With new on line casino design, Boyd Gaming could keep away from authorized battle with Peoria

• Boyd Gaming has modified its plan from a land-based constructing to a completely moored barge on line casino in East Peoria.
• Peoria had beforehand filed a authorized problem towards Boyd’s unique plan for a land-based facility.
• The Peoria City Council lately rejected a settlement supply from Boyd Gaming that might have paid the town about $1.8 million yearly.

Boyd Gaming on Thursday scrapped its plans to construct a 29,000-square-foot constructing on land in East Peoria and as an alternative has proposed a brand new on line casino on a completely moored barge on the Illinois River, which may keep away from litigation with the town of Peoria.

Boyd Gaming’s new proposal, which can see a 40,000-square-foot on line casino flooring constructed on a barge on the Illinois River, was proposed to make Peoria’s authorized problem to its unique plan a “moot” problem, in keeping with Boyd’s presentation to the Illinois Gaming Board on Thursday.

The Illinois Gaming Board tabled its resolution on the on line casino Thursday and can as an alternative vote on the plan possible throughout the subsequent three week, the board stated.

Construction of the completely moored barge is anticipated to start this yr, if the plan is authorised by the gaming board.

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An legal professional for Peoria stated they had been “quite surprised” by Boyd’s presentation on Thursday. Peoria’s shock comes simply days after the town filed a authorized problem to Boyd’s unique proposal to assemble a constructing on land that it might name a riverboat.

Peoria Mayor Rita Ali instructed the Journal Star on Thursday after the assembly that she was upset within the place this leaves the town, however the council and metropolis workers will take time to completely consider Boyd Gaming’s proposal and can maintain an government session Tuesday evening to speak about finest choices shifting ahead.

Ali stated she was shocked, as nicely, on Thursday at Boyd’s new plan, particularly due to how shortly the corporate was capable of pivot to a completely moored barge plan vs. the constructing it proposed in December.

“Even though there was an indication by Boyd that they would do everything that they could to comply with Illinois Gaming Board and the state law to get an approval, but they made it clear to us they are not coming to Peoria, so that tells me they are going to change their plan maybe one time, two times, three times, four times, five times, however many times they needed to get approval to stay where they are,” Ali stated. “But I don’t think any of us had any idea that the change of plans to a permanently moored barge would happen over night.”

Peoria contended that unique plan violated state regulation and a 1991 intergovernmental settlement signed between Peoria and East Peoria that dictated any land-based on line casino have to be in Peoria and any riverboat would should be in East Peoria.

Peoria’s legal professional stated the town would wish extra time to evaluation the brand new plan however added it may fulfill Peoria’s problem and dismiss the lawsuit pending in Cook County. However, he stated the town would wish greater than “five minutes” to evaluation the brand new plan.

Boyd’s new proposal nevertheless, because it identified, does possible fulfill the necessities wanted to maintain their operation in East Peoria.

Peoria City Attorney Patrick Hayes instructed the City Council on Monday evening there was a risk Boyd Gaming may pivot to a completely moored barge on line casino and keep in East Peoria.

Peoria’s City Council voted 5-5 on Monday evening to not settle for a settlement supply from Boyd that might have paid the town an estimated $1.8 million a yr. Instead, the council moved to litigate, hoping to both win in court docket or get a greater settlement supply.

Instead, Boyd, in an effort to keep away from litigation utterly, unveiled new plans to create this completely moored barge. In feedback made Thursday, representatives from Boyd instructed the gaming board they consider this new proposal makes Peoria’s lawsuit “moot” and satisfies all necessities of state regulation.

For these on the Peoria City Council who voted to just accept the settlement settlement on Monday, their worst fears of how this might play out have come true on Thursday.

Ali and others had warned throughout debate that Boyd Gaming may pivot to a plan alongside the traces of one thing like a completely moored barge and in flip, the town can be left with nothing quite than a virtually $2 million a yr payout.

Ali and councilmembers Denise Jackson, Mike Vepsa, Bernice Gordon-Young and Andre Allen voted to just accept the settlement.

“Disappointment. Disappointment with the position we are in right now because I think there was a missed opportunity,” Ali stated. “I don’t say that to rub that in because I don’t give a darn about being right. I think we were always right, honestly, but my goal Monday night in voting yes was to try and get as much of a win as I thought we could for the people of Peoria to build up the city.”

Those who voted towards it had been councilmembers Tim Riggenbach, Zach Oyler, John Kelly, Alex Carmona and Kiran Velpula. Denis Cyr was not current for Monday’s vote.

“If this is what it took to get them to follow the law, who I am to say they can’t have a bigger barge?” Carmona stated Thursday. “It is unfortunate because, and I am sure we will get a lot of pushback because we could’ve made more money, but made more money at what expense? Kind of the things like losing credibility, upholding contracts and setting bad precedent.”

Riggenach instructed the Journal Star on Thursday he’s wanting ahead to the additional discussions about the way to transfer ahead.

“I am somewhat satisfied to see that Boyd agrees with our assertation that the 1991 agreement and state law carry weight and they agree that a land-based casino would need to be in Peoria,” Riggenbach stated.