Harrah's Names Gary Thompson Director of World Series of Poker Tournament Operations and Communications

Harrah's Names Gary Thompson Director of World Series of Poker Tournament Operations and Communications

Company Veteran to Expand Popularity of World's Richest Sporting Event

LAS VEGAS, March 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET) today announced that Gary Thompson has been named Director of World Series of Poker Tournament Operations and Communications, effective immediately.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021220/LAF055LOGO )

Thompson previously served as Director of External Communications, a position he had held since 2000.

Harrah's purchased the World Series of Poker, the legendary high-stakes tournament that annually attracts thousands of poker enthusiasts from around the globe to Las Vegas, in January 2004. In its first year under Harrah's ownership, the World Series of Poker set both participation and prize money records.

Thompson, a student of poker who played in preliminary World Series of Poker rounds prior to Harrah's acquisition of the tournament, will oversee new product development, tournament expansion and enhancement of the World Series of Poker's popularity and profitability.

"Gary's experience in, and knowledge about, the poker world will be valuable assets as we continue to build on the phenomenal popularity of the World Series of Poker brand," said Ginny Shanks, Harrah's senior vice president of acquisition marketing. "Coupled with his communications background, Gary's skill set is ideal for this position."

Thompson will work with Shanks, Harrah's Western Division Vice President of Specialty Gaming Howard Greenbaum and Director of World Series Circuit Events Ken Lambert to drive participation in World Series of Poker events and uncover new business opportunities for the brand.

Sports network ESPN, the exclusive U.S. broadcast partner of the World Series of Poker, has dubbed the tournament the world's richest sporting event.

Various subsidiaries of Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. own or manage 27 casinos in the United States, primarily under the Harrah's and Horseshoe brand names. Founded 67 years ago, Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its valued customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.

Additional information about Harrah's Entertainment is available at http://www.harrahs.com/.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021220/LAF055LOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.

CONTACT: Dave Curley, +1-410-986-1305 or Brent Burkhardt, +1-410-986-1303, both of TBC Public Relations, for Harrah's Entertainment

Web site: http://www.harrahs.com/

------- Profile: Ent