Peoria Seeks to Dismiss Lawsuit Against Par-A-Dice Casino Plan

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Peoria officials have filed a motion to voluntarily dismiss their lawsuit against the owners of the Par-A-Dice Casino Hotel, Boyd Gaming, after the company changed its initial plan to replace the riverboat casino with a land-based building. The city had challenged the design, arguing it violated state law and a decades-old agreement requiring land-based gaming to be on the Peoria County side of the Illinois River. But with Boyd's revised plan to replace the casino with a barge moored on the river, the city has decided to drop the lawsuit.

Why it matters

The Par-A-Dice Casino has been a fixture in Peoria for decades, and the city was concerned that Boyd Gaming's initial plan to replace it with a land-based building would violate long-standing agreements. The city's decision to drop the lawsuit after Boyd changed the design to a barge-based casino suggests a compromise has been reached that satisfies both parties' interests.

The details

Peoria officials filed a motion on Friday in Cook County Circuit Court to 'voluntarily dismiss' their lawsuit against Boyd Gaming's initial $160 million plan to overhaul the Par-A-Dice Casino. The city had argued the land-based design was a breach of state law and a decades-old agreement requiring land-based gaming to be on the Peoria County side of the Illinois River. But when Boyd changed the plan to a barge-based casino moored on the river, the city decided to drop the lawsuit. The Illinois Gaming Board is set to consider Boyd's revised plan at its meeting on February 26.

• The motion to dismiss was filed on February 16, 2026.
• The Illinois Gaming Board is scheduled to meet on February 26, 2026 to consider Boyd Gaming's revised barge-based casino plan.

What’s next

The Illinois Gaming Board is scheduled to meet on February 26, 2026 to consider Boyd Gaming's revised barge-based casino plan for the Par-A-Dice Casino.