Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in North Carolina

777 Casino Dr, Cherokee, NC | 828-497-7777 | Harrah’s Cherokee

Harrah’s Cherokee is located in Cherokee, North Carolina. It is near the base of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Harrah’s Cherokee opened on November 13, 1997. The original casino hosted several hundred video poker games. It did not have slots or table games. Over the years, Harrah’s Cherokee grew into a massive casino resort that rivals ones found in major gaming markets.

There are over 1,800 hotel rooms across three towers at Harrah’s Cherokee, including more than 100 suites. Other amenities include restaurants, an entertainment center, bowling, a showroom, a pool, and a spa.

The casino hosts over 3,600 slot and video poker machines, 150 table games, a poker room, and a huge Caesars Sportsbook. There is a high-limit slot and table game room. Some of the best video poker games in the East Coast region are found there.

Players must be at least 21 years old. Minors are not permitted on the casino floor but may use visit dining and non-gaming entertainment amenities. Smoking was not allowed anywhere indoors at Harrah’s Cherokee from June 2020 through late 2023. However, that changed in December 2023.

Alcoholic drinks must be purchased at Harrah’s Cherokee. The only comp drinks are nonalcoholic. Diamond and Seven Stars players receive half-off alcohol. Caesars Rewards points may be used to buy drinks. 

Casinos in North Carolina

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Harrah’s Cherokee casino games

Harrah’s Cherokee is one of the largest casinos in the country. There are thousands of slot and video poker machines and a variety of live and electronic table games available. There are some $5 stadium and video tables. The options include 6/5 blackjack, baccarat, roulette, and big wheel. 

There is video Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. The minimum bet for these games is $1. Caesars Rewards points are earned at a slower rate on these machines.

The list below shows the live table games we found during a recent visit. Limits may increase during busier hours.

• Baccarat: $100
• 3:2 blackjack, hits soft 17: $25
• 3:2 blackjack, stands on soft 17: $100
• 6:5 blackjack: $15
• Craps: $25
• Crapless craps: $25
• Craps – Roll to Win: $10
• Crazy 4 Poker: $15
• Criss Cross Poker: $15
• High Card Flush: $15
• Mississippi Stud: $15
• Roulette – single zero: $100
• Roulette – double zero: $15
• Spanish 21: $15
• Three Card Poker: $15
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em: $15

Harrah’s Cherokee blackjack rules

There are four types of blackjack games dealt at Harrah’s Cherokee. The 6/5 tables start at $15. These may go up to $25 during peak hours. There are $25 and $50 3/2 blackjack tables. These tables hit soft 17.

The high limit salon offers 3/2 blackjack that stands on soft 17 for $100. Double down before and after splitting is permitted. Surrender and re-split aces are not. Six decks are used at all games. A double-deck blackjack game may be available upon request. However, it often requires a $300 minimum bet.

The only blackjack variant at Harrah’s Cherokee is Spanish 21. It hits soft 17. Spanish 21 has unusual rules. Blackjack pays 3/2. That is where the normal rules end. Spanish 21 uses six 48-card decks. The tens are missing. This decreases the percentage of time the dealer busts. To offset this, the player automatically wins on 21, even on a dealt blackjack. There are bonus payouts for special 21 hands. The player wins on six cards that don’t bust. Double down is permitted on two, three, and four cards. Surrender is offered on the first two cards and after doubling down. Split aces may be hit or re-split. 

Harrah’s Cherokee craps odds and rules

There are three types of craps games at Harrah’s Cherokee. Traditional craps starts at $15 or $25 and has 10 times odds. 

There is Roll to Win Craps for $5 or $10. It has five times odds. Roll to Win Craps is a hybrid game. Real dice are used. There is one dealer. Bets are made on screens like an electronic table game. Players buy into the game with cash or tickets at their station. 

Crapless craps is the other dice game at Harrah’s Cherokee. This is different from traditional craps in that there are no don’t bets. The pass line wins on a 7. All other numbers become a point. Read more in our craps versus crapless craps blog post. Crapless craps offers 10 times odds.

Harrah’s Cherokee video poker

Harrah’s Cherokee offers some of the best video poker in the country at higher limits. The best high-limit game is 35/8/5 Bonus Poker (99.66%) at the $50 denomination. I found that game thanks to VPFree2. 

At the $5 denomination, you will find Not-so-ugly Deuces Wild (99.73%), 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.64%), 9/5 White Hot Aces (99.57%), 9/6 Double Double Aces and Faces (99.46%), 9/6 Double Double Bonus Poker Plus (99.44%), 9/7 Double Bonus (99.11%), and 9/6 Double Double Bonus (98.98%). There are a few other unusual video poker games above 99% at the $5 and $10 denominations. 

The other video poker games are under 99%. Many are as low as 95%. Some are even worse. This includes the Game Kings on the casino floor with Ultimate X, Spin Poker, and Super Times Pay. The lowest denomination is quarter.

There are banks of 8/5 Double Double Bonus Poker at the $1 denomination. It has five separate progressive meters.

Pot of Gold machines are popular at Harrah’s Cherokee. Most players enjoy Shamrock 7s. This Joker Poker variant has a bonus feature when the player makes three or more 7s in a hand. Other Pot of Gold video poker games include Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Joker Wild, and Tens or Better. Each has a progressive jackpot. 

Pot of Gold denominations are quarter, half dollar, and dolar. The two lowest denominations require eight coins to qualify for the progressive. The dollar requires four coins. 

There are two types of keno on Pot of Gold devices. Both are single card. There is Toucheasy Keno and Superball Keno. Toucheasy is the keno standard game. Superball multiplies the win by four if the last ball dropped hits a number picked by the player. The game asks the player if they want to double their bet after ten balls drop. The denominations are quarter and half dollar. 

Caesars Sportsbook

There is a huge Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Cherokee. It opened during March Madness in 2021. There is a fan cave and over 100 seats.

North Carolina sports betting sites are not legal. That is changing. Governor Roy Cooper signed online sports betting into law in June 2023. It launches on March 11, 2024. Caesars Sportsbook will be among the online sportsbooks in North Carolina.

There is also a Caesars Sportsbook at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River in Murphy. These are the only two North Carolina sportsbooks with that branding. 

Standard sports bets are accepted. This includes point spreads, moneylines, totals, futures, props, parlays, and teasers. Football, baseball, basketball, hockey, tennis, golf, auto racing, boxing, mixed martial arts, soccer, and other sports are on the betting menu. This includes the NCAA, NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB. Bets on in-state teams like the North Carolina Tarheels, NC State Wolfpack, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons are available. 

Harrah’s Cherokee poker room

There are 32 tables at the Harrah’s Cherokee poker room. Like most poker rooms, the game of choice is no limit Texas hold’em. Cash games and tournaments are dealt. Each table has up to eight players seated. Food is not permitted in the poker room. Spectators are not allowed. 

Players can get on a waitlist for up to 90 minutes. This is done via the Bravo Poker app or by calling the poker room at 828-497-8284. Phone calls are not accepted during major events, like the World Series of Poker Circuit.

The Harrah’s Cherokee poker room is open from 10am to 6am Monday through Thursday. It opens at 10am on Friday morning until 6am on Monday morning. The Harrah’s Cherokee poker room is open 24 hours during major events like the WSOP Circuit.

US Casino Advantage is supported through advertisements and sponsors. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Harrah’s Cherokee poker cash games

The main cash game at Harrah’s Cherokee is 1/3 no-limit Texas hold’em. The buy-in is $100 to $300. The 2/5 games run most hours of the day. Its buy-in is $200 to $1000. A 5/10 game runs during busy hours.

Pot limit Omaha runs during busier hours. The 1/2 game has a buy-in of $100 to $500. The 5/5 game allows $500 to $2000 buy-ins. The biggest stack may be matched at all cash games.

Harrah’s Cherokee poker tournaments

There are at least eight hold’em poker tournaments every week at Harrah’s Cherokee. All are no-limit hold’em, except during special WSOP events. On Mondays, there is a $140 tournament at 7pm and an $80 one at 10pm. On Thursdays, a $250 Mystery Bounty and an $80 no-limit hold’em one are offered. On Fridays at 8pm, a $250 deep stack event is dealt.

Sundays have three tournaments. The action starts at noon with a $250 deep stack event. A $140 tournament is available at 4pm and 7pm.

There are some special weekend events. These tend to run one weekend a month and include a multi-day event. Daily tournaments do not run on weekends with special events. 

Harrah’s Cherokee poker promotions

There are several poker promotions at Harrah’s Cherokee. Players who clock in with a Caesars Rewards card receive $1 per hour in food comps. There are high hands many days. Some prizes are entries into a poker tournament. It can also be in casino chips with the prize often at $100. Some high hands award up to $500 in cash. Other promotions include splash pots and free sports bet for giving graveyard cash game action.

There are often hot seat drawings. There is also a bad beat jackpot which hits when a player loses four of a kind the hard way. Some months offer hourly returns of up to $15 per hour, based on at least 100 hours of cash game action.

Environment

The Harrah’s Cherokee poker room is just outside the sportsbook. This gives easy access to one of the amenities poker players enjoy. The poker room is comfortable, though it is a long walk from the main entrance and parking. 

Only having eight seats per table helps players relax. Food and spectators not being permitted help reduce annoyances. 

Harrah’s Cherokee rake

The rake at Harrah’s Cherokee is one of the highest in the country outside of California. The house takes 10% up to $7 per hand. There is also a $1 jackpot drop.

Caesars Rewards players club

The Caesars Rewards players club is used at Harrah’s Cherokee and its sister property an hour away in Murphy. This casino loyalty program pays points for video poker and slot play. Table game players are rated based on the size of the average bet, house edge, and speed of the game.

Harrah’s Cherokee offers free slot play to active players. This can be withdrawn directly on machines. There are also special days every month where players receive $50 in comps for earning 100 points. These are often on Sundays, though we have also seen midweek days.

Diamond and Seven Star players receive 50% off drinks. Active players may receive hotel and food offers that include other markets like Atlantic City, Biloxi, and Las Vegas.

Dining and drinks at Harrah’s Cherokee

There are 18 restaurants at Harrah’s Cherokee. This includes the food court and Gordon Ramsay’s Food Market. Caesars Rewards points may be used at all Harrah’s Cherokee dining options. 

Gordon Ramsay Food Market restaurants

• Gordon Ramsay Bake & Brew
• Gordon Ramsay Catch Cafe
• Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips
• Gordon Ramsay Sushi
• Gordon Ramsay Truffles Pub
• Street Burger
• Street Pizza

Harrah’s Cherokee food court restaurants

• Dunkin Donuts
• Earl of Sandwich

Other restaurants

• Brio Italian Grille
• Esports Zone
• Guy Fieri’s Cherokee Kitchen + Bar
• Lobby Cafe
• Noodle Bar
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• Selu Garden Cafe
• Starbucks
• Wicked Weed Brewpub

Harrah’s Cherokee hotel accommodations

There are three hotel towers at Harrah’s Cherokee. There are over 1800 rooms and 100 suites combined. Amenities include two pools, a fitness center, a business center, and a spa. There are pet-friendly rooms at Harrah’s Cherokee. All rooms are nonsmoking. 

The hotel is often sold out on weekends. Make sure to reserve your room early. There is free cancelation within 24 hours of check-in. 

Harrah’s Cherokee FAQs

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Last Updated on November 9, 2024 by John Mehaffey