With 1,566 casinos, the United States is a top travel destination for gamers from around the world. And virtually every month, a new casino is opening its doors. In September, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel in North Carolina will be opening its doors, bringing the total number of casinos in the state to three.
North Carolina: A Popular Destination for Canadians
More than a million Canadians travel to North Carolina each year to enjoy the warmth of the beaches and visit the Appalachian Mountains, museums, outdoor activities, and theme parks. With Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel opening its doors, Canadian tourists who like to gamble may soon be extending their stays in North Carolina.
There are currently no commercial casinos in North Carolina. But it does have three tribal operations; all owned by the Eastern Bank of Cherokee Indians of North Carolina.
The third casino in the state, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, is slated to open at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 28, 2015. While the $110-million facility is owned by the Eastern Bank of the Cherokee Nation, the casino will be managed by Caesar Entertainment.
Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel
Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel is a welcome addition to the state’s only other casino, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. Located just outside Murphy, North Carolina, Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel is also just two hours away from Knoxville, Chattanooga, and downtown Atlanta.1
When the doors finally open, guests can explore the 50,000-square-foot casino and play any of the more than 1,000 slots and 70 traditional table games. Table games will include blackjack, 21 plus three, three-card poker, Mississippi stud, baccarat and mini-baccarat. The new resort also features a five-outlet food court, and a 300-room, full-service hotel.
What separates Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel from the state’s other gaming destinations? The focus on this one is gambling. More information will be available on the new Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel once it opens on September 28th.
Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel
Not to be confused with Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel is a full destination resort that is located 50 miles west of Asheville at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in the town of Cherokee and Jackson County.2
Considerably larger than the soon-to-be-opened Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel recently underwent a $650-million expansion. The casino now includes 150,000 square feet of gaming space with more than 100 table games like blackjack, roulette, craps, Let It Ride, 3-card poker, D21 digital blackjack, high tie bonus blackjack, and digital mini baccarito.
The casino also features Las Vegas-style slots with over 600 games in denominations from five cents a spin up to $100.00. The most popular video gaming themes include: Cats N Dogs, Five Times Pay, Triple Bonanza, Triple Diamond, and Wild Cherry. The casino also has over 850 video-poker based games, including: Double Double Bonus, Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, bonus draw, 3-card poker, and Let It Ride—from nickels to $100.00 denomination machines.
At Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel, you can also visit Le Fu Men, an intimate gaming space dedicated to the Asian consumer including favourites like baccarat and blackjack.
The newly expanded resort also has a 1,100-room luxury hotel, 18,000-square-foot spa, 10 restaurants, retail shopping, and 3,035-seat Cherokee Events Center, the biggest entertainment and concert venue in the region.
Cherokee Tribal Bingo
If you like bingo, you won’t have far to travel. Cherokee Tribal Bingo is located just 2 kilometers from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel. The 1,000-seat capacity space is open Wednesday through Saturday with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. Cherokee Tribal Bingo is closed Monday and Tuesday.3
U.S. Casino Winnings Subject to 30% Withholding Tax
If you visit the United States and win a significant amount of money gambling at a Native American or commercial casino, you need to be aware of your country’s tax treaty laws with the United States.
If you live in a country that has not signed a U.S. tax treaty, your gaming and pari-mutuel winnings are subject to a 30% withholding tax.
Some of the countries that do not have a U.S. tax treaty include: Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates.
If you reside in any of these countries and win a substantial amount gambling (typically over $1,200), your winnings are subject to a 30% withholding tax by the IRS. If you win $2,000 playing the slots, the casino will pay you $1,400. The IRS gets to keep the rest.
RMS is the Easiest, Fastest Way to Get Your Money Back
If you’ve been to the U.S. and had 30% of your poker winnings held back by the IRS, Refund Management Services (RMS) can help you reclaim a portion or all of your taxable winnings.
Founded by a Canadian Chartered Accountant in 1998, RMS is the most reliable and experienced gaming and casino tax refund provider for non-U.S. residents. Only RMS has the One Simple StepTM process. Our customer service agents take care of the rest.
Once you provide us with complete documentation, your claim will be processed and we will submit it to the IRS. We’ve never been refused for an eligible refund. Contact us today!
Sources:
1. “Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel,” Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel web site; https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee-valley-river.
2. “Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort,” Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort web site; https://www.caesars.com/harrahs-cherokee.
3. “Cherokee Tribal Bingo,” Cherokee Tribal Bingo web site; http://www.cherokeetribalbingo.net/Cherokee_Tribal_Bingo.php.