Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 01, 2013
Document Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Registrant Name	RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0000899647
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$ 0
Common Class A [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		10
Common Class B [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		9,039,035