New Hampshire: Judge upholds revocation of Sanborn’s casino license amid fraud allegations

A New Hampshire judge on Tuesday upheld the state Lottery Commission's decision to revoke the gaming license of Andy Sanborn, the embattled owner of the Concord Casino, for two years. The ruling is a significant setback for Sanborn, whose casino has been shuttered since January amid allegations of pandemic fraud.  

Sanborn’s efforts to sell the casino, which hinges on the valuable historic horse racing licenses tied to its operations, now face further uncertainty as the state has also blocked the pending sale over structural concerns in the deal.  

The revocation stems from a broader fraud investigation into Sanborn and his wife, Rep. Laurie Sanborn. Authorities allege the couple misused $844,000 in federal pandemic loans, including spending $182,000 on luxury cars. Sanborn is also accused of inflating the casino’s gross receipts by $1 million to secure an additional $188,474 from the state’s Main Street Relief Fund.  

While no charges have been filed for the loan misuse, Sanborn was arrested in October for allegedly defrauding another pandemic aid program.  

Sanborn’s legal team has fought to keep the casino license viable by extending sale deadlines. After signing a purchase and sale agreement with a buyer in September, Sanborn’s attorneys sought more time to finalize the deal, arguing the state’s vetting process delayed the approval.  

"The buyer has now provided the state a clear path to closing the transaction, which is in the best interest of the community, the taxpayers, and the charities," said Sanborn’s attorney, Zachary Hafer, in response to the ruling.  

The sale deadline expired on November 21, leaving the casino’s fate in limbo. Judge Albert noted that any further requests for extensions would be moot in his court. While he said that there may be reason to give Sanborn more time to sell, he noted that he no longer has the authority to do so.

"The equities in this matter strongly favor an extension given the positive tax revenue and support of charitable organizations," Judge Gregory Albert said, acknowledging the broader economic impact of the closure, as per NHPR.  

Sanborn’s lawyers plan to challenge the state’s revocation order and vetting process in court. "It remains unclear why the state is standing in the way of the public interest," Hafer said, criticizing the state’s refusal to assure buyers they would not inherit liability from Sanborn’s legal troubles.  

Meanwhile, buyers are reportedly hesitant to finalize deals without guarantees against potential future liabilities stemming from the fraud investigation, which could lead to a 10-year license suspension if Sanborn is convicted.  

The timeline for the state’s revocation remains unclear, including whether the 11 months the casino has already been closed will count toward the two-year suspension.