Possible Reopening in Six Months
The Concord Casino in New Hampshire, owned by former state senator Andy Sanborn, is set to be temporarily shutdown starting January 1. However, there is a possibility of the casino reopening in six months if it is sold to a new owner, according to the state lottery commission.
Allegations of Fraudulent Activity
In August, the state lottery commission made an attempt to permanently revoke Sanborn’s gaming license. The allegations stated that Sanborn fraudulently obtained $844,000 in relief funds. The commission argued that Sanborn improperly obtained federal funds, misrepresented his spending, paid himself large sums as rent, and failed to maintain accurate records.
Fraudulent Loan Application
During the investigation, it was revealed that Sanborn obtained $844,000 in funding from the Small Business Administration between December 2021 and February 2022. However, casinos and charitable gaming facilities were not eligible for such loans. Sanborn omitted the name “Concord Casino” from his application and falsely listed his primary business activity as “miscellaneous services.” It was discovered that he spent $181,000 on two Porsche race cars and $80,000 on a Ferrari for his wife. Sanborn also paid himself over $183,000 as rent for his Concord properties.
License Suspension
Hearings examiner Michael King ruled that Sanborn’s license should be suspended. While he did not have the authority to determine if the loan application was fraudulent, he concluded that filing it with false and misleading information was enough to warrant the suspension. King also rejected Sanborn’s claim that the cars were not purchased with the loan, stating that there was a clear link between the loan and the vehicle purchases. Additionally, it was noted that none of the cars were American made, which violated the terms of the loan.
Response from Sanborn
Sanborn, who was not present at the hearing due to a medical appointment, has not yet responded to the ruling. His lawyer argued that the state’s case was based on a flawed investigation and unproven allegations.
At the time the allegations were announced in August, federal authorities were notified and a criminal investigation was initiated by the state.