The Illinois Gaming Board voted unanimously to renew Par-A-Dice Casino’s owner’s casino license through March 2028 at its meeting Thursday as the East Peoria-based venue is in the early conceptual stages of modernizing.

Par-A-Dice Casino originally opened in 1991 in Peoria proper and relocated two years later. Boyd Gaming bought the riverboat casino and adjoining hotel for $163 million in April 1996 and has successfully renewed its license with the state agency every four years since.

Cori Rutherford, who is Vice President and General Manager at Boyd Gaming and has been with Par-A-Dice since 1994, made the presentation to the IGB on the casino’s behalf. Par-A-Dice Casino has 553 slots, 18 table games and a retail sportsbook operated by FanDuel.

The venue has generated $9.3 million in casino revenue through the first two months of 2024, with the state collecting $1.1 million in tax revenue and local communities receiving $526,000 worth of receipts. That ranks 10th among Illinois’ 15 casinos, but is also in line with its square footage. Par-A-Dice has generated $142.86 in revenue per admission in 2024, which ranks third behind Rivers Casino ($174.98) and Grand Victoria Casino ($155.79).

Par-A-Dice reported $63.5 million in casino revenue in 2023, which was a 4.5% increase from 2022. The state received $9.3 million in taxes last year, with an additional $3.6 million going to local communities.

Plenty of positive momentum in presentation

Rutherford touted the job satisfaction rate of the employees at Par-A-Dice, with the 91% figure being the highest among any properties in Boyd’s portfolio. Approximately 40% of the 436 employees at the casino have been with the company for at least 10 years, while 28% have been at the East Peoria venue for 20 years or longer.

Par-A-Dice’s employment demographics meet or exceed state minimum thresholds, with approximately half the workforce comprised of women and 8% having previously served in the military. It has over $7 million worth of contracts with nearly 400 Illinois-based vendors, with approximately $1.5 million worth granted to women-based and minority-based enterprises.

Ward Shaw, Senior Vice President, Operations, noted Boyd’s plans to modernize the casino are underway with conceptual designs, though the company has made an $11 million technology investment across the property. That includes the 200-room hotel that features 19 suites.

The question-and-answer session with Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Charles Schmadeke and fellow board commissioners was largely positive, with Schmadeke inquiring about local community relations and the sustainability of environmental initiatives. IGB Administrator Marcus Fruchter lauded the Boyd representatives for the company’s consistent two-way communications with the state agency.

As part of the unanimous vote of approval, Boyd Gaming must present its modernization plans for the casino to the board by March 2026.

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