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- Peoria’s attorneys imagine East Peoria and Boyd Gaming are working to construct a brand new on line casino in East Peoria.
- A loophole might be utilized by Boyd Gaming to usurp an intergovernmental settlement.
PEORIA — Attorneys for the town of Peoria have rising issues that Boyd Gaming intends to make use of a loophole to construct a on line casino in East Peoria, in response to paperwork obtained by the Journal Star.
A legislation agency employed by Peoria accused East Peoria and Boyd Gaming, which operates the Par-A-Dice Casino, of working collectively to construct a on line casino in East Peoria, regardless of a 1991 settlement signed between the 2 cities that stipulates {that a} land-based on line casino ought to be constructed on Peoria’s facet of the river.
In a Feb. 4 letter, obtained by the Journal Star by way of the Freedom of Information Act, attorneys for the town of Peoria wrote to leaders in East Peoria:
“Please be advised that the City of Peoria intends to enforce its rights under the Intergovernmental Agreement to the full extent permitted by the law. In that regard, the City of Peoria, demands that the City of East Peoria cease all efforts to assist Boyd Gaming Corporation in relocating the Par-A-Dice Casino currently operating on its moored riverboat to a land-based location (in whole or in part) in the City of East Peoria.”
Boyd Gaming, in response to a letter obtained by the Journal Star, knowledgeable Peoria in February that it intends to offer a “best-in class” water-based on line casino gaming expertise in East Peoria. Peoria’s competition, in response to the July 24 letter despatched to East Peoria, is that Boyd is signaling they intend to make use of a loophole to construct a land-based on line casino in East Peoria that they may say is “on water.”
“Boyd intends to provide a best-in-class gaming experience on water in East Peoria in accordance with its legal rights and obligations,” the letter, which got here from Boyd’s attorneys, informed Peoria.
Peoria’s attorneys, from the Elias, Meginnes and Seghetti legislation agency, stated that sentence from Boyd Gaming signifies that Boyd intends to construct a land-based on line casino in East Peoria however will pump water beneath the constructing after which name it “water based.”
“Note that based on historical practices, the term ‘on water’ indicates that Boyd intends to construct a building on land with water underneath all or part of the casino floor,” Peoria’s attorneys wrote to East Peoria Mayor John Kahl on July 24.
All letters have been obtained by the Journal Star by way of the Freedom of Information Act.
Location of latest on line casino at middle of debate
Peoria says East Peoria and Boyd are working collectively to make the most of a loophole that casinos in Illinois have used earlier than to basically construct a on line casino on land that they name “water-based.”
In Des Plaines, Illinois, the unique Rivers Casino was built on top of a shallow pool of water that allowed its operators to name it “water-based” throughout a time when land-based on line casino playing was not but authorized.
In idea, Boyd Gaming may try and do one thing related on the present web site of the Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria.
Peoria’s fear does appear to have at the least some proof tied to it, in response to the letter.
Peoria said in its letter it has come to its consideration that Boyd Gaming took soil boring samples in its car parking zone on the present Par-A-Dice location, sparking issues from Peoria.
“… the City of Peoria is concerned that Boyd intends to build a land-based casino in the City of East Peoria in violation of the intergovernmental agreement,” Peoria’s attorneys wrote.
Peoria’s attorneys of their letter then made 5 requests for affirmation from the town of East Peoria:
- That the borings within the car parking zone of the Par-A-Dice advanced are for the aim of creating a constructing during which playing operations can be situated.
- That the development of a constructing during which playing operations are situated within the car parking zone of the Par-A-Dice advanced wouldn’t be allowed by the City of East Peoria.
- That the development of a constructing during which playing operations are situated within the car parking zone of the Par-A-Dice advanced wouldn’t be allowed by the City of East Peoria as a result of it might violate the Intergovernmental Agreement.
- That the development of a constructing during which playing operations are situated within the car parking zone of the Par-A-Dice advanced would violate the Intergovernmental Agreement.
- That the development of a constructing during which playing operations are situated within the car parking zone of the Par-A-Dice advanced would violate Section 6 of the Intergovernmental Agreement.
Peoria concluded the letter saying: “If we do not hear from you with fourteen (14) days we will conclude that the City of East Peoria does not intend to comply with its mandatory obligations under Section 19 of the Intergovernmental Agreement.”
The letter from Peoria’s attorneys to Kahl mark essentially the most specific assertion of Peoria’s fears that Boyd Gaming will attempt to make the most of a loophole to keep away from shifting throughout the river to construct its deliberate new on line casino.
Boyd has but to announce location of latest on line casino
Boyd Gaming has not stated in calls with traders and conferences with the Illinois Gaming Board if its new facility can be land-based, water-based or inbuilt East Peoria or Peoria.
Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith informed traders in February that the corporate deliberate on constructing a $100 million on line casino to exchange the Par-A-Dice Casino riverboat.
Peoria and East Peoria have been feuding for greater than a yr about the way forward for the Par-A-Dice. Peoria contends East Peoria must honor a 1991 settlement signed between the 2 cities that dictated that any land-based on line casino constructed within the area needed to be on Peoria’s facet of the river.
East Peoria has maintained that Peoria is overstepping on personal enterprise by making an attempt to lure the deliberate new on line casino to its facet of the river.
Kahl didn’t reply to a Journal Star emails requesting remark. However, at his State of the City tackle in February, Kahl stated that East Peoria would “protect” the rights of personal companies to make their very own selections and the town wouldn’t inform companies “what to do” or “where you have to be.”
Peoria Mayor Rita Ali despatched a letter to the Illinois Gaming Board in February during which she stated that Boyd Gaming wanted to construct a land-based on line casino in Peoria or promote its Par-A-Dice license to somebody who would.
She additionally stated in that letter it might be “frivolous” for East Peoria and Boyd Gaming to to “manipulate” the definition of “riverboat” or “land-based” gaming.
Peoria City Manager Patrick Urich informed the Journal Star the July 24 letter from attorneys to East Peoria ought to “speak for itself.”
“We’re hopeful that East Peoria will honor their requirements under the intergovernmental agreement,” Urich stated.
Ali stated Peoria is making an attempt to guarantee that the intergovernmental settlement is honored “in its integrity.”
“We’re just trying to enforce and hope that both cities honor that,” Ali stated. “All of our efforts and all of our communications are to that end.”
This web page was created programmatically, to learn the article in its unique location you possibly can go to the hyperlink bellow:
https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/local/2025/08/22/peoria-fears-east-peoria-boyd-gaming-may-violate-casino-agreement/85708675007/
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