As the gavel sounded in a New Hampshire courtroom on Tuesday, the fate of a charitable gaming license hung in the balance. Andy Sanborn, a former state senator and owner of the Concord Casino located within the Draft Sports Bar & Grill, awaited the outcome of deliberations. The central question was whether Sanborn would be able to retain his casino license amid a swirling maelstrom of controversy.
At stake was the decision of Michael King, a state Department of Safety hearing officer, who sat poised to render a judgment by month’s end. Weighing heavily on his shoulders were the closing arguments and a tapestry of evidence unfurled throughout the week.
The State’s contention hinges on allegations of fraud, with accusations that Sanborn mishandled funds obtained through a federal COVID relief loan totaling $844K. The portrait painted by the officials was one of deliberate misappropriation, decrying the use of $181K for purchasing two Porsche race cars and an additional $80K for a Ferrari, ostensibly a gift for Sanborn’s wife, state Rep. Laurie Sanborn. Beyond personal luxuries, more than $183K allegedly found its way to cover rent expenses.
Sanborn’s legal defense navigated a different narrative. Zachary Hafer, his attorney, called attention to a distinction between intentional malfeasance and mere oversights or negligence. “There’s a big difference, Mr. King, between intentional misconduct and mistakes or carelessness,” Hafer asserted, noting Sanborn’s engagement of a consultant during the loan application process.
The unfolding drama further included testimony by Leila McDonough, an auditor for the New Hampshire Lottery Commission, whose appraisal of Sanborn’s financial practices was damning. Labeled as “sloppy at best,” her critique escalated when she highlighted the extraordinary challenge of conducting audits where there was no access to count the actual cash on hand.
The implications of such loose financial controls were mirrored in the numerous warnings and enforcement actions the casino had accumulated. Reports indicated almost 12 warning letters and nearly 30 forms citing violations over a span of four years, which included unauthorized promotions, diminished prize offerings, and dealings with an unlicensed charity.
As the Concord Casino’s current license teeters on the edge of its December 31 expiration, and with Sanborn eyeing the establishment of a second casino venue, the consequences of King’s decision loom ever larger.
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