<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2003-06-26</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000914577</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRANS WORLD CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>twcp</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001094988</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RAVICH JESS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001131265</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RAVICH REVOCABLE TRUST OF 1989</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle></officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>84387942</value>
<footnoteId id="F1"></footnoteId>
</transactionShares>
</transactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>See Footnote 2</value>
<footnoteId id="F2"></footnoteId>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeSecurity>
<footnotes><footnote id="F1">Prior to June 26, 2003, the Ravich Revocable Trust of 1989 ("Ravich Revocable Trust") held 180,313 shares of common stock of Trans World Corporation ("TWC").  On June 26, 2003, the Ravich Revocable Trust exchanged $3,430,000 in principal amount of debt of TWC for 84,207,629 shares of common stock of such company.</footnote>
<footnote id="F2">This Form 3 is filed on behalf of the Ravich Revocable Trust, a revocable trust for which Jess M. Ravich serves as trustee, and Jess M. Ravich.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/S/ Jess M. Ravich</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-03</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/S/ Jess M. Ravich, as trustee of the Ravich Revocable Trust of 1989</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2003-07-03</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

