Peoria files lawsuit to block state vote on casino replacement
Peoria is suing to prevent the Illinois Gaming Board from voting on a new casino, arguing it violates state law and a 1991 agreement.Summary
The city of Peoria has filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Gaming Board, Boyd Gaming, the city of East Peoria, and Par-A-Dice Gaming Corporation, seeking a temporary restraining order to halt a vote on Boyd Gaming’s proposed casino in East Peoria. Peoria argues the proposed land-based casino violates both state law and a 1991 intergovernmental agreement stipulating the location of casinos relative to the river. The City Council recently rejected a $1.8 million annual settlement offer from Boyd Gaming. Boyd Gaming plans to construct a building over a basin of water, classifying it as a riverboat casino, a move Peoria officials view as a circumvention of the agreement. Litigation could cost Peoria up to $1 million if it reaches the Illinois Supreme Court, but the council voted 5-5 to proceed despite the potential expense.
(Source：Peoria Journal Star)