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): January 16, 2003

                          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 January 16, 2003,  Riviera Holdings  Corporation  announced through a press
release that Sean Sullivan, general manager of Riviera Black Hawk has left the
company. Ronald Johnson, President of Riviera Black Hawk, Inc. will serve as
interim general manager until a replacement is appointed.


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

             (a) Not Applicable

             (b) Not Applicable

             (c) Exhibits

Exhibit 99        Press Release dated January 16, 2003

















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: January 21, 2003                         RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORPORATION


                                                     By: /s/ Duane Krohn
                                                     Treasurer and CFO













































                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number                 Description

  99       Press Release dated January 16, 2003.

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 BLACK HAWK ANNOUNCES INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER

     BLACK HAWK, Colo., - January 16, 2003 - Riviera Holdings Corporation (Amex:
RIV) announced today that Sean Sullivan,  general manager of the Company's Black
Hawk, Colorado casino has left the company. Ronald Johnson, President of Riviera
Black Hawk,  Inc. will serve as interim  general  manager until a replacement is
appointed.

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.

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.  Actual  results may
differ.