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 24, 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 24,  2000,  Riviera  Holdings  Corporation
                           (RHC)  released its third  quarter,  2000,  financial
                           results. A copy of the press release disclosing those
                           results is filed as an exhibit hereto.

                           On  October  27,  2000,  RHC  announced  that  it had
                           purchased, in a private transaction, 50,000 shares of
                           its outstanding stock at the purchase price of $7.125
                           per share,  the closing price of October 24, 2000, or
                           an  aggregate  of  $356,250.   The  purchased  shares
                           represent  approximately  1.3 % of RHC's  outstanding
                           stock which now totals 3,768,022. A copy of the press
                           release announcing this transaction dated October 27,
                           2000 is filed as an exhibit hereto.



Item 7.      Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits

             (a)      Not Applicable

             (b)      Not Applicable

             (c)      Exhibits

99.1 Press Release,  dated October 24, 2000, announcing RHC third quarter, 2000,
financial results.

99.2     Press Release, dated October 27, 2000, announcing RHC's purchase of
50,000 shares of its stock in a private transaction.


















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 27, 2000                            RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORPORATION


                                                            By: /s/ Duane Krohn
                                                            Treasurer and CFO




                              EXHIBIT INDEX

         Exhibit

         Number                                      Description

           99.1                           Press Release, dated October 24,2000,
                                          disclosing RHC's third quarter, 2000
                                          financial results

           99.2                           Press Release, dated October 27, 2000,
                                          announcing RHC's purchase of 50,000
                                          shares of its common stock.