LAS VEGAS-1/25/06-Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET) said today that its hotel in Lake Charles, La., will re-open as scheduled on February 1.

   The 263-room hotel was closed, along with Harrah's Lake Charles Casino, in September 2005 due to Hurricane Rita. The casino was heavily damaged by the storm, and is not re-opening at the present time. Harrah's continues to review its long-term options for future casino operations in Lake Charles.

   As previously announced in December to Louisiana gaming regulators, the renamed Lake Front Hotel will open with 150 hotel rooms; the remainder of the hotel's rooms are expected to re-open by mid-March. Harrah's will also re-open the Louisiana Cafe restaurant and 6,000 square feet of meeting space at the site.

   "After considerable repair and renovation work, we are pleased to support this community by re-opening our doors and providing Lake Charles with much-needed additional hotel capacity," said Anthony Sanfilippo, president of Harrah's Central Division.

   Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada 68 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.

   More information about Harrah's is available at its Web site - www.harrahs.com