<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912926</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GB HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GBH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233563</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARBERT DISTRESSED INVESTMENT MASTER FUND LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INTERNATIONAL FUND SERVICES (IRELAND</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>THIRD FLOOR, BISHOP'S SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDMOND'S HILL, DUBLIN 2</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>L2</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>IRELAND</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001224055</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HMC DISTRESSED INVESTMENT OFFSHORE MANAGER LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>555 MADISON AVENU</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233566</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HMC INVESTORS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>555 MADISON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233569</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FALCONE PHILIP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>555 MADISON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233571</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARBERT RAYMOND J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>555 MADISON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>

        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233573</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LUCE MICHAEL D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>555 MADISON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
        <isDirector>0</isDirector>
        <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
        <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
        <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1356811</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1356811</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>

            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By Harbert Distressed Investment Master Fund, Ltd.</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>42735</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>

            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By PCMG Trading Partners XII, L.P.</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>

        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <postTransactionAmounts>

            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>24925</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>

            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>

            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>By Alpha US Sub Fund VI, LLC</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>
    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These securities are owned by Harbert Distressed Investment Master Fund, Ltd., which is a Reporting Person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by HMC Distressed Investment Offshore Manager, L.L.C. ("HMC Management"), the investment manager of Harbert Distressed Investment Master Fund, Ltd., HMC Investors, L.L.C., its managing member ("HMC Investors"), Philip Falcone, a member of HMC Management and the portfolio manager of Harbert Distressed Investment Master Fund, Ltd., Raymond J. Harbert, a member of HMC Investors, and Michael D. Luce, a member of HMC Investors. Each such Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by HMC Investors, Philip Falcone, who is the portfolio manager of PCMG Trading Partners XII, L.P., Raymond J. Harbert and Michael D. Luce. Each such Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his or its pecuinary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These securities may be deemed to be beneficially owned by HMC Investors, Philip Falcone, who is the portfolio manager of Alpha US Sub Fund VI, LLC, Raymond J. Harbert and Michael D. Luce. Each such Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his or its pecuinary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that such Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Harbert Distressed Investment Master Fund, Ltd. By: /s/ Joel B. Piassick</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>HMC Distressed Investment Offshoe Manager, LLC By: HMC Investors, LLC by /s/ Joel Piassick</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>HMC Investors, LLC By: /s/ Joel Piassick</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip Falcone</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Raymond J. Harbert</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s Michael D. Luce</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

