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 26, 2002

                          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 26, 2002, Riviera Holdings Corporation announced through a press
release the  appointment  of  Vincent Divito to its Board of Directors effective
June 14, 2002.


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

             (a) Not Applicable

             (b) Not Applicable

             (c) Exhibits

Exhibit 99        Riviera Holdings Corporation Press Release dated June 26, 2002

















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 27, 2002                            RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORPORATION


                                                       By: /s/ Duane Krohn
                                                       Treasurer and CFO













































                              EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number                        Description

99       Riviera Holdings Corporation Press Release dated June 26, 2002.

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 & CFO                    Betsy Truax, Skorpus Consulting
Tel: (702) 794-9527                             Tel: (208) 241-3704
Fax: (702) 794-9442                             Fax: (208) 232-5317
Email: dkrohn@theriviera.com                    Email: Etruax@aol.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


            RIVIERA APPOINTS VINCENT L. DIVITO TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS


         LAS VEGAS, NEVADA  -  June 26, 2002  -  Riviera  Holdings  Corporation
(AMEX:RIV)  today announced that Mr. Vincent L. Divito has been appointed to the
Board  of  Directors of the Company. Mr. Divito succeeds Mr. James N. Land, Jr.,
who  resigned  in  May  2002 from the Company's Board due to health and personal
reasons.  Mr. Divito  will  serve  the  remainder of Mr. Land's term, which runs
until May 2003.

         Mr. Divito, 42,  is  currently  Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and  Treasurer  of  Lonza,  Inc.,  a  global  specialties  chemical  business
headquartered  in  Fair  Lawn,  New Jersey.  Lonza, Inc. is part of Lonza Group,
which  is  traded  on the Swiss Stock Exchange. Mr. Divito is a Certified Public
Accountant  and  Certified  Management  Accountant. He graduated Summa Cum Laude
from Adelphi University in 1982, and received his MBA in Finance in 1993.

         William  L.  Westerman,  Chairman  of the  Board  of  Riviera  Holdings
Corporation,  said, "We look forward to Mr. Divito serving our Board.  He brings
extensive  experience  in the  field  of  finance.  We  are  excited  about  the
contributions he will make on behalf of the Company."

Safe Harbor Statement
         The  forward-looking  statements  included in this news release,  which
reflect  management's  best judgment based on factors  currently known,  involve
risks and uncertainties including expansion timetables,  hotel and casino market
conditions  and other  risks  detailed  from time to time in the  Company's  SEC
reports,  including  the Report on Form 10-K for December 31, 2001 and Forms 10Q
for 2002. Actual results may differ.

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.

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