Harrah’s Sportsbook Review

Harrah’s sportsbook is buried on the casino floor on another of Caesars’ second-tier properties. And this company seems to have quite a few of these budget-friendly places for Las Vegas sports betting fans.

The hotel was originally a Holiday Inn, but later became Harrah’s with its Carnival Mardi Gras theme in 1992.

Although it has not aged gracefully, the property is a popular tourist stop in a row of Caesars-owned resorts on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard.

While you will rarely read the words luxurious or breathtaking in the descriptions of this place, it still makes the cut for those looking to “do all things Vegas” for a few days, including Harrah’s sports betting.

Harrah’s Sportsbook 101

Situated on the south section of the main casino floor, Harrah’s Las Vegas sportsbook is stationed on the resort property at 3475 South Las Vegas Boulevard.

It’s a moderately dark room with smoking allowed near the large full-service bar. There are many rows of leather chairs for about 45 people with a group of semi-circle booths behind that area. 

Harrah’s sportsbook hours are 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every day of the week, with extended hours during football season. Players must be 21 years of age or older to wager anywhere in Nevada, including on Harrah’s entertainment esports or any other gaming option in Las Vegas.

Guests can watch their favorite team on more than 40 high-definition televisions, including two giant screens.

A large odds board displays all the daily Harrah’s sports lines on the main wall next to all the TVs. Harrah’s sportsbook odds are posted on the major sporting events, which some future betting on major championships listed there as well.

In order to be one of the best sportsbooks in Las Vegas like the Cosmopolitan or Lagasse’s Stadium at the Palazzo, a lot of changes need to be made here. However, the biggest perk of the room has to be the availability of drink vouchers.

Any reasonable bet size under $50 on sports or horse racing earns you a complimentary drink upon request. Given how flexible the staff is here for vouchers, a bet over $50 could probably get you multiple tickets. You won’t find that giveaway anywhere else on the Strip.

There are two options for Harrah’s online sports betting. One is to register at any of the nine Caesars properties in Las Vegas and download the Mobile Sports at Caesars Entertainment app. But this gaming platform is only available in the state of Nevada.

The best option is to join the top-ranked online site Bovada. Membership is free, and so is the welcome bonus. Plus, you never have to worry where you are in the country to make a bet on this trusted provider.

Place Your Bets at Harrah’s

There are six betting windows in the Harrah’s sports pit, but most of the time, only a few will be open. The sportsbook also has hard printout copies of future odds for all the major championships, like the Stanley Cup, World Series and NBA Finals.

Here are some of the sports available to bet on with posted Harrah’s Las Vegas sportsbook odds:

• NFL and college football
• NBA and college basketball
• NHL
• Major League Baseball
• Mixed martial arts and UFC events
• Golf, weekly PGA Tour events and major championships
• Tennis Grand Slam events
• Auto racing, especially NASCAR

Here are some of the bets available at the land-based Harrah’s sportsbook:

• Money line
• Point spread
• Over/under totals
• Future betting
• Half-time lines
• Proposition bets
• Match-ups
• Pari-mutuel wagering

Harrah’s sportsbook online on the Caesars app offers even more wagering options, especially on props and “in-play” wagering where odds and spreads change continuously as the sporting event unfolds.

This type of betting has become extremely popular on mobile devices. You can expect to find this latest form of wagering online at most other Las Vegas casinos — like the Golden Nugget, Red Rock and Mandalay Bay sportsbooks.

Ideal Location at Harrah’s

Harrah’s Las Vegas Casino & Hotel is located near the middle of the Strip resorts on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard, but at the north end of a run of seven Caesars properties. The independently-owned Venetian is north of Harrah’s with Caesars Palace and MGM’s Mirage across the street.

• Visitors arriving at McCarran International Airport will head north on Swenson and west on Tropicana Avenue to Koval Lane. Head north on Koval to Kreuger Lane, and turn left into the Harrah’s property.
• Those traveling on Interstate 15 will exit at Flamingo Road to access Harrah’s.
• A pay-for-service monorail travels from MGM Grand to the Las Vegas Convention Center. Harrah’s and the Linq share one of its seven stops.
• All of the resorts across the Strip can be accessed in front of Harrah’s by two of the few crosswalks on the Strip.

Harrah’s Las Vegas Parking

In what used to be a free service, Harrah’s began charging patrons to park at the resort in March 2017. That was followed by another hike in rates the next year.

• Enter the self-parking garage either off the Strip or from the back of the property.
• The self-parking garage is seven floors. Enter the casino from the garage’s second level.
• There’s no charge for the first hour on your first day here. After that, it’s $9 from one to two hours, $12 from two to four fours, $15 over four to 24 hours, and $15 per day after that.
• Valet parking is even higher. It’s $15 for under two hours, $20 for two to four hours, and $24 for four to 24 hours. After that, it’s $24 per day.
• Caesars Rewards members may qualify for discount or complimentary parking.
• Harrah’s also has a lot behind the property for RV parking. However, the are no utility hook-ups available.

Plenty of Public Transportation

With more than 100,000 visitors arriving in America’s Playground every day, public transportation is in huge demand at the airport, around the Strip and the entire Las Vegas valley.

• The best option — and certainly one of the cheapest — is ride share programs Lyft and Uber. Download the free apps and control all your travel plans on your mobile device.
• A one-way trip on a ride share program is typically two-thirds the cost of a taxi fare.
• Taxis are everywhere in Las Vegas, including the international airport. A lengthy queue is always lined up outside the main terminal for excited, new arrivals.
• Multiple limousine providers are available with the going rate averaging $85-90 an hour.
• The Las Vegas public transit bus service runs 24 hours a day on the Strip, with routes to and from the airport. A two-hour bus pass on the Strip is $6, 24-hour pass is $8 and a three-day pass is $20.
• The pass is good for the Deuce and Express bus lines. The Deuce is the slower of the two services, but it does make a stop at Harrah’s. There are only four northbound stops on the Strip for the Express, but none of them are close to Harrah’s.
• Public transportation methods will take visitors all over the Las Vegas area, including the two outlet malls and Downtown Vegas on Fremont Street.
• A shuttle service to the Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino was discontinued in late 2017.

Food & Drinks at Harrah’s

With this affordable resort comes another great idea. The Fulton Street Food Hall offers guests the convenience of nine different food stations all in a buffet setting. Just pick out what you want to eat — from simple sandwiches to lasagna and sushi — then pay for it at a central location, and enjoy the 12,000-square-foot space with enough room for 250 guests.

This chef-driven marketplace is open 24 hours a day and reservations are not required. There’s nothing like it on the Strip.

Here is a sampling of some of the other restaurants at Harrah’s:

• Panoramic outdoor views provide the setting for Ruth’s Chris Steak House, which was founded in New Orleans 50 years ago.
• Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill combines down-home Southern food favorites and live country music.
• Shrimp, lobster, crab, clam chowder and calamari are all served up fresh at the Oyster Bar Las Vegas.
• How about some drinks to get the party started at Harrah’s:
• Looking for some outrageous, non-stop fun on the Strip? Welcome to Harrah’s Las Vegas Piano Bar and its live, interactive shows.
• Enjoy a selection of 16 draft beers while you relax or enjoy the game at the Signature Beer Bar, located near the Strip entrances.

Beverages are certainly not free at these venues. If a complimentary drink is what you’re after, you will have to gamble on the casino floor or in the sportsbook.

Harrah’s Rewards

Harrah’s is part of the stable of nine Caesars properties in Las Vegas that all use the same rewards card. Caesars Rewards is free to join for new members, who earn points for every dollar spent on gambling, hotel stays, food and drink, and shopping.

New cardholders start at the Gold level and work their way up through Platinum and Diamond to the top level Seven Stars. The higher the level, the more privileges on meals, room rates and complimentary gifts.

You can earn and redeem reward credits at nearly 40 Caesars resorts and casinos around the world.

The top level Caesars cardholders also earn one of the best perks of them all. They don’t have to pay the unpopular resort fees which are tacked on at checkout for most tourists at all Las Vegas hotels. The resort fee at Harrah’s is $40, including taxes, per night.

Harrah’s Gaming Area

Although there are more luxurious neighbors to the north in the Venetian and Wynn, Harrah’s remains a budget-friendly resort in the heart of the mayhem on the Las Vegas Strip.

The 92,000-square-foot main gaming area has more than 1,200 ringing slot machines competing with today’s music pumped in overhead. The casino has plenty of tables games, with many of them in the “party pit.”

The casino, escalators to showrooms, multiple bars and the main cashier cage are all located by the Strip entrances, making this a high-traffic area for guests and visitors. The $5 table minimum at many of the table games adds to the congestion.

Some of the table games available to play include:

• Blackjack, a few tables pay 3-2 odds on a 21, but most pay 6-5.
• Roulette, with all wheels containing the standard two sets of zeroes.
• Craps, start at $10 minimum with standard rules.

Other table games spotted on the casino floor include: Pai Gow Poker, Pai Gow Tiles, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Texas Hold’em Bonus, High Card Flush, Three Card Poker, Crazy 4 Poker, Mississippi Stud, Let it Ride, Casino War, and Big Wheel.

There is a high limit area for slots and table games. The main gaming area also features a 12-table poker room with four daily no limit Texas Hold’em tournaments.

Complimentary drink service is offered to those playing the machines or table games. Remember to tip at least a dollar if you expect to see the server again.

Hotel Includes Renovated Tower

The Harrah’s hotel has more than 2,600 hotel rooms available in two towers — the Mardi Gras and Valley. Formerly the Carnival Tower, the 35-floor Valley was renovated in 2018. However, most of the units in the Mardi Gras are outdated and smell of cigarette smoke.

• The hotel, which now offers self-service check-in kiosks, first opened in July 1973.
• Rooms start under $50 during off-peak seasons, but become less of a deal when the $40 per night resort fee is added on.
• Classic rooms, with one king or two queen beds, are 340 square feet and offer basic amenities.
• Petite suites are 600 to 700 square feet in size and cost anywhere from $250 to $320 a night depending on the day of the week.
• Executive suites are 680 square feet with a king bed and separate seating area and cost anywhere from $300 to $370 a night depending on the day of the week.
• Other amenities include Internet access, fitness center, and access to a bland pool area.