The planned sale of Concord Casino has encountered new obstacles, with the current owner’s attorneys pointing fingers at New Hampshire state officials as the cause of the delay. Andy Sanborn, the casino’s proprietor, was ordered to offload the charitable gaming property following the suspension of his casino license. While the identity of the prospective buyer has not been publicly disclosed, it is known that the individual has participated in pre-sale meetings.
Sanborn is keen to finalize the sale, according to his legal team, who assert that the buyer is above reproach. “There is no criticism of the buyer’s background,” Attorney Adam Katz, representing Sanborn, stated to New Hampshire Public Radio. “There is no criticism of the buyer’s credentials. There is not one blemish on the buyer’s record that the suitability letter cites. The buyer is spotless from the perspective of the state.”
Katz further emphasized Sanborn’s willingness to move forward. “He wants to put this mess far in the rearview mirror,” Katz added. “Mr. Sanborn clearly has worked to sell. The only problem is the chicanery from the state.”
However, New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Jessica King contests these claims. “There is no evidence the state is actually trying to prevent anything,” King said. “This narrative that the state is trying to obstruct and prevent the sale is simply false.” King elaborated that the New Hampshire Lottery Commission has met with the buyer on numerous occasions. She asserted that the commission has been in constant communication with the buyer and has gone to great lengths to ensure the buyer had everything necessary for a suitability determination. “It has continued to talk to the buyer,” she added.
The issue was intensely debated during a hearing on Friday before Hearing Officer Gregory Albert. With both parties locked in a standoff, Sanborn has received extensions to complete the sale of the casino. Last year, Administrative Hearing Officer Michael King mandated that Sanborn sell the casino within six months.
Complicating matters further, Sanborn was indicted in October on state theft charges for allegedly inflating revenue figures to qualify for state COVID funds, thereby receiving about $140,000 more than he was entitled to. State officials have also scrutinized Sanborn, a former state senator, for his use of $844,000 in COVID relief funds designated for the Concord Casino. Authorities claim he used some of the money to purchase luxury cars, including two Porsches and a Ferrari, the latter being a gift for his wife, Laurie Sanborn, a state representative. Officials contend that the relief funds were not intended for casino-related expenses.
