North Carolina now has two live poker rooms. The newest opened at Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River on May 22, 2024. Located just outside Murphy, it is the closest legal poker room to Chattanooga and most of the Atlanta metro area. Previously, Harrah’s Cherokee had the only North Carolina poker room. It is a one-hour drive east of Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River.
Catawba Two Kings, the other North Carolina casino, has no poker room. It is slots-only now. Next month, live table games open there.
Games available in the poker room
The Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River poker room is home to 10 tables. It deals 1/3 and 2/5 no limit Texas hold’em. It is 1/2 and 2/5 for pot limit Omaha. The buy-in range for the 1/2 and 1/3 games is $100 to $300. It is $200 to $1000 for the games with 2/5 blinds. Higher limit games are available if there is enough interest.
The Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River poker room cash game rake is among the worst on the East Coast. It is 10% up to $7. Most poker rooms cap at $5 or $6. A $1 jackpot drop funds promotions. This includes a bad beat jackpot that pays a player $10,000 who loses at least quad kings. The winning hand receives $5000. Each player that got dealt a hand receives $1000.
More promotions will become available as the jackpot pool grows. In July, the Harrah’s Cherokee poker room plans to have $100 splash pots on weekends. The promotional hours will be 6pm to midnight on Fridays, noon to midnight on Saturdays, and noon to 8pm on Sundays.
There will be nine or ten seats per table, depending on the game and time of day. Food is not permitted in the poker room. Players may join waitlists up to 90 minutes in advance through the Bravo Poker system or by calling (828) 422-5678. Check in at the front desk upon arrival to guarantee your seat when it becomes available.
Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River tournaments are delayed
The Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River poker room will only have cash games during its first six weeks. Tournaments will start in July. There will be two weekly $80 no limit hold’em tournaments. These will start at 7pm on Monday and Thursday nights. Players get 10,000 chips. Blinds start at 100/100. Levels go up every 20 minutes. Antes begin on level two. Late registration is available until 9:30pm. Unlimited re-entries are available during the late registration period.
The poker room is one of many new amenities
The poker room is one of many new amenities related to Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River’s $275 million expansion. Other new features include 25,000 feet of expanded gaming space, a new 1700-space parking deck, and a second hotel tower with 296 rooms. The larger casino space will host the new poker room, about 300 more slot machines, eight more table games, and a center casino bar with 22 seats. The new hotel will include a rooftop restaurant, fitness center, and spa. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.