The realignment creates three multi-property Harrah's brand divisions. The Rio and Showboat brand divisions and the Harrah's New Orleans division will remain the same. The division presidents will continue to report to Chief Operating Officer Gary Loveman.

"This realignment allows the division presidents to focus more regionally to build the Harrah's brand name and take advantage of our customer loyalty building opportunities," explained Harrah's Entertainment Chairman and C.E.O. Phil Satre.

The Western division includes all Harrah's brand Nevada operations and the Harrah's Ak-Chin casino near Phoenix. Carlos Tolosa, 49, has been appointed Western division president. Tolosa has been with the company since 1971 and was most recently the president of the Indian Gaming division with additional responsibility for Tunica and northern Nevada.

Anthony Sanfilippo, 40, now assumes responsibility for the new Harrah's brand Central division which includes the riverboats in Missouri, Mississippi and Shreveport, Louisiana, as well as the Harrah's Prairie Band-Topeka casino. A Harrah's employee since 1983, Sanfilippo became a division president after successfully opening the Harrah's Shreveport casino in 1994.

Division President Tim Wilmott, 40, adds Harrah's Cherokee, North Carolina, to his Atlantic City and Chicagoland responsibilities which now will be considered the Harrah's brand Eastern division. Wilmott is a 12-year Harrah's employee.

In addition to the division realignments, Tom Jenkin has been named senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's Las Vegas. Jenkin, 44, replaces Hector Mon, 45, who is leaving the company as division president and general manager of Harrah's Las Vegas. Jenkin started with Harrah's Las Vegas in 1975 as a fry cook and worked his way up to leadership positions in Food Beverage, Employee Relations, Operations and, most recently, as the senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's Laughlin. During his career, Jenkin has earned most of the honors available to Harrah's employees including a Chairman's Award and a Corporate Excellence Award.

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the most recognized and respected name in the casino entertainment industry operating 18 casinos nationwide under the Harrah's, Showboat and Rio brand names, and Star City casino in Sydney, Australia. Founded more than 60 years ago, Harrah's is focused on building loyalty and brand value with its targeted customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.