Dave Sinker, owner of the Comedy Shrine in Aurora, Illinois recently was denied an exemption to the city’s 6-month moratorium on local video gambling licenses, which started two months ago. The saga began in 2015 when Sinker applied to the state for a video gambling license. However, the state did not grant the license until more than two years later. Meanwhile, Aurora had passed its moratorium.
Sinker said he “did everything I was asked to do” by the state and the city. He said the 13-year old Comedy Shrine attracted 21,000 people in 2016.
The city council instituted the six-month moratorium to review the number and distribution of video gambling sites, how many more could be licensed, what types of businesses are applying and whether any limits may be necessary.
Alderman Judd Lofchie, who voted against the moratorium, said he feels “very bad for the Comedy Shrine. I think we should look at that, grandfathering him in,” Lofchie said.
However, Mayor Richard Irvin noted several businesses called requesting an exemption following the moratorium. “If we open the door for Lofchie, then all the others can apply for it,” Irvin said. City Clerk Wendy McCambridge is “working very hard” on developing procedures for the city, Irvin said, and aldermen will receive her recommendations soon. He noted the moratorium “is not permanent.”
