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): October 18, 2005

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


    Nevada                  000-21430                         88-0296885
(State or other
jurisdiction of             (Commission                      (IRS Employer
corporation)                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
                              ________________________
            (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 1 - Registrant's Business and Operations
Item 1.01.  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On October 12, 2005,  Riviera  Holdings  Corporation  (the "Company") and Robert
Barengo,  a former  director  and employee who retired from the Company on April
25, 2005, entered into an Amendment To Stock Option Agreement ("Amendment"). The
Amendment  (together  with  a  corresponding  amendment  to the  Company"s  1993
Employee  Stock Option Plan)  extended,  from 90 days to 190 days Mr.  Barengo's
retirement  date,  the period  during which he can exercise  options to purchase
7,500 shares of the  Company's  common stock under his May 14, 2002 stock option
agreement.



SIGNATURE

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: October 18, 2005                         RIVIERA HOLDINGS CORPORATION


                                                By: /s/ Duane Krohn
                                                Treasurer and CFO