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): February 15, 2005

                          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

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
[] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
[] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


Section 8 - Other Events
Item 8.01. Other Events

On February 15, 2005,  Riviera Holdings announced through a press release that
it has requested its financial advisor, Jefferies & Company, Inc., to explore
strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value.


Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibit 99  Riviera Holdings Corporation Press Release dated February 15, 2005
follows.

Riviera Holdings Announces Three-For-One Stock Split & Strategic Plan

     LAS VEGAS, Feb.  15/PRNewswire-FirstCall/  -- Riviera Holdings  Corporation
(Amex:  RIV), owner of the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and the Riviera
Black Hawk in Black Hawk, Colorado,  today announced that its Board of Directors
has approved a  three-for-one  stock split of the Company's  Common Stock.  As a
result of the stock split,  shareholders  will receive two additional  shares of
Common  Stock for every share held on the record  date of February  25, 2005 and
payable on March 11, 2005. The stock split will increase the number of shares of
the Company's Common Stock outstanding to approximately 11.9 million.

     William L. Westerman,  Riviera Holdings' Chairman of the Board, said, "This
stock split  represents our commitment to increasing  shareholder  value and our
belief in the future  outlook of the  Company.  We expect  that the  increase in
outstanding  shares  should  improve  the  liquidity  of our  stock and serve to
attract a broader spectrum of both institutional and individual investors.

     "Today,  we also announced  that we have  requested our financial  advisor,
Jefferies  &  Company,  Inc.  to  explore  strategic  alternatives  to  maximize
shareholder  value."


Safe  Harbor  Statement
     The forward-looking statements included in this news release, which reflect
management's best judgment based on factors currently known to it, involve risks
and  uncertainties  including  the  results of our  strategic  plan to  maximize
shareholder value, expansion and modernization objectives and timetables,  hotel
and casino market conditions, financing requirements, interest rates, regulatory
approvals  and other risks and  uncertainties  detailed from time to time in the
Company's  filings with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission,  including the
Report on Form 10-K. Actual results may differ materially.

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's  stock is listed on the American  Stock  Exchange  ("AMEX")
under the symbol RIV.  Informal  discussions  with AMEX staff  indicate that the
Company may meet the  standards of AMEX policy Sec.  1003(a).  According to that
policy,  AMEX will not normally consider suspending dealings in or delisting the
securities of a company,  which is below the earnings or net worth  standards if
the Company is in compliance with the following:

     (1) Total value of market capitalization of at least $50,000,000;  or total
assets and revenue of $50,000,000 each in its last fiscal year, or in two of its
last three  fiscal  years;  and
     (2) The company has at least 1,000,000 shares publicly held, a market value
of  publicly  held  shares  of at least  $15,000,000  and at least 400 round lot
shareholders.

     If the Company's share price were to fall below approximately $5.50 (market
capitalization  for  "publicly  held shares" of $15  million) and the  Company's
shares were eventually  delisted from AMEX, the  marketability  and liquidity of
the Company's shares could be significantly reduced.

SOURCE Riviera
     Holdings  Corporation -0- 02/15/2005 /CONTACT:  Duane Krohn,  Treasurer and
CFO of Riviera Holdings Corporation,  +1-702-794-9527,  or fax, +1-702-794-9442,
dkrohn@theriviera.com,   or  Investors,   Betsy  Truax  of  Skorpus  Consulting,
+1-208-241-3704,  or fax, +1-208- 232-5317, etruax@aol.com, for Riviera Holdings
Corporation/ /Web site: http://www.theriviera.com / (RIV)














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: February 15, 2005                       RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORPORATION


                                                By: /s/ Duane Krohn
                                                Treasurer and CFO