Harrah's Applies to Run Planet Hollywood Casino

LAS VEGAS-Harrah’s Entertainment has filed an application with state regulators to run the gaming at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. The news comes just days after CEO Gary Loveman sent an internal email to employees confirming the company’s interest in acquiring the 2,500-room Las Vegas Strip Resort, and a couple of months after the company purchased a chunk of the defaulted debt tied to the property, which is scheduled to open a new residential tower this month.

PHW LLC, a subsidiary of Harrah’s, applied for licensure for non-restricted gaming at Planet Hollywood, sources within the Nevada Gaming Control Board tell GlobeSt.com. The next step is for control board agents to investigate the application and write up a report. The Gaming Control Board will then review the report and make a recommendation to the ultimate authority for such matters, the Nevada Gaming Commission.

Planet Hollywood is owned and operated by Planet Hollywood International Inc., which is controlled by Robert Earl, its founder and chief executive. A joint venture of Earl, Bay Harbour Management and Starwood Hotels and Resorts created Planet Hollywood from the Aladdin Resort they acquired in June 2003. The property’s new 52-story Westgate residential tower has 1,200 suites and 28 penthouses.