Harrah's Cherokee
Encyclopedia
Harrah's Cherokee Casino is a casino
located on the Qualla Boundary
in Cherokee, North Carolina
. The casino is owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corporation. This is currently the only casino in the state of North Carolina.
, Mississippi
, and elsewhere in the U.S. The compact with North Carolina requires games to have an element of skill
.
s, this means that after an initial spin of the reels, the player is allowed to lock selected reels in place and spin again, holding reels with valuable symbols in hopes of matching them up with winning symbols on the second spin. (This differs from "regular" slot machines, in which the reels usually spin only once after credits are played, although video poker
everywhere allows players to hold cards before the second spin.)
Traditional table games are not offered; however, the casino does have 40 tables where blackjack
and baccarat
are played using cards dealt by computerized video monitors built into the table surface. Video poker
, which already includes a strong element of skill in its standard form, is the only game offered that does not differ from other casinos.
The casino now has converted many of their slot machines to "Cherokee Raffle Reels". This requires the player to utilize their Total Rewards slot card into the machine reader before they begin play. This raffle entry is considered to be the second chance to win required by law, and has allowed the casino to phase out many of the "lock-and-roll" style machines for traditional video and reel slot machines.
They also offer 10 Pokertek
PokerPro tables where they spread $1/$2 NLHE, $2/$5 NLHE, $3/$6 FLHE, and occasionally $1/$2 PLO8 in the non-smoking section of the casino.
The Eastern Band and the State of North Carolina government reached an agreement on November 25, 2011, to allow live cards back into Harrah's Cherokee.
. Alcohol is served from 7 A.M. until 2 A.M. Monday through Saturday and from noon until 2 A.M. on Sunday. The first glass of alcohol was served on December 29, 2009 at 5 P.M.
in the State of North Carolina
.
, 107 suites, a 15000 sq ft (1,393.5 m²) conference center, a 3000 seat events center, a pool, the Essence Lounge, an arcade, a workout room, a lobby
cafe, and a food court
with four restaurants, and Paula Deen
's Kitchen, and Chef's Stage Buffet. Coming in 2012, Harrah's will unveil two new dining options, Ruth's Chris Steak House
and BRIO Tusan Grille
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
located on the Qualla Boundary
Qualla Boundary
The Qualla Boundary is the territory where the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians reside in western North Carolina.-Location:...
in Cherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee, North Carolina
Cherokee is a town in Swain County, North Carolina, USA, within the Qualla Boundary land trust. It is located in the Oconaluftee River Valley, near the intersection of U.S. Route 19 and U.S...
. The casino is owned by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians , is a federally recognized Native American tribe in the United States of America, who are descended from Cherokee who remained in the Eastern United States while others moved, or were forced to relocate, to the west in the 19th century. The history of the...
and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corporation. This is currently the only casino in the state of North Carolina.
Regulatory environment
Since the tribe's compact with North Carolina restricts the types of gaming permitted, most of the games offered have significant differences with those found in casinos in NevadaNevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, and elsewhere in the U.S. The compact with North Carolina requires games to have an element of skill
Game of skill
A game of skill is a game where the outcome is determined mainly by mental and/or physical skill, rather than by pure chance.One benefit of games of skill is that they are a means of exploring one's own capabilities. Games encourage the player to look at, understand, and experience things...
.
Two spins and digital tables
For most of the video slot machineSlot machine
A slot machine , informally fruit machine , the slots , poker machine or "pokies" or simply slot is a casino gambling machine with three or more reels which spin when a button is pushed...
s, this means that after an initial spin of the reels, the player is allowed to lock selected reels in place and spin again, holding reels with valuable symbols in hopes of matching them up with winning symbols on the second spin. (This differs from "regular" slot machines, in which the reels usually spin only once after credits are played, although video poker
Video poker
Video poker is a casino game based on five-card draw poker. It is played on a computerized console similar in size to a slot machine.-History:...
everywhere allows players to hold cards before the second spin.)
Traditional table games are not offered; however, the casino does have 40 tables where blackjack
Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one or Vingt-et-un , is the most widely played casino banking game in the world...
and baccarat
Baccarat
Baccarat is a card game, played at casinos and by gamblers. It is believed to have been introduced into France from Italy during the reign of King Charles VIII , and it is similar to Faro and Basset...
are played using cards dealt by computerized video monitors built into the table surface. Video poker
Video poker
Video poker is a casino game based on five-card draw poker. It is played on a computerized console similar in size to a slot machine.-History:...
, which already includes a strong element of skill in its standard form, is the only game offered that does not differ from other casinos.
The casino now has converted many of their slot machines to "Cherokee Raffle Reels". This requires the player to utilize their Total Rewards slot card into the machine reader before they begin play. This raffle entry is considered to be the second chance to win required by law, and has allowed the casino to phase out many of the "lock-and-roll" style machines for traditional video and reel slot machines.
They also offer 10 Pokertek
Pokertek
PokerTek , headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina , develops and markets the PokerPro electronic poker table and the Heads-Up Challenge video game, as well as related software applications....
PokerPro tables where they spread $1/$2 NLHE, $2/$5 NLHE, $3/$6 FLHE, and occasionally $1/$2 PLO8 in the non-smoking section of the casino.
The Eastern Band and the State of North Carolina government reached an agreement on November 25, 2011, to allow live cards back into Harrah's Cherokee.
Alcohol
On June 5, 2009, alcohol sales at the casino were approved by members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee IndiansEastern Band of Cherokee Indians
The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians , is a federally recognized Native American tribe in the United States of America, who are descended from Cherokee who remained in the Eastern United States while others moved, or were forced to relocate, to the west in the 19th century. The history of the...
. Alcohol is served from 7 A.M. until 2 A.M. Monday through Saturday and from noon until 2 A.M. on Sunday. The first glass of alcohol was served on December 29, 2009 at 5 P.M.
Hotel
Harrah's Cherokee has three hotel towers (the newly opened Creek Tower, Soco Tower, and the Mountain Tower) with a total of 1,108 rooms, making Harrah's Cherokee the largest hotelHotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
in the State of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
Amenities
The Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel complex includes a 1,108 room hotelHotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
, 107 suites, a 15000 sq ft (1,393.5 m²) conference center, a 3000 seat events center, a pool, the Essence Lounge, an arcade, a workout room, a lobby
Lobby
Lobby may refer to:* Lobby , an entranceway or foyer in a building* Lobbying, the action or the group used to influence a viewpoint to politicians* Lobby , a thick stew made in North Staffordshire, not unlike Lancashire Hotpot...
cafe, and a food court
Food court
A food court is generally an indoor plaza or common area within a facility that is contiguous with the counters of multiple food vendors and provides a common area for self-serve dining. Food courts may be found in shopping malls and airports, and in various regions may be a standalone development...
with four restaurants, and Paula Deen
Paula Deen
Paula Deen American cook, cooking show host, restaurateur, author, actress and Emmy Award-winning television personality.Deen resides in Savannah, Georgia, where she owns and operates...
's Kitchen, and Chef's Stage Buffet. Coming in 2012, Harrah's will unveil two new dining options, Ruth's Chris Steak House
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Ruth's Chris Steak House is a chain of more than 121 steakhouses across the United States and in several international locations. The restaurant is regarded as an upscale fine dining establishment, marking a gradual elevation in its status since its founding in the 1960s...
and BRIO Tusan Grille