North Carolina (Updated February 5, 2025)

There are two Harrah's Cherokee casinos in North Carolina.

One of them, simply called Harrah's Cherokee, has a number of very good machines to rack up tiers at minimum average loss. This is also a fairly nice place to visit, as it's right at the entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and isn't too far from scenic Asheville.

The other one, Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel is mediocre.



Harrah's Cherokee

All games below are located in the "new high limit room" (next to the table games area), unless otherwise indicated.

These machines have $1/$2/$5 denominations, but only the $5 variation has the good pay table!

Also, Harrah's Cherokee changed these games to $25 per tier credit sometime in 2019, but changed it back in 2022 to $10 per tier. However, a few $25/tier machines remain, so make sure to verify it's $10 per tier credit, by watching your tier credits build as you play. I will list the known $25/tier machines below, so you can look out for the and avoid them.


25-16-10-4-4 Deuces Wild ("Not So Ugly Deuces") $5 per credit, 1-play (99.73% return): Find these in new the new high limit room next to the table games area. Do NOT play the one near the center atrium spiral staircase, as that is $25/tier credit.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $135
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $1350

The below machines can also be found in the new high limit room:

9-6 Bonus Deluxe $5 per credit, 1-play (99.64% return): Same strategy as Double Double Bonus Poker.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $180
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $1800

9-5 White Hot Aces $5 per credit, 1-play (99.57% return): Same strategy as Double Double Bonus Poker.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $215
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $2150

9-6 Double Double Bonus Aces and Faces, $5 per credit, 1-play (99.46% return): Same strategy as Double Double Bonus Poker.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $270
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $2700

9-6 Double Double Bonus Plus, $5 per credit, 1-play (99.44% return): Same strategy as Double Double Bonus Poker.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $280
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $2800

Ace$ Bonus Poker, $5 per credit, 1-play (99.40% return): Strategy identical to Bonus Poker. Note that the increased return is due to the unlikely hitting of the ACE$ feature, which occurs fewer than 3 times per million hands on average.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $220
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $2200




Harrah's Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel

9-6 Double Double Bonus (98.98% return), $1 per credit, 1-play. Game King machines between sportsbook & pit. Will be slow earning due to low limits.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $510
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5100

25-15-9-4-4 Deuces Wild ("LV Airport Deuces"), (98.91% return) $1 per credit, 1-play: Game King machines between sportsbook & pit. Will be slow earning due to low limits.
Average loss getting to Diamond: $545
Average loss getting to Seven Stars: $5450