
In a recent development that has spread waves in the world of gambling and legislation, New Hampshire’s casino owner Andy Sanborn has been granted an additional two months to prepare his defense for an impending hearing. The central concern is the future of his gambling license in the Granite State.
Sanborn, who finds himself besieged by controversy, successfully convinced the New Hampshire Lottery Commission to delay his court appearance by eight weeks. The December administrative hearing will now decide upon the fate of his gaming license. The stakes at this scheduled review have been amplified, as the onus now lies on the Lottery Commission’s legal squad to substantiate their allegations, and not on Sanborn to refute them.
A significant development in the hearing process is the involvement of a state official, outside the circle of the Lottery Commission, tasked with handling the course of the hearing.
Facing personal circumstances and plagued by health issues, Sanborn didn’t appear in court on Monday. According to New Hampshire Public Radio, he expressed the need for additional time to adequately prepare for the forthcoming hearing.
Sanborn, who also had a stint as a state senator, is the proprietor of Concord Casino nestled within Concord Draft Sports and Grill. His casino license is due for expiration on the last day of the year.
However, clouds of trouble started gathering over Sanborn’s gambling license when it was alleged that he had misappropriated $844K in COVID-19 relief funds. Allegations claimed that he purchased three cars with some of the funds – two for himself and one for his wife, State Rep. Laurie Sanborn. According to official claims, Sanborn failed to disclose his casino ownership during his loan application, which is significant given the restriction on using relief funds for gaming properties.
Lawyer Zachary Hafer, defending Sanborn, fervently contested some of the state’s allegations linked to Sanborn’s finances. He argued that Sanborn’s purchase of a Porsche in January 2022 wasn’t funded by misappropriated relief funds but his personal savings. Acknowledging the state’s investigation as ‘sloppy, at best,’ Hafer expressed his eagerness to disprove these allegations in a fair proceeding.
In addition to the loan controversy, Sanborn has been embroiled in 37 now-resolved tax liens, audits, and allegations over inappropriate remarks targeted at an intern. Moreover, Sanborn faced legal action from vendors for unpaid dues resulting from the closure of Banagans, a chain of bike and ski shops in New Hampshire.
Designed to determine the suitability of a licensee to operate a casino, the state’s license reviewing procedure did not apply to Sanborn, whose license dates back prior to 2019. However, officials now concede the necessity of conducting a full suitability review for these ‘legacy licensees’ every five years.
Behind-the-scenes attempts at reconciling the dispute between Sanborn and the Lottery Commission have involved the office of state Attorney General John Formella. These negotiations continue as the two months’ extension gives Sanborn a temporary reprieve.
As these developments continue to unfold, we at the West Island Blog remain committed to bringing you all the latest news from the world of casinos – both offline and online. Speaking of online casinos, if the fascinating world of virtual gambling piques your interest, then you’re in for a treat! Join us as we navigate through our list of the top performing online casinos for the month. Rest assured, we only spotlight the best-rated platforms, ensuring our loyal readers get the deluxe gaming experience they deserve.