EAST PEORIA, Ill. – The future of the Par-A-Dice Casino appears to be staying put on the East Peoria side of the river.
Boyd Gaming presented its plans for a new land-based version of the Par-A-Dice to the Illinois Gaming Board Thursday morning.
25 News reports the $160-million plan includes a 29,000-square foot facility with a ballroom, steakhouse, and gastropub.
Boyd Gaming is planning to build the casino on top of a 1,000 gallon manmade water basin using water from the Illinois River. That move would appear to exploit a loophole in the original 1991 agreement between the cities of Peoria and East Peoria, where one provision is that a land-base casino shall operate in Peoria.
Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich says city officials only heard of the plans Thursday morning. He says time will be needed before any official statements are made.
Peoria officials have been attempting to convince Boyd to build a new casino on its side of the river, causing tensions between leaders in both cities.
The plans will not be fully set until the board meets again in February.
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