Boyd Gaming has unveiled a plan to establish a “revamped riverboat” casino in East Peoria, Illinois, utilizing a 1,000-gallon water reservoir beneath the facility to adhere to state riverboat gaming regulations and eliminate the need to move the property across the Illinois River to Peoria.

The proposal was submitted to the Illinois Gaming Board (IGB), detailing a modern establishment positioned next to the Par-A-Dice Hotel, primarily on its south side. The reservoir, which is sourced from the Illinois River, aims to fulfill a 1991 agreement compelling East Peoria and Peoria to migrate to the western shore if land-based casino gambling were permitted, a measure that state legislators sanctioned in 2019.

According to Illinois law, “riverboat gambling… may be sanctioned on any body of water within the State of Illinois,” though it does not define the specific amount of water needed. Boyd contends that the underground reservoir satisfies this requirement, even though the structure itself is land-based.

Boyd is attempting to rejuvenate the casino’s earnings, which have plummeted from $82.5 million in 2006 to $60.5 million last year. The city of Peoria and East Peoria share the property’s 5% local portion of the state gaming tax, while East Peoria retains other income from hotels, dining, entertainment, and events.

Pearia officials indicated that they became aware of the revised plans during the IGB meeting and will evaluate the proposal with their legal team before deciding on subsequent actions.

The outlined development features a 29,000-square-foot casino, over 20,000 square feet of conference space, a new high-end steakhouse, a brewery, and a porte-cochere entrance. The existing Par-A-Dice riverboat is equipped with 550 slot machines, 18 table games, and a FanDuel sportsbook, while the new casino may expand the number of gaming positions available.

Boyd Gaming emphasized that this strategy enables the company to continue operating in East Peoria while introducing a larger, upgraded facility in accordance with state riverboat gaming requirements.