The hearing for the Concord Casino License, which has sparked controversy, has been postponed by the New Hampshire Lottery Commission.
New Hampshire authorities postponed a scheduled hearing regarding the Concord Casino’s license for 10 days.
The photo above shows The Draft Sports Bar and Grill in Concord, N. The Concord Casino is located inside. The hearing for the casino’s license has been postponed. (Image: Concord Casino)
The New Hampshire Bulletin reported that the New Hampshire Lottery Commission has rescheduled the hearing from Tuesday to October 13.
The license issued to Andy Sanborn, a previous state senator, is under review following an inquiry by state Attorney General John M. Formella.
Formella stated that Sanborn is not suitable to be involved with charitable gaming in New Hampshire and may have their license revoked.
Appeal Filed
Sanborn has submitted an appeal and desires to retain his non-profit casino license.
During the state’s investigation, it was discovered that Sanborn received $844K in federal COVID relief funds in an improper manner. This is not appropriate for someone who owns a casino.
Furthermore, Sanborn reportedly utilized a portion of the funds to cover the cost of three race cars for his own enjoyment and to secure upcoming rent expenses, according to authorities.
Authorities stated that a Ferrari was gifted to Laurie Sanborn, a state representative and wife of Sanborn, in Bedford, NH. They also mentioned that both Sanborn and Laurie are registered Republicans.
The COVID relief application and disputed expenditures are also being investigated by Jane Young, the US Attorney for New Hampshire.
Some people have raised concerns about the profits from the Concord Casino being allocated to nonprofit organizations.
According to a recent report from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR), it is customary for charitable casinos in the state to donate 35% of their earnings to approved nonprofits in New Hampshire. However, NHPR’s investigation uncovered that Concord Casino only donates 17.5% of its earnings.
The Bulletin reported that the Lottery Commission has alerted Andy Sanborn about his failure to submit monthly financial reports for charities. He was also informed that he had incorrectly designated a charity for casino proceeds in the past.
Sanborn Defends Self
Andy Sanborn replied to state accusations, saying, “Similar to numerous other companies and groups, we requested federal aid to deal with the difficulties of running during the COVID-19 crisis.”
We made sure to follow all the necessary rules and guidelines for the application. While I strongly disagree with the statements from the [Lottery] Commission, I am open to the upcoming investigation. I have full confidence that our actions were completely transparent and in accordance with the law.
In recent weeks, Laurie Sanborn resigned from her position as chair of a state committee overseeing charitable casinos due to the ongoing controversy surrounding it.
The Concord Casino is located in The Draft Sports Bar and Grill in Concord. Sanborn intends to establish a second charitable casino of 43,000 square feet in another location in Concord.
In June, the Planning Board of the city gave approval for the second property. However, there is currently a legal dispute surrounding that property.
The New Hampshire Lottery Commission has postponed a hearing regarding the disputed Concord Casino license, according to Casino.org.
