Harrah's Lake Tahoe

Introduction

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe is located in Stateline, NV.  It is so close to California that its west property line is the state line.  Harrah’s Lake Tahoe is owned by Caesars Entertainment.  Harvey’s Lake Tahoe, located across the street, is also owned by Caesars Entertainment.  There is a tunnel underneath US 50 that connects the two properties.  This prevents having to walk across the busy road. 

The Total Rewards card is used at the property for gaming evaluation and comps.  Harrah’s spreads one of the largest casinos in northern Nevada.  It has 65,000 square feet of gaming space.  There are 525 hotel rooms. Harrah’s Lake Tahoe opened in 1955. 

Casino at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe

The games at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe are average for the market.  Players will find full pay Jacks or Better in the high limit area in the $1 denomination and higher, as well as $.25 50-play.  Full pay Bonus Poker is plentiful in the casino.  Otherwise, there is little in the way of good video poker.  There are dozens of multi play video poker machines that include 3, 5, 10, 50, and 100 hands.  Ultimate X, Dream Card and other exotic video poker titles are also spread.

Blackjack at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe is hit and miss.  There are 24 single deck blackjack tables that pay 6-5 on a natural.  Some only allow double down on 10 and 11.  A few of these tables are in a party pit.  The bright side is that these games often have a $5 minimum bet. 

There are 10 8-deck blackjack games on the main floor that pay 3-2 and allow double down on any two cards, double down after splitting and surrender.  These games start at $5. There are another five in high limit with the same rules that only use six decks.  All blackjack games at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe hit soft 17.

Players will find Pai Gow Poker with limits of $10 to $2,000.  Pai Gow Tiles is spread in high limit upon request.  It has $50 to $2,000 limits.  There is also $50 baccarat in high limit, as well as a special pit on the main floor that is only open during peak times.  Mini baccarat is spread as low as $10 on the main floor during off peak hours. 

There are plenty of carnival games with $5 minimum bets.  These include Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Let it Ride, Three Card Poker and Four Card Poker. There are five double zero roulette tables with a minimum bet of $10. 

There are five $5 craps tables.  These offer 3-4-5 times odds.  The Field pays double on 12. 

Total Rewards is used at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.  This is the same players club that all Caesars Entertainment properties use.  It returns .1% in comps and .05% in cash back to video poker players.  The comp rate doubles for slots. 

Total Rewards is among the most generous casino rewards programs in terms of free hotel stays.  Players not only get invites to frequented properties, Caesars will also give free rooms at regional resorts.  Make sure to check Totalrewards.com for available offers if action has been given recently.

Hotel at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe

There are 525 hotel rooms at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.  Each room was built with two bathrooms, a unique feature for any hotel, much less a standard one.  Rooms start at $159 during the week and $269 on weekends.  These rates can skyrocket during tourist season, especially on weekends.  There are four floors of suites that have a premium rate.  There is a $20 per night plus tax resort fee.

Restaurants at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe

Harrah’s offers the largest selection of dining options in South Lake Tahoe.  It offers a buffet that is open for dinner seven days a week.  Each night has a different theme.  There is brunch of Saturday and Sunday at the buffet. 

Friday’s Station Steak and Seafood is the high end dining option at Harrah’s.  It offers a 1,000-bottle wine cellar and is open for dinner seven nights a week.  Like the buffet, it is located on the 18^th floor of the hotel tower.

Sushi Kai is a Japanese restaurant.  There is also an Asian fast food option in the food court.  The food court also hosts a generic pizza place and Fatburger, which is the 24-hour option on the property.  The American River Café offers breakfast and lunch, except on weekends when it also serves dinner.

Entertainment

Lake Tahoe provides more outdoor activities than most casino towns.  In addition to these activities, guests will find multiple nightclubs and lounges.  Harvey’s, sister property to Harrah’s, has a comedy club that is open five nights a week.

Parking

All public parking at Harrah’s is on a surface lot behind the casino with a few spaces along the entrance.  There is a parking deck that is only used for valet.  All parking is free of charge. 

My Conclusion

Harrah’s is the best option at South Lake Tahoe.  It has the most dining options and decent, low limit gambling for players that sift through the terrible games before sitting down at a table.  Its rooms are very nice and the two bathrooms are a plus for those sharing a room.  The comps are easily the most generous in Lake Tahoe.