Peoria's mayor demands Boyd Gaming either constructs a casino in Peoria or sells its license for the Par-A-Dice facility
In a letter addressed to the Illinois Gaming Board, Peoria's mayor, Rita Ali, has demanded that gaming giant Boyd Gaming either builds a land-based casino on Peoria’s side of the Illinois River or sells its Par-A-Dice gaming license.
The 1991 agreement stipulates that any land-based casino must be built on Peoria’s side of the Illinois River. Boyd Gaming currently operates the Par-A-Dice casino on a riverboat in East Peoria, but has not yet committed to relocating to a land-based facility within Peoria city limits as required by the agreement.
Boyd Gaming has indicated plans for a new casino that would replace the existing riverboat facility, but has not specified the exact location or confirmed whether it will be in Peoria rather than East Peoria. This disagreement has led to an ongoing dispute between Peoria and East Peoria officials.
In early 2025, Mayor Ali sent a letter to the Illinois Gaming Control Board demanding Boyd commit to the Peoria location or sell the license. Boyd's CEO, Keith Smith, said plans for a new casino are close to finalization, but did not confirm the location or that it would be a brick-and-mortar land-based casino.
East Peoria officials oppose Peoria's demand, arguing that they cannot dictate where a private business operates. However, Ali reiterated Peoria's stance that Boyd must build a land-based casino on Peoria's side of the Illinois River, as per the 1991 agreement. If Boyd Gaming does not comply with the requirement, it must sell its gaming license to someone who will.
The letter, dated February 4th, was reported by JJ Bullock of the Peoria Journal Star. As of August 2025, Boyd Gaming’s relocation plans remain unresolved and contentious, with Peoria city officials pushing to enforce the original 1991 agreement, while Boyd is finalizing plans without confirming a Peoria-based land casino.
- The ongoing disagreement between Peoria and East Peoria officials revolves around Boyd Gaming's commitment to build a land-based casino, as per the 1991 agreement, which sets the casino's location on Peoria's side of the Illinois River.
- The 1991 agreement stipulates that the casino-culture in Peoria should be represented by a land-based casino, with casino-games operated within Peoria city limits, as opposed to the current riverboat facility in East Peoria.
