UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                              ---------------------


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

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



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 17, 2001 (October 17,
                                                  2001)


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


      DELAWARE                        1-10410                 62-1411755
(State or other jurisdiction       (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer
      of incorporation)             File Number)          Identification No.)


         ONE HARRAH'S COURT
         LAS VEGAS, NEVADA                                       89119
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                       (Zip Code)



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


                  ---------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

      On October 17, 2001, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. issued a press release,
a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99(1) and incorporated herein by
reference.


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99(1) Text of press release, dated October 17, 2001, of the
                        Registrant.



                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                            HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.


Date:    October 17, 2001                   By: /s/ Brad L. Kerby
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Name:  Brad L. Kerby
                                                Title: Vice President, Corporate
                                                       Counsel, and Secretary