Harrah’s Online Casino Review
Harrah’s Online casino was among the initial wave of online casinos in New Jersey when internet gaming became legal in November of 2013. The property is an extension of the Harrah’s casino in Atlantic City, a famous gambling brand with locations throughout the United States. Harrah’s is a part of the Caesars group of properties, meaning that Harrah’s Online shares a rewards and tier status program with all of those casinos (both online and offline).
Harrah’s Online Games and Gaming Software
Harrah’s currently offers slots, video poker, blackjack and roulette. Table poker is handled through a separate site and app (the Caesars-owned WSOP.com, also the official site of the World Series of Poker). Sports betting is not available as of this writing, but there is a very good possibility it is in the pipes as online sports betting continues to clear legislative hurdles in the state in the wake of federal legalization.
Harrah’s collection of slots numbers over 140 at present and is powered by a combination of the 888 Games Dragonfish platform and titles from The Stars Group (formerly Amaya). Eight of these are progressive jackpot games including:
- Casino Reels
- Dino Jackpot Stampede
- Ultimate Genie
- Ultimate Universe
If you prefer video poker, Harrah’s lone offering is the Jacks or Higher game, a variant that doesn’t pay off quite as well as the more common Game King games do. Harrah’s also only offers one type of blackjack: Classic Blackjack, which has a minimum bet of $1 per hand and fairly favorable table rules as online games go.
Roulette is represented by four games: standard and high limit American roulette, French roulette and European roulette. The European and French variants do have the more favorable rule sets those games are known for, but they are also high limit only, with minimum bets of $5 per spin.
Mobile Device Support
Harrah’s Online does offer mobile apps for both iOS and Android. Though they don’t have the most robust selection of games in New Jersey, one positive is that almost the entire roster of games is available on the mobile app and the casino is mostly identical.
The iOS app requires version 8.0 or later. Harrah’s has you download the Android app through their own site, and while no version information is specified it is likely you will need at least version 4 of the OS for it to run properly.
Harrah’s Online Live Dealer Tables
Unfortunately, Harrah’s does not offer live dealer games at this time. The New Jersey online casinos have been slow in general to adopt live video streaming games; players should look to the Borgata or the Golden Nugget for the best selection of these at present.
Signup and Ongoing Bonuses
There are two regular bonuses provided to new players, and Harrah’s is also usually running rotating promotions for refill deposits.
Let’s cover the welcome bonuses that are always available first. You’ll get $10 in free play just for creating your new account. This can be used at any game on the property. Wagering requirements to withdraw your winnings do vary by game, however. It’s only 1x for all of the slots, but it’s 5x for roulette and 10x for video poker or blackjack. This also has to be done within seven days of opening your account.
Harrah’s also offers the traditional “welcome bonus” on your first deposit. You’ll get a 100% free play match up to a maximum of $300. However, it’s important to note that Harrah’s handles this a little differently than most properties. The bonus is released into your account in $10 increments as you earn certain amounts of tier credits. Initially, this may seem like a bad deal. If you read the fine print, however, it appears that qualifying tier credits don’t have to come from online play alone. For example, tier credits earned for deposits after your first appear to count toward the requirement. Members of the Total Rewards loyalty program also earn tier credits for their spending at Caesar’s properties (on things like hotel stays, drinks and dining).
The bonuses for top-up deposits (those made after your first) rotate about once or twice a week. You usually have to opt into these with a code, which you’ll find on the Harrah’s Online website. For example, one promotion that pops up fairly often is a “mystery bonus” of anywhere from $10 to $50 in free play.
Harrah’s Online Loyalty Program
Play at Harrah’s Online ties into the Total Rewards system that spans all of Caesar’s properties, both online and offline. Your play here earns both tier credits and reward credits.
You can spend the reward credits like cash at any Caesar’s property, from the Harrah’s in Atlantic City to Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Online players have the added option of converting their reward credits to free play.
The tier program also gives you some added benefits as you move up through the ranks. These include comp rooms at Caesar’s properties and complimentary access to their Diamond Lounges.
Deposit and Withdrawal Options
Harrah’s provides the usual range of options for deposits and withdrawals: Visa, MasterCard, PayPal, Neteller, and the PayNearMe service available at any 7-Eleven. You can also do a direct bank transfer or deposit and withdraw cash at the Caesar’s casino cage in Atlantic City. Do note that some of the bonus offers are not available for deposits made in cash at the cage or through PayNearMe, however.
Customer Service
Harrah’s Online offers 24-hour service by phone (1-855-218-6230). Email support is also available (NJSupport@harrahscasino.com), but it can take up to 72 hours to get a reply. There is a FAQ available on the website, but in-browser virtual chat is not available at this time.
Conclusion
To be frank, Caesar’s seems to be putting all of their attention into their flagship property (Caesar’s Online), WSOP and their partnership with 888. Harrah’s is the red-headed stepchild of the Caesar’s New Jersey portfolio; aside from adding new slots once in a while, it looks like it hasn’t been touched since it went online back in 2013. The slot selection is decent, but the selection of all other types of games is dismal. Players who are interested in staying within the Total Rewards ecosystem may be better off at Caesar’s Online, which has a much broader range of games, or WSOP for those looking specifically for table poker.