 
  Third Quarter Ended
  Nine Months Ended
 
  Sept. 30,
2004

  Sept. 30,
2003

  Sept. 30,
2004

  Sept. 30,
2003

(In thousands)

   
   
   
   
Net revenues   $ 96,953   $ 104,155   $ 285,521   $ 318,541
   
 
 
 
Pretax income from discontinued operations   $ 14,008   $ 16,083   $ 36,101   $ 37,348
   
 
 
 
Discontinued operations, net of tax   $ 8,106   $ 10,454   $ 21,100   $ 24,276
   
 
 
 

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

 
  Sept. 30,
2004

(In thousands)

   
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 12,000
Inventories     871
Property and equipment, net     269,860
Goodwill     206,770
Investments in and advances to nonconsolidated affiliates     1,274
Deferred costs and other     183
   
  Total assets held for sale   $ 490,958
   
Accrued expenses   $ 374
   
  Total liabilities related to assets held for sale   $ 374
   

16



Item 2. Management's Discussion And Analysis Of Financial Condition And Results Of Operations

        The following discussion and analysis of the financial position and operating results of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (referred to in this discussion, together with its consolidated subsidiaries where appropriate, as "Harrah's Entertainment," the "Company," "we," "our" and "us") for the third quarter and the first nine months of 2004 and 2003, updates, and should be read in conjunction with, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations presented in our 2003 Annual Report.

ACQUISITIONS

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 Operating Company ("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 as long as the operating agreement is in effect.

        We paid approximately $43.0 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 $5.7 million of acquisition costs. The purchase price allocation is in process and will be completed by the end of 2004. It is anticipated that the intangible assets acquired in this transaction will be deemed to have indefinite lives and will, therefore, not be 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 first quarter 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 (see DISPOSITIONS).

Horseshoe Gaming

        On July 1, 2004, we acquired 100 percent of the equity interests of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp. ("Horseshoe Gaming") for approximately $1.56 billion, including assumption of debt valued at approximately $558 million and acquisition costs. A $75 million escrow payment that was 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 existing credit facilities. We purchased Horseshoe Gaming to acquire three properties and with the intention of growing and developing the Horseshoe brand. The purchase included casinos in Hammond, Indiana; Tunica, Mississippi; and Bossier City, Louisiana.

17



        In anticipation of our acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming, we sold our Harrah's brand casino in Shreveport, Louisiana, to avoid overexposure in that market (see DISPOSITIONS). After consideration of the sale of Harrah's Shreveport, the Horseshoe Gaming acquisition added a net 107,100 square feet of casino space and approximately 4,360 slot machines and 140 table games to our existing portfolio. Taken together with our acquisition of intellectual property rights from Horseshoe Club, this acquisition gave us rights to the Horseshoe brand in all of the United States. The purchase price allocation began in third quarter 2004 and will be completed within one year of the date of acquisition. The results of the Horseshoe properties are included with our operating results subsequent to their acquisition on July 1, 2004.

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 Chester Downs, a 5/8-mile harness racetrack facility approximately six miles south of Philadelphia International Airport. In the third quarter, the Pennsylvania legislature passed and the governor signed a bill allowing up to 3,000 slot machines at each of eight racetracks, including Chester Downs, and four stand-alone slot parlors, with the potential for adding 2,000 more slots at each of those locations. We have commenced site work and demolition at the property. We consolidate CD&M in our financial statements.

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 28 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' approval and is expected to close in mid-2005.

DISPOSITIONS

Harrah's Shreveport

        The sale of Harrah's Shreveport was completed in second quarter 2004. Prior to the sale, this property was classified in Assets/Liabilities held for sale on our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, and we ceased depreciating its assets in September 2003. Since we continue to operate casinos in the Shreveport-Bossier City market, Harrah's Shreveport's operating results were not classified as discontinued operations. The gain from our sale of Harrah's Shreveport was not material.

Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica

        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 Condensed Balance Sheets, and we

18



ceased depreciating their assets in September 2004. 2004 results for Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica are presented as part of our discontinued operations and 2003 results have been reclassified to conform to the 2004 presentation. We expect to report a gain on the sale of these two properties in the quarter in which the transaction closes.

OPERATING RESULTS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS

Overall

 
  Third Quarter
   
   
   
   
 
 
   
  First Nine Months
   
 
 
 
2004

 
2003

  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

 
 
  2004
  2003
 
(In millions, except earnings per share)

   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Casino revenues   $ 1,191.6   $ 910.2   30.9 % $ 2,999.8   $ 2,617.6   14.6 %
Total revenues     1,309.7     1,043.4   25.5 %   3,359.3     2,998.6   12.0 %
Income from operations     257.8     203.2   26.9 %   626.1     555.0   12.8 %
Income from continuing operations     110.7     89.0   24.4 %   269.7     233.0   15.8 %
Net income     118.8     99.5   19.4 %   290.8     257.2   13.1 %
Earnings per share-diluted                                  
  From continuing operations     0.99     0.80   23.8 %   2.39     2.11   13.3 %
  Net income     1.06     0.90   17.8 %   2.58     2.33   10.7 %
Operating margin     19.7 %   19.5 % 0.2 pts   18.6 %   18.5 % 0.1 pt

        Third quarter 2004 revenues increased 25.5% over third quarter 2003, driven by revenues from the three Horseshoe properties subsequent to their acquisition on July 1, 2004, and record third quarter revenues at several of our other properties. Income from continuing operations was 24.4% above third quarter last year due primarily to the acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming and strong performances by our Southern Nevada properties.

        For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, revenues were up 12.0%, and income from continuing operations was 15.8% higher than in the first nine months of 2003. The year-over-year increases were due to the acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming, strong performances by our Southern Nevada properties and lower gaming taxes at our Bluffs Run property in Iowa, partially offset by higher gaming taxes and marketing costs in some markets.

        The executive officers 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, 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/Other
Harrah's Reno
Harrah's/Harveys Lake Tahoe
Bill's
Harrah's Las Vegas
Rio
Harrah's Laughlin
Las Vegas Horseshoe (after April 1, 2004)
  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 Shreveport (prior to May 19, 2004)
Harrah's Lake Charles
Harrah's New Orleans
Harrah's Louisiana Downs
Horseshoe Tunica
Horseshoe Bossier City
  Harrah's Ak-Chin
Harrah's Cherokee
Harrah's Prairie Band
Harrah's Rincon

19


West Results

 
  Third Quarter
   
  First Nine Months
   
 
 
  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

 
 
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
 
(In millions)

   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Casino revenues   $ 280.5   $ 247.0   13.6 % $ 788.9   $ 684.4   15.3 %
Total revenues     401.1     361.6   10.9 %   1,149.7     1,021.7   12.5 %
Income from operations     89.2     71.7   24.4 %   244.2     183.8   32.9 %
Operating margin     22.2 %   19.8 % 2.4 pts   21.2 %   18.0 % 3.2 pts

        Our West properties posted record third quarter 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, our two Las Vegas properties, 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 18.7% over 2003 levels. Income from operations for our Southern Nevada properties was 45.6% higher than in third quarter 2003 as a result of the higher revenues and improved operating margins. Revenues in Northern Nevada were 1.7% below the third quarter last year, and income from operations was level with third quarter 2003.

        For the first nine months of 2004, revenues and income from operations from our Southern Nevada properties increased 18.4% and 48.7%, respectively, driven by the same factors that drove our third quarter results. Revenues from our Northern Nevada properties were 1.3% higher than in the first nine months of 2003; however, income from operations was 1.7% lower than in the nine-month period last year due to increased marketing costs associated with selective programs designed to increase visitation from targeted segments in the Northern Nevada market.

        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 September 30, 2004, $9.8 million had been spent on this project.

East Results

 
  Third Quarter
   
  First Nine Months
   
 
 
  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

 
 
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
 
(In millions)

   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Casino revenues   $ 240.6   $ 220.7   9.0 % $ 644.6   $ 620.9   3.8   %
Total revenues     227.2     214.5   5.9 %   602.9     598.9   0.7   %
Income from operations     69.5     67.8   2.5 %   166.3     174.4   (4.6 )%
Operating margin     30.6 %   31.6 % (1.0 )pt   27.6 %   29.1 % (1.5 )pts

        Third quarter revenues at our East properties were 5.9% higher than third quarter 2003 revenues and income from operations was 2.5% higher than in third quarter last year as Atlantic City continues to assimilate the new supply in that market.

        For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, revenues were up at our East properties by 0.7%, but income from operations was down by 4.6% from the first nine months last year. Showboat's revenues and income from operations were 3.9% and 12.0%, respectively, higher than in the first nine months of 2003. Results at Showboat 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 1.9% and 15.0%, respectively, below the first nine months of 2003. Harrah's Atlantic City has been more directly affected than Showboat by the first new competitor in

20



the Atlantic City market in more than a decade, but marketing programs to address the aggressive customer acquisition campaign of the new competitor are having some success.

North Central Results

 
  Third Quarter
   
  First Nine Months
   
 
 
  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

 
 
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
 
(In millions)

   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Casino revenues   $ 394.8   $ 270.6   45.9 % $ 942.4   $ 827.2   13.9 %
Total revenues     387.3     267.3   44.9 %   928.3     814.5   14.0 %
Income from operations     72.9     48.0   51.9 %   181.8     149.9   21.3 %
Operating margin     18.8 %   18.0 % 0.8 pt   19.6 %   18.4 % 1.2 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 and prior period results have been restated to conform to the current presentation.

        Chicagoland/Illinois—Driven by the Horseshoe acquisition on July 1, 2004, combined third quarter 2004 revenues at Harrah's Joliet, Harrah's Metropolis and Horseshoe Hammond were 117.7% higher than last year's third quarter revenues. Combined income from operations was 107.9% higher than in third quarter last year. Excluding results of Horseshoe Hammond and Harrah's East Chicago, combined revenues increased 11.9%, but combined income from operations was 5.1% below third quarter 2003 as a result of higher gaming taxes.

        Combined revenues for the first nine months of 2004 were 32.0% higher than combined revenues for the first nine months of 2003 and combined income from operations was 19.7% higher than the first nine months of last year due to results from Horseshoe Hammond subsequent to its acquisition. Excluding results of Horseshoe Hammond and Harrah's East Chicago, combined revenues and income from operations were down 0.4% and 16.3%, respectively, from the nine-month period last year as a result of increases in state gaming taxes, admission taxes and increased marketing costs.

        Missouri—Third quarter revenues at our Missouri properties were 6.3% higher than in third quarter last year, as increases at our St. Louis property more than offset declines at our North Kansas City property. Third quarter income from operations was 4.6% below third quarter 2003, driven by declines at North Kansas City.

        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.

        For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, revenues at our Missouri properties were 2.1% higher and income from operations was 13.4% below last year's first nine months. Gains at our St. Louis property, driven by 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.

        A $107 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 September 30, 2004, $18.7 million had been spent on this project.

21



        Iowa—Revenues for third quarter 2004 from our Iowa properties were 5.9% higher than third quarter 2003 revenues, and income from operations was 77.3% higher than third quarter 2003, due primarily to lower gaming taxes at our Bluffs Run property in 2004.

        For the nine months ended September 30, 2004, revenues were 5.5% higher than in the first nine months last year. In response to the April 2004 Iowa legislation, an adjustment of the 2004 gaming tax accrual following the resolution of the gaming tax issues discussed below caused income from operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2004, to be more than double the first nine months of 2003.

        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 are currently evaluating the timing of when we will add table games to the Bluffs Run facility. 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, based on a multiple of the calculated annual savings, 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.

22



South Central Results

 
  Third Quarter
   
  First Nine Months
   
 
 
  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

 
 
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
 
(In millions)

   
   
   
   
   
   
 
Casino revenues   $ 275.6   $ 171.6   60.6 % $ 623.5   $ 484.8   28.6 %
Total revenues     273.9     175.1   56.4 %   621.7     494.3   25.8 %
Income from operations     43.4     23.5   84.7 %   90.6     70.1   29.2 %
Operating margin     15.8 %   13.4 % 2.4 pts   14.6 %   14.2 % 0.4 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 and prior period results have been restated to conform to the current presentation.

        Combined third quarter 2004 revenues from our South Central properties were 56.4% higher than in third quarter 2003, driven by revenues from Horseshoe Bossier City and Horseshoe Tunica and higher revenues at each of the other properties in that region. Combined income from operations was 84.7% higher than in third quarter 2003. Excluding 2004 results from the Horseshoe properties, Harrah's Shreveport, which was sold in May 2004, and Harrah's Tunica, combined revenues for the other South Central properties (Harrah's brand properties in New Orleans, Lake Charles, and Louisiana Downs) increased 17.2% over third quarter 2003, and income from operations was 22.2% higher. Harrah's New Orleans posted record results for the quarter despite the negative impact from hurricanes in September.

        Revenues and income from operations for the first nine months of 2004 were higher by 25.8% and 29.2%, respectively, than in the first nine months last year 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.

        Construction began in second quarter 2004 on a 26-story, 450-room, $142 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. $16.5 million had been spent on this project as of September 30, 2004.

Managed Casinos and Other

        Our managed casinos and other results were lower than in third quarter and the first nine months of 2003 due to lower fee structures at some of our managed casinos where management agreements have been extended.

        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. In April 2004, the National Indian Gaming Commission approved an extension of our agreement for the management of the Cherokee property until November 2011.

        A $165 million expansion of the Harrah's Rincon property began in December 2003. The expansion will add 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. The expansion is scheduled for completion by the end of 2004.

23



        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.

        We recently suspended operation of Lucky Me, our on-line gaming initiative in the United Kingdom. We do not expect to record any material charges as a result of this action. Losses related to Lucky Me are $6.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004.

Other Factors Affecting Net Income

 
  Third Quarter
   
  First Nine Months
   
 
 
  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

  Percentage
Increase/
(Decrease)

 
 
  2004
  2003
  2004
  2003
 
(In millions)

   
   
   
   
   
   
 
(Income)/expense                                  
Development costs   $ 4.7   $ 3.0   56.7 % $ 14.1   $ 9.4   50.0 %
Write-downs, reserves and recoveries     3.8     3.2   18.8 %   2.1     3.9   (46.2 )%
Corporate expense     17.4     11.5   51.3 %   48.0     39.3   22.1 %
Interest expense, net     78.4     58.6   33.8 %   195.5     175.6   11.3 %
Losses on interests in nonconsolidated affiliates     0.7     0.6   16.7 %   0.3     0.6   (50.0 )%
Losses on early extinguishments of debt         1.0   N/M         3.1   N/M  
Other income     (1.3 )   (1.7 ) (23.5 )%   (5.4 )   (7.2 ) (25.0 )%
Effective tax rate     37.5 %   37.1 % 0.4 pt   36.7 %   36.8 % (0.1 )pt
Minority interests   $ 2.3   $ 2.3   0.0 % $ 6.3   $ 9.2   (31.5 )%
Discontinued operations, net of income taxes     (8.1 )   (10.5 ) (22.9 )%   (21.1 )   (24.3 ) (13.2 )%
N/M = Not meaningful                                  

        Development costs for third quarter and the first nine months of 2004 were higher than in corresponding periods last year due to increased development activities in many jurisdictions, including Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom, considering allowing development and operation of casinos or casino-like operations.

        Write-downs, reserves and recoveries for the first nine months of 2004 consisted primarily of a $10.0 million contribution to Harrah's Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that provides charitable contributions to qualifying organizations in the communities where employees of Harrah's Entertainment and its subsidiaries work and demolition costs associated with various construction projects, partially offset by the $16.6 million adjustment of our over-accrual prior to 2004 for Iowa gaming taxes resulting from second quarter 2004 legislation in Iowa.

        Corporate expense was 51.3% and 22.1% higher in third quarter and the first nine months of 2004, respectively, than the prior year periods due to higher incentive compensation expense, accelerated depreciation on certain corporate assets, costs associated with a management development program and costs associated with the Company's compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

        Interest expense in third quarter and the first nine months of 2004 was 33.8% and 11.3% higher, respectively, than in the same periods in 2003 due to additional debt related to our acquisition of Horseshoe on July 1, 2004. For our fixed-rate debt subject to interest rate swap agreements, the average interest rate received was 7.6%, compared to the 6.9% average interest rate paid on the swaps at September 30, 2004. The average interest rate on our variable-rate debt, excluding the impact of our swap agreements, was 2.6% at September 30, 2004, compared to 2.1% at September 30, 2003. A

24



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 $20.4 million, or $5.1 million per quarter. Our variable-rate debt, including $500 million of fixed-rate debt for which we have entered into interest rate swap agreements, represents approximately 41% of our total debt, while our fixed-rate debt is approximately 59% of our total debt. (For discussion of our interest rate swap agreements, see DEBT AND LIQUIDITY, Interest Rate Swap Agreements.)

        Other income was lower in third quarter and the first nine months of 2004 than in the same periods last year due primarily to lower interest income in 2004 on the cash surrender value of life insurance policies.

        The effective tax rates for all periods are higher than the federal statutory rate due primarily to state income taxes. Our effective tax rate was higher in third quarter and the first nine months of 2004 than in third quarter and the first nine months last year due to the mix of taxable income among the various states.

        Minority interests reflect minority owners' shares of income at joint venture casinos, which decreased in 2004 from the prior year as a result of lower earnings from a joint venture property and the buyout of some minority partners.

        Discontinued operations reflect the results of Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica and 2003 results for those properties have been reclassified to conform to the 2004 presentation. 2003 discontinued operations also reflect the results of Harveys Wagon Wheel Hotel/Casino in Central City, Colorado, and Harrah's Vicksburg in Vicksburg, Mississippi, both of which were sold in 2003.

CAPITAL SPENDING AND DEVELOPMENT

        In addition to the specific development and expansion projects discussed in the OPERATING RESULTS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS section, 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.

        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 projects currently under development as well as additional projects pursued is expected to be made available from operating cash flows, bank borrowings (see DEBT AND LIQUIDITY), joint venture partners, specific project financing, guarantees of third-party debt and, if necessary, additional debt and/or equity offerings. Our capital spending for the first nine months of 2004 totaled approximately $486.8 million. Estimated total capital expenditures for 2004 are expected to be between $600 million and $625 million, excluding estimated expenditures for our acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming, our announced acquisition of Caesars or for development opportunities that we have not yet identified.

25



DEBT AND LIQUIDITY

        We generate substantial cash flows from operating activities, as reflected on the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows. These cash flows reflect the impact on our consolidated operations of the success of our marketing and merchandizing programs, our strategic acquisitions, on-going cost containment focus and favorable variable interest rates. For the first nine months of 2004 and 2003, we reported cash flows from operating activities of $773.5 million and $571.6 million, respectively.

        We use the cash flows generated by the Company to fund reinvestment in existing properties for both refurbishment and expansion projects, pursue additional growth opportunities via strategic acquisitions of existing companies or properties and new development opportunities and 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 $402.0 million at September 30, 2004, compared to $309.9 million at September 30, 2003.

Credit Agreement

        At December 31, 2003, we had credit facilities (the "Credit Agreement") that provided for up to $1.9625 billion in borrowings, consisting of a five-year revolving credit facility for up to $1.0625 billion and a five-year term reducing facility for up to $900 million and maturing on April 23, 2008. In June 2004, the Credit Agreement was amended to convert the $1.0625 billion revolving credit facility and $900 million term reducing facility to a $2.5 billion revolving credit facility, to reduce the interest rate and to extend the maturity to April 2009. The amendment also 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 September 30, 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. At our option, we may borrow at the prime rate under the Credit Agreement. As of September 30, 2004, $1.513 billion in borrowings was outstanding under the Credit Agreement with an additional $59.7 million committed to back letters of credit. After consideration of these borrowings but before consideration of amounts borrowed under the commercial paper program, $927.3 million of additional borrowing capacity was available to the Company as of September 30, 2004.

        The majority of our debt is due in the year 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.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

        The Company may use interest rate swaps to manage the mix of our debt between fixed and variable rate instruments. We account for these interest rate swaps 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 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

26



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.

        Interest rate swap agreements 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.

        As of September 30, 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 major terms of the interest rate swaps are as follows.

Effective Date

  Notional Amount
(In millions)

  Fixed Rate
Received

  Variable Rate
Paid

  Next Reset
Date

  Maturity
Date

Dec. 29, 2003   $ 50   7.875 % 7.603 % Dec. 15, 2004   Dec. 15, 2005
Dec. 29, 2003     150   7.875 % 7.607 % Dec. 15, 2004   Dec. 15, 2005
Jan. 30, 2004     200   7.125 % 5.808 % Dec. 1, 2004   June 1, 2007
Feb. 2, 2004     100   7.875 % 7.625 % Dec. 15, 2004   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 for the third quarter and first nine months by $0.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

Registration of Senior Notes

        In June 2004, we issued $750 million of 5.5% Senior Notes due in 2010 in a Rule 144A private placement. We exchanged the 5.5% Senior Notes with the fully registered 5.5% Senior Notes in October 2004.

        During December 2003, we issued $500 million of 5.375% Senior Notes due in 2013 in a Rule 144A private placement. We exchanged the 5.375% Senior Notes with the fully registered 5.375% Senior Notes in June 2004.

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. At September 30, 2004, $25 million was outstanding under this program.

Debt Repurchase Program

        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 existing credit facilities. Such repurchases will depend on prevailing market conditions, the Company's liquidity requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors. As of December 31, 2003, $159.5 million of our 7.875% Senior Subordinated Notes had been retired under this authorization. No additional debt was retired in the first nine months of 2004.

27



Equity Repurchase Program

        In November 2002, our Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to three million shares of the Company's stock in the open market. These repurchases are funded through available cash and borrowings from our Credit Agreement. The only repurchases in 2004 occurred in June, when one million shares were repurchased at an average price of $53.37. A total of 1.5 million shares have been purchased under this authorization at an average price of $47.54, leaving 1.5 million shares available for purchase pursuant to this authorization, which expires December 31, 2004.

Cash Dividends

        In July 2004, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of 33 cents per share, payable on August 25, 2004, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 11, 2004. Quarterly cash dividends of 30 cents per share were also declared and paid in the first and second quarters of 2004 and in the third and fourth quarters of 2003. Subsequent to the end of third quarter, our Board of Directors approved a regular quarterly cash dividend of 33 cents per share, payable on November 24, 2004, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on November 10, 2004.

Guarantees of Third-Party Debt and Other Obligations and Commitments

        The table below summarizes total material additions to or changes in our contractual obligations and other commitments, which were disclosed in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations presented in our 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 
  Increase/(Decrease)
  Total
(In thousands)

   
   
Contractual Obligations            
  Debt   $ 1,284.2   $ 4,957.7
  Operating lease obligations     (76.4 )   552.0
  Purchase order obligations     (33.5 )   11.5
  Guaranteed payments to State of Louisiana     15.1     149.9
  Community reinvestment     10.8     105.1
  Construction commitments     75.0     156.5
  Other contractual obligations     30.6     73.7
Other Commitments            
  Guarantees of loans     139.9     292.8
  Minimum payments to tribes     69.9     96.6
  Letters of credit     (6.8 )   59.7

        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 these contracts for the four managed Indian-owned facilities now open, which extend for periods of up to 86 months from September 30, 2004, is $1.2 million. Each of these casinos currently generates sufficient cash flows to cover all of its obligations, including its debt service.

28



        We may guarantee all or part of the debt incurred by Indian tribes, with which we have entered into management contracts, 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 September 30, 2004, was $223.7 million.

        Some of our guarantees of the debt for casinos on Indian lands were modified during 2003, resulting in the requirement under Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") 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 obligations 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 unamortized balance of the liability for the guarantees and of the related assets at September 30, 2004, was $5.9 million.

EFFECTS OF CURRENT ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS

Competitive Pressures

        Many casino operators are reinvesting in existing markets in an effort to attract new customers, thereby increasing competition in those markets. As companies have completed expansion projects, supply has sometimes grown at a faster pace than demand in certain markets and competition has increased significantly. Furthermore, several operators, including Harrah's Entertainment, have announced plans for additional developments or expansions in some markets.

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

        Although, historically, 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 development and expansion 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 unique 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 our 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 that could adversely impact our operations. The likelihood or outcome of similar legislation and referendums in the future is difficult to predict.

29



        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, that would affect the industry. It is not possible to determine with certainty 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 effect on our financial results.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

        We prepare our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Certain of our accounting policies, including, but not limited to, the estimated lives assigned to our assets, the determination of bad debt, asset impairment, fair value of guarantees and self-insurance reserves, the purchase price allocations made in connection with our acquisitions 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. For a discussion of our significant accounting policies and estimates, please refer to Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements presented in our 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There were no newly identified significant accounting estimates in the first nine months of 2004, nor were there any material changes to the critical accounting policies and estimates discussed in our 2003 Annual Report.

RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

        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. 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 is 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 March 2004, the FASB issued Exposure Draft, "Share-Based Payment—an amendment of FASB Statements No. 123 and 95." This proposed standard, which is expected to be effective for periods beginning after June 15, 2005, for public companies with calendar year-ends, would require that we recognize an expense for our equity-based compensation programs, including stock options. We are currently evaluating the provisions of this proposed standard to determine its impact on our future financial statements.

PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT

        This quarterly report on Form 10-Q contains "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements contain words such as "may," "will," "project," "might," "expect," "believe,"

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"anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "estimate," "continue" or "pursue," or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. In particular, they include statements relating to, among other things, future actions, new projects, strategies, future performance, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings and future financial results. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events.

        We caution the reader that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified and, consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following factors as well as other factors described from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission:

        Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of the date made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk

        Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices. Our primary exposure to market risk is interest rate risk associated with our debt. 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 approximately $5.0 billion total debt at September 30, 2004, $2.0 billion, including $500 million of fixed-rate debt for which we have entered into interest rate swap agreements, is subject to variable interest rates. For our

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fixed-rate debt subject to interest rate swap agreements, the average interest rate received was 7.6%, compared to 6.9% average interest rate paid on the swaps at September 30, 2004. The average interest rate on our variable-rate debt, excluding the impact of our swap agreements, was 2.6% at September 30, 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 $20.4 million.

        We use interest rate swaps to manage the mix of our debt between fixed and variable rate instruments. We do not purchase or hold any derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

        Although we own a business in a foreign country, which began operating in first quarter 2004, that operation is not material to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Additionally, foreign currency translation gains and losses were not material to our results of operations for the first nine months of 2004. Accordingly, the Company is 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.

        From time to time, we hold investments in various available-for-sale equity securities; however, our exposure to price risk arising from the ownership of these investments is not material to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.


Item 4. 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 a date within 90 days of the filing date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on such evaluation, they have concluded that as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective and designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable SEC rules and forms.

        There were no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of evaluation by our principal executive officer and principal financial officer.

        We are currently evaluating the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting in order to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This effort includes the documentation, testing and review of our internal controls under the direction of senior management. To date, no material weaknesses in our internal controls have been identified. Nevertheless, we have implemented or are in the process of implementing certain enhancements with respect to our internal control over financial reporting. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our control over financial reporting.

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

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

        There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the quarter ended September 30, 2004.


Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K


EX—2.1   Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 27, 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 to the exhibit filed with Harrah's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 27, 2004.)
*EX—10.1   Fourth Amendment to the 2001 Restatement of the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Supplemental Savings Plan, effective August 19, 2004.
*EX—31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 8, 2004.
*EX—31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 8, 2004.
*EX—32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 8, 2004.
*EX—32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 8, 2004.

*
Filed herewith.

(b)
The following reports on Form 8-K were filed by the Company during third quarter 2004 and thereafter through October 20, 2004.

(i)
Form 8-K filed July 15, 2004 reporting the Company's entering of an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

(ii)
Form 8-K filed July 16, 2004 reporting the completion of the acquisition of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp.

(iii)
Form 8-K filed July 16, 2004 reporting the declaration of a cash dividend.

(iv)
Form 8-K filed July 21, 2004 furnishing the press release reporting second quarter 2004 results.

(v)
Form 8-K filed August 30, 2004 regarding the request for additional information from the Federal Trade Commission in connection with the merger with Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

(vi)
Form 8-K/A filed September 2, 2004 amending and supplementing the Form 8-K filed July 16, 2004 to include historical financial statements of Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp.

(vii)
Form 8-K filed September 27, 2004 reporting the entering into a definitive agreement whereby an affiliate of Colony Capital, LLC will acquire the Company's Harrah's East Chicago and Harrah's Tunica properties and two properties owned by Caesars Entertainment, Inc.

(viii)
Form 8-K filed October 20, 2004 furnishing the press release reporting third quarter 2004 results.

(ix)
Form 8-K filed October 20, 2004 reporting the declaration of a cash dividend.

(x)
Form 8-K filed October 20, 2004 reporting the retirement of Philip G. Satre as Chairman of the Board and the appointment of Gary W. Loveman as Chairman of the Board effective January 1, 2005.

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SIGNATURE

        Pursuant to the requirements 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.

 

 

 

 

 
November 8, 2004   By:   /s/  ANTHONY D. MCDUFFIE      
Anthony D. McDuffie
Vice President, Controller and
Chief Accounting Officer

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
  Description
  Sequential
Page No.

EX—2.1   Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 27, 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 to the exhibit filed with Harrah's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 27, 2004.)    
EX—10.1   Fourth Amendment to the 2001 Restatement of the Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. Executive Supplemental Savings Plan, effective August 19, 2004.    
EX—31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 8, 2004.    
EX—31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 8, 2004.    
EX—32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 8, 2004.    
EX—32.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 8, 2004.    

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QuickLinks

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION