-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 B4hVFzhID9hiwkPDaLh5WJ1UxRjBeaZUtbvQOYzHLVZI/fA+TM10epwjeV6Esxid
 bIy5zablor+zcCZ/mTpfQQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000899647-05-000011.txt : 20050408
<SEC-HEADER>0000899647-05-000011.hdr.sgml : 20050408
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050408185746
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000899647-05-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050408
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050408
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050408

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHNSON RONALD P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237342

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21430
		FILM NUMBER:		05742582

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7028785842

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2818 UTICA CIRCLE
		CITY:			LAS VEGAS
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89146

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rhcform4johnson_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237342</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOHNSON RONALD P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2818 UTICA CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAS VEGAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NV</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>89146</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec Vice President Gaming</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Riviera Common Stock, par value $.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>397311</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares were isssued as part of the Reporting Person's compensation for 2003 in substitution for stock options that the
 issuer was unable to grant in that year.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ronald P. Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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