-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Imjk9CBXIuBcz+fiWccQwQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000898080-03-000596.txt : 20031222
<SEC-HEADER>0000898080-03-000596.hdr.sgml : 20031222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031222125440
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000898080-03-000596
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031222

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000899647
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOTELS & MOTELS [7011]
		IRS NUMBER:				880296885
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2901 LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7027345110

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2901 LAS VEGAS BLVD S
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89109

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRUMP HOTELS & CASINO RESORTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000943320
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOTELS & MOTELS [7011]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21430
		FILM NUMBER:		031067076

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 BOARDWALK
		CITY:			ATLANTIC CITY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6094496515

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 BOARDWALK
		CITY:			ATLANTIC CITY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08401
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar637_09357form4ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-12-18</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000899647</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMEX:  RIV</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000943320</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TRUMP HOTELS &amp; CASINO RESORTS INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1000 BOARDWALK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTIC CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08401</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>0</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Option (Right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>H</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>350000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2002-07-10</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2003-12-31</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>350000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By Trump Hotels &amp; Casino Resorts Holdings, L.P.</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Option (Right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>H</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>8000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2002-12-26</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2003-12-31</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>8000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>0</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By Trump Hotels &amp; Casino Resorts Holdings, L.P.</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Option (Right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>350000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-12-18</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2004-12-31</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>350000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>350000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By Trump Hotels &amp; Casino Resorts Holdings, L.P.</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Option (Right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-12-18</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>8000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>0</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>A</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2003-12-18</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2004-12-31</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>8000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>8000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>I</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
         <natureOfOwnership>
           <value>By Trump Hotels &amp; Casino Resorts Holdings, L.P.</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
         </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <footnotes>
      <footnote id="F1"> Option exercisable, in whole and not in part, at an exercise price equal to the greater of (i) $2,275,000 (the amount paid by Donald J. Trump, grantor of the option, for the underlying shares) plus incurred brokerage and/or other commissions and/or fees paid by Mr. Trump or (ii) the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise based on the average closing sale price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange for the 20 trading days immediately preceding the date of exercise. Extension of option exercise period (entered into December 18, 2003) may be deemed to be cancellation of existing option and grant of new option.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F2"> Option exercisable, in whole and not in part and concurrently with the above-referenced Option, at an exercise price equal to the greater of (i) $37,970.40 (the amount paid by Donald J. Trump, grantor of the option, for the underlying shares) plus incurred brokerage and/or other commissions and/or fees paid by Mr. Trump or (ii) the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise based on the average closing sale price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange for the 20 trading days immediately preceding the date of exercise. Extension of option exercise period (entered into December 18, 2003) may be deemed to be cancellation of existing option and grant of new option.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F3"> The reporting person is the general partner of the limited partnership that beneficially owns the reported securities. The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interest herein.</footnote>

      <footnote id="F4"> Donald J. Trump and Trump Hotels &amp; Casino Resorts Holdings, L.P. agreed to extend the expiration date of the options from December 31, 2003 through December 31, 2004 at no cost.</footnote>
   </footnotes>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>John P. Burke/EVP and Corporate Treasurer</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-12-22</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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