UNITED STATES

                       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): March 12, 2008

                          RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORPORATION
             (exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

      Nevada                     000-21430                 88-0296885
  (State or other              (Commission              (IRS Employer
  jurisdiction of               File Number)             Identification No.)
  incorporation)


  2901 Las Vegas Boulevard
  Las Vegas, Nevada                                                 89109
  (Address of principal executive offices)                        (Zip code)

  Registrant's telephone number, including area code (702) 794-9527


    (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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.

         On March 12, 2008, we issued a press release reporting that announced
the appointment of Mr. Nicholas J. Polcino, Jr. to the position of General
Manager of Riviera Black Hawk, pending approval by the Colorado Division of
Gaming. A copy of the press release is included in Exhibit 99.1.

Section 9 - Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable.
(d) Exhibits:

Exhibit 99.1 Riviera Holdings Corporation press release dated March 12, 2008

                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

  Date: March 12, 2008              RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORPORATION

                                    By: /s/ Mark Lefever
                                    Mark Lefever
                                    Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer