Andersen vote called off

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Friday, March 29, 2002 | 11:41 a.m.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas said Thursday it has yanked plans to have shareholders vote on the selection of Arthur Andersen as the company's auditing firm.

Harrah's board had recommended Andersen as the company's auditor, and shareholders were to vote on that selection at Harrah's annual shareholder meeting May 2. But on Wednesday, the New Jersey Casino Control Commission ordered all Atlantic City casinos and their parent companies to sever ties with the accounting firm by May 15.

Now, Harrah's said it will defer selection of an auditor "until further information is known about the status of Andersen."

"We're not going to take any action to dismiss or engage Andersen until we have more information," said Harrah's spokesman Gary Thompson.

Meanwhile, Andersen spokesman Patrick Dorton expressed hope that the firm could continue doing business with other gaming companies. In Nevada, only MGM MIRAGE and Harrah's were directly affected by the New Jersey order.