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                                                                EXHIBIT 10.36
                                       
                                  AMENDMENT TO
                                OPTION AGREEMENT
                              Dated January 8, 1998

This Amendment to Option Agreement dated January 8, 1998 (AAmendment@) is 
made and entered into this 15 day of September, 1998, by and between HARVEYS 
CASINO RESORTS, a Nevada corporation (AHARVEYS@) and GRAND PLAZA LIMITED 
PARTNERSHIP, a Nevada limited partnership (AGRAND@).

         WHEREAS, on January 8, 1998,, HARVEYS and GRAND entered into an 
Option Agreement (the "Agreement"), to purchase 33.3 acres of real property 
located on the northeast corner of Harmon and Koval in Las Vegas, Nevada, 
commonly known as the Grand Plaza Site (the AProperty@), and

         WHEREAS, paragraph 2 of the Agreement defines the option period and 
any extensions thereof; and

         WHEREAS, paragraph 2 of the Agreement states that the option period 
shall not extend beyond October 15, 1998; and

         WHEREAS, HARVEYS and GRAND now desire to modify paragraph 2 of the 
Agreement so as to provide HARVEYS with the ability to extend the option 
period until April 15, 1999.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration and exchange of mutual promises, 
covenants and other valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby 
acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

         A.  Paragraph 2 of the Agreement is hereby amended to 
             read as follows:

             2.  OPTION PERIOD; EXTENSION OF OPTION PERIOD: The rights and 
                 privileges granted hereunder shall commence on the date first 
                 set forth above, and shall run through and including May 15, 
                 1998.

                 Subject to the provisions of paragraph 4, HARVEYS shall have 
                 the right to extend the Option on a month to month basis upon
                 payment to GRAND of Thirty Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars 
                 ($37,500.00) per month, which payment shall be due prior to the
                 expiration of the than current option period; provided, 
                 however, that if HARVEYS extends the Option beyond August 15, 
                 1998, the fee to extend the Option shall increase to Seventy 
                 five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) per month. Provided, 
                 further, that if HARVEYS extends the Option beyond October 15,
                 1998, the fee to extend the Option shall increase to One 
                 Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars ($130,000.00) per month. In
                 no event may HARVEYS extend the Option beyond April 15, 1999. 
                 In the 


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                 event HARVEYS fails to timely make a required payment to 
                 extend the Option in accordance with the terms of this 
                 paragraph 2, this Agreement, and all rights hereunder, shall
                 terminate and GRAND shall retain all funds received prior to 
                 the date of termination.

                 In the event HARVEYS exercises its right to purchase the 
                 Property the Option Payment, as well as all payments to extend
                 the Option to October 15, 1998 shall be credited to the
                 purchase price. In addition, of the payments to extend the 
                 Option from October 15, 1998 to April 15, 1999 Fifty Thousand 
                 Dollars ($50,000.00) shall be credited to the purchase price.

         B.  Nothing in this Amendment shall in any way effect, modify or 
             change the remaining provisions of the Agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this First Amendment as
of The date first written above wit the intent to be legally bound thereby.

"HARVEYS"
By: /s/ Charles W. Scharer  
    ---------------------------
Its: Chairman/President and CEO
     --------------------------

"GRAND"

GRAND PLAZA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:  TPF Trading, Inc., Its General Partner
By: /s/ Martin Egbert, President
    ----------------------------