Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 20, 2001
    Registration No. 333-69263


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


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


DELAWARE   7993   62-1411755
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

ONE HARRAH'S COURT
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89119
(702) 407-6000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


HARRAH'S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in governing instruments)

DELAWARE   7993   75-1941623
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

ONE HARRAH'S COURT
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89119
(702) 407-6000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


Copy to:

Stephen H. Brammell
General Counsel
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.
One Harrah's Court
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
(702) 407-6000
  Brad L. Kerby
Corporate Counsel
Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.
One Harrah's Court
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
(702) 407-6000
  Charles K. Ruck, Esq.
Latham & Watkins
650 Town Center Drive, Suite 2000
Costa Mesa, California 92626-1925
(714) 540-1235

   This Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3 shall become effective in accordance with Section 8(c), of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(c), may determine.





DEREGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

   A Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-69263), was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. and Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. (together, "the Registrant") on December 18, 1998. The Registration Statement related to the registration of $750,000,000 in aggregate initial offering price of debt securities of Harrah's Operating Company, Inc. ("HOC") and guarantees by Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. of the payment of all obligations of HOC under these debt securities (together, the "Securities"), to be issued and sold from time to time. $250,000,000 in aggregate initial offering price of the Securities remain unsold, and accordingly, the Registrant hereby deregisters the unsold Securities by means of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement.



HARRAH'S OPERATING SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Las Vegas, State of Nevada on December 19, 2001.

    HARRAH'S OPERATING COMPANY, INC.

Dated: December 19, 2001

 

By

/s/ 
PHILIP G. SATRE   
Philip G. Satre
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ PHILIP G. SATRE   
Philip G. Satre
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer   December 19, 2001

/s/ 
CHARLES L. ATWOOD   
Charles L. Atwood

 

Director and Chief Financial Officer

 

December 19, 2001

*

Gary W. Loveman

 

Director

 

December 19, 2001

/s/ 
ANTHONY D. MCDUFFIE   
Anthony D. McDuffie

 

Controller and Principal Accounting Officer

 

December 19, 2001

*By:

 

/s/ 
PHILIP G. SATRE   

 

 

 

 
   
Philip G. Satre
Attorney-in-Fact
       


HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Las Vegas, State of Nevada on December 19, 2001.

    HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

Dated: December 19, 2001

 

By

 

/s/ 
PHILIP G. SATRE   
Philip G. Satre
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
*
James B. Farley
  Director   December 19, 2001

*

Joe M. Henson

 

Director

 

December 19, 2001

*

Ralph Horn

 

Director

 

December 19, 2001

/s/ 
GARY W. LOVEMAN   
Gary W. Loveman

 

Director, President and Chief Operating Officer

 

December 19, 2001

/s/ 
R. BRAD MARTIN   
R. Brad Martin

 

Director

 

December 19, 2001

/s/ 
GARY G. MICHAEL   
Gary G. Michael

 

Director

 

December 19, 2001

/s/ 
ROBERT G. MILLER   
Robert G. Miller

 

Director

 

December 19, 2001


*

Walter J. Salmon

 

Director

 

December 19, 2001

/s/ 
PHILIP G. SATRE   
Philip G. Satre

 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

December 19, 2001

*

Boake A. Sells

 

Director

 

December 19, 2001

*

Eddie N. Williams

 

Director

 

December 19, 2001

/s/ 
ANTHONY D. MCDUFFIE   
Anthony D. McDuffie

 

Controller and Principal Accounting Officer

 

December 19, 2001

*By:

 

/s/ 
PHILIP G. SATRE   

 

 

 

 
   
Philip G. Satre
Attorney-in-Fact
       



QuickLinks

DEREGISTRATION OF SECURITIES
HARRAH'S OPERATING SIGNATURES
HARRAH'S ENTERTAINMENT SIGNATURES