SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    Form 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

  Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 5, 2000


                          RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORPORATION
             (exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



    Nevada                  000-21430                         88-0296885
(State of                  (Commission                      (IRS Employer
Incorporation)             File Number)                    Identification No.)



2901 Las Vegas Boulevard
Las Vegas, Nevada                                                 89109
(Address of principal office)                                  (Zip code)



Registrant's Telephone number,                               (702) 794-9527
    including area code




Item 5.           Other Events

                           On  October  5, 2000,  Riviera  Holdings  Corporation
                           ("RHC")  announced  that Robert  Vannucci,  Executive
                           Vice  President  of  its  wholly  owned   subsidiary,
                           Riviera  Operating  Corporation  ("ROC"),  was  named
                           President and Chief Operating  Officer of ROC. A copy
                           of the  press  release  making  the  announcement  is
                           attached hereto as Exhibit 99 and incorporated herein
                           by reference.


                  (c)  Exhibits

                   99       Press Release, dated October 5, 2000









SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Dated: October 5, 2000                            RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORPORATION


                                                   By: /s/ Duane Krohn
                                                   Duane Krohn
                                                   Treasurer and CFO


                         EXHIBIT INDEX

         Exhibit
         Number                                        Description

         99                                Press Release, dated October 5, 2000