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Stemming from a 1991 agreement, Peoria officials are trying to get Boyd Gaming’s Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino to relocate from its riverboat location in East Peoria, Illinois, to a land-based site in Peoria.
While the chances of a land-based Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino are still slim, Penn Entertainment’s Hollywood Casino in Aurora, Illinois, held a groundbreaking ceremony in December last year.
However, Hollywood Aurora is dragging its feet as there’s been no movement yet, according to 25 News Now.
Key takeaways
- Peoria officials are trying to convince Boyd Gaming to relocate its Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino from East Peoria to a land-based site in Peoria, Illinois.
- The casino dispute stems from a 1991 agreement between Peoria and East Peoria.
- Mayor John Kahl of East Peoria condemns Peoria’s forceful approach to attract the casino.
- The decision ultimately rests with Boyd Gaming, which has not made any promises.
The 1991 agreement regarding the Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino
The Illinois casino dispute stems from a 1991 agreement between Peoria and East Peoria that permitted Peoria to temporarily host riverboat gambling, ultimately leading to a permanent casino in East Peoria.
The key terms of the agreement are:
- Peoria hosts riverboat gambling for 2 years until East Peoria builds a riverboat landing.
- Peoria and East Peoria split 50-50 a tax levied on Par-A-Dice gambling, approximately $3 million each yearly.
- East Peoria retains 100% of associated taxes, including real estate and sales taxes.
- All land-based casino operations must be located in Peoria.
- The state allows only one casino license for the Peoria area.
In 2019, Illinois lawmakers enacted legislation authorizing the establishment of land-based casinos, thereby reaffirming a 1991 agreement.
Peoria officials met with Boyd Gaming in March 2020 to pitch the idea of relocating. They highlighted the increased revenue and tourist attraction a land-based casino could bring to the city.
East Peoria Mayor Kahl criticizes Peoria’s ‘aggressive’ casino recruitment
Mayor John Kahl of East Peoria is calling out Peoria for their casino recruitment strategy, saying it will have some serious consequences for his city. He added that Peoria is not considering the impact this will have on the relationship between the two cities.
According to a local news source, WMDB Radio, Kahl wrote in a July 22 email to Peoria Mayor Rita Ali:
“(I) am most disappointed to learn that you and your (fellow officials) in Peoria are doing your best to force a business organization to relocate from a neighboring community to yours.”
Ali countered Kahl, saying Peoria is just looking out for itself, not trying to strong-arm Boyd Gaming. They got a feeling Boyd might be interested in expanding, so they wanted to remind them that their 1991 agreement was still on the table.
Nevertheless, Boyd Gaming might need a little more convincing because they are still not making any promises, leaving it open-ended.
Mayor Kahl said in an interview with WCBU: “I can’t speak for the folks on the Peoria side of the river; I don’t know what they know or don’t know. But Boyd doesn’t answer to us; they don’t answer to Peoria; they don’t answer to East Peoria. They answer to the Illinois Gaming Board.”
Right now, it all comes down to Boyd Gaming making a call on whether they want to move forward with expanding in Peoria or not.
