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): May 17, 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

     At our May 17, 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders,  stockholders  approved
our 2005 Inventive Stock Option Plan, 2005  Non-Qualified  Stock Option Plan For
Non-Employee Directors, and issuance of 30,000 shares of our common stock to our
non-employee   directors   (subject   to  a  vesting   schedule   and   transfer
restrictions),  all as described in our April 22, 2005 Proxy Statement.  The two
stock option plans became effective upon approval by our  stockholders.  We plan
to issue the 30,000 shares to our non-employee directors as soon as practicable.


















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: May 18, 2005                            RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORPORATION


                                                By: /s/ Duane Krohn
                                                Treasurer and CFO













































                              EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
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