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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Z+xxC7umwwBX1AP+iSns7w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000899647-04-000016.txt : 20040510
<SEC-HEADER>0000899647-04-000016.hdr.sgml : 20040510
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040510193315
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000899647-04-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040510
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040510

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000899647
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOTELS & MOTELS [7011]
		IRS NUMBER:				880296885
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NV
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2901 LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7027345110

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2901 LAS VEGAS BLVD S
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89109

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARVEY PAUL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237364

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21430
		FILM NUMBER:		04794734

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		116 HIDDEN HILL DRIVE
		CITY:			MADISON
		STATE:			MS
		ZIP:			39110
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6018566449

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		116 HIDDEN HILLS DRIVE
		CITY:			MADISON L
		STATE:			MS
		ZIP:			39110
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rhcform4_harvey051004ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000899647</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RIV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237364</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARVEY PAUL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>116 HIDDEN HILL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MADISON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>39110</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock par value $.001 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">20% on 5/10/05; 40% after 5/10/06; 60% after 5/10/07; 80 % after 5/10/08; 100% after 5/10/09</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Non-qualified Stock Option Plan for Non-employee Directors</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>PAUL HARVEY</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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