Exhibit 2

                             JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

         In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, each of the undersigned Reporting Persons hereby agrees to
the joint filing, along with all other such Reporting Persons, on behalf of each
of them of a statement on Schedule 13D (including amendments thereto) with
respect to the common stock, par value $.001 per share of Riviera Holdings
Corporation, and that this Agreement be included as an Exhibit to such joint
filing. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of
which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned hereby executes this
Agreement as of this 15th day of April, 2004.

                                   D. E. SHAW LAMINAR PORTFOLIOS, L.L.C.
                                   BY: D. E. SHAW & CO., L.L.C.,
                                       as managing member

                                   By: /s/ Stuart Steckler
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Stuart Steckler
                                       Title: Managing Director

                                   D. E. SHAW & CO., L.P.

                                   By: /s/ Stuart Steckler
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Stuart Steckler
                                       Title: Managing Director

                                   D. E. SHAW & CO., L.L.C.

                                   By: /s/ Stuart Steckler
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Stuart Steckler
                                       Title: Managing Director

                                   DAVID E. SHAW

                                   By: /s/ Stuart Steckler
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Name: Stuart Steckler
                                       Title: Attorney-in-Fact for David E. Shaw