8-K

                    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): June 6, 2001

                          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 June 6, 2001, Riviera Holdings Corporation  announced through a press release
the  appointment of  Major General U.S. Air Force (Ret.) Paul A. Harvey  to its
Board of Directors effective May 18, 2001.

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

             (a) Not Applicable

             (b) Not Applicable

             (c) Exhibits

Exhibit 99        Press Release dated June 6, 2001



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: June 6, 2001                              RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORPORATION


                                                     By: /s/ Duane Krohn
                                                     Treasurer and CFO



                              EXHIBIT INDEX

         Exhibit

         Number                                      Description

           99               Press Release dated June 6, 2001  the appointment of
                            Major General  U.S. Air Force (Ret.)  Paul A. Harvey
                            to  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Riviera  Holdings
                            Corporation effective May 18, 2001.

EX-99

                          Riviera Holdings Corporation
                         2901 Las Vegas Boulevard South
                               Las Vegas, NV 89109
                       Investor Relations: (800) 362-1460
                               TRADED: AMEX - RIV
                               www.theriviera.com

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

AT THE COMPANY:                             INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:

Duane Krohn, Treasurer and CFO              Betsy Truax, Skorpus Consulting
(702) 794-9527 Voice                        (208) 241-3704 Voice
(702) 794-9442 Fax                          (208) 232-5317 Fax
Email:  dkrohn@theriviera.com               Email:  etruax@aol.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


            RIVIERA APPOINTS PAUL A. HARVEY TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS


     LAS VEGAS, NV - June 6, 2001 -- Riviera Holdings  Corporation  (AMEX:  RIV)
today announced that Major General U.S. Air Force (Ret.) Paul A. Harvey has been
appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company.  Gen.  Harvey is currently a
consultant to the gaming hotel and resort industry and serves as Chairman of the
Board of the National  Center for Responsible  Gaming.  He has a business degree
from Miami University of Ohio and an MBA from Central Michigan University.  Gen.
Harvey  spent 32 years on active  duty in the United  States Air Force  where he
held numerous command positions throughout the United States, Europe, Africa and
the Middle  East.  He flew 160 combat  missions  in Vietnam and  Southeast  Asia
before retiring in 1991. He was the Executive Director of the Mississippi Gaming
Commission from 1993 through 1998 before becoming President and CEO of Signature
Works, Inc., which is the largest employer of blind and visually impaired people
in the world.  The company  merged with LCI,  Inc. and he currently  sits on the
Board of Directors of LC Industries.

     William  L.   Westerman,   Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Riviera   Holdings
Corporation,  said,  We look forward to Gen.  Harvey  serving on our Board.  His
extensive experience in government and industry is an excellent fit with Riviera
Holdings.  We  welcome  Gen.  Harvey and the  valuable  insight he brings to our
Company.

About Riviera Holdings:

Riviera  Holdings  Corporation owns and operates the Riviera Hotel and Casino on
the Las Vegas Strip and the Riviera  Black Hawk Casino in Black Hawk,  Colorado.
Riviera is traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol RIV.