Boyd Gaming must either build a land-based casino within Peoria city limits or sell its gaming license to someone who will, Peoria Mayor Rita Ali told the Illinois Gaming Board in February.
In a firm letter addressed to the board, Ali reiterated Peoria’s stance that Boyd Gaming, which operates the Par-A-Dice Riverboat Casino in East Peoria, must abide by a 1991 agreement that dictated that any land-based casino built in the area must be on Peoria’s side of the Illinois River.
“If Boyd is not prepared to develop land-based gaming and related facilities in Peoria, we ask that the IGB require Boyd to sell the Par-A-Dice gaming license to another casino operator that is prepared to develop a land-based gaming facility in Peoria,” Ali said in a Feb. 4 letter to the gaming board.
