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Posted on: February 17, 2026, 01:06h.
Last updated on: February 17, 2026, 01:06h.
- Peoria dropped its lawsuit after Boyd Gaming revised its plan to build a permanently moored riverboat casino
- Peoria rejected a 2.25% non-gaming revenue-sharing offer, forfeiting an estimated $1.8 million annually
- Peoria and East Peoria share in the local gaming tax, but East Peoria retains all other taxes from the casino hotel
The City of Peoria has dropped its lawsuit challenging Boyd Gaming’s redevelopment of the Par-A-Dice riverboat casino after the company amended its project.
After a split vote among the Peoria City Council rejected an offer by Boyd to the Illinois city to resolve its contentions that its proposed “modernized riverboat” plan violated a 1991 intercity governmental agreement, the Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino owner/operator reworked the blueprint to include a more traditional riverboat development.
Instead of constructing a largely land-based casino, with the exception being a small 1,000-gallon river-fed water basin under the gaming floor, Boyd is now presenting a new, permanently moored barge on the Illinois River.
As a result, Peoria is rescinding its lawsuit filed in Cook County that sought a temporary restraining order blocking the Illinois Gaming Board from approving the Par-A-Dice overhaul.
Peoria Indecision Costs Dearly
Peoria and East Peoria have an agreement in perpetuity that says any riverboat gambling must occur on the east side of the Illinois River, while brick-and-mortar gaming must occur on the western side. The two cities split the 5% local gaming tax accrued by Par-A-Dice, but only East Peoria benefits from the casino’s property, food and beverage, amusement, hotel, and other taxes.
In what was an olive branch extended by Boyd Gaming, the casino offered to send Peoria 2.25% of all nongaming revenue it generates at a modernized riverboat. Estimates suggested Peoria would have collected an additional $1.8 million annually from the agreement.
Five city councilors, however, rejected the deal on claims that a better offer could be bargained. Instead, Boyd stripped the modernized riverboat concept for a permanently moored development. With the moored project to be built over the Illinois River, it’s almost certain that the Illinois Gaming Board will approve the Par-A-Dice redevelopment on Feb. 26.
Peoria Councilmembers Tim Riggenbach, Zach Oyler, Alex Carmona, John Kelly, and Kiran Velpula all voted to reject Boyd’s settlement offer. Mayor Rita Ali, Mike Vespa, Andre Allen, Bernice Gordon-Young, and Denise Jackson voted in favor of accepting the 2.25% offering.
2025 Performance
In 2025, Boyd Gaming’s Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino generated gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $61.9 million. That ranked 12th among the 17 casinos in Illinois. Par-A-Dice won $51.2 million from its slot machines and $10.7 million from its tables.
Par-A-Dice welcomed 427,518 guests to the 26,116-square-foot riverboat, which also placed 12th. The casino’s local tax share for East Peoria and Peoria totaled just over $3.5 million.
During the company’s full-year earnings call earlier this month, Boyd CEO Keith Smith said the investment in Peoria will “significantly enhance the competitiveness and appeal of Par-A-Dice.” Smith said the redevelopment will position the Illinois property for “incremental, long-term growth.”