New Hampshire upholds Concord Casino license revocation
The New Hampshire Supreme Court has upheld the revocation of Concord Casino’s gaming license, rejecting an appeal involving former state senator Andy Sanborn and his company, Win Win Win LLC. The October 28 ruling also supported regulators’ decisions concerning a proposed buyer and the deadline for selling the business.
The licensing dispute followed findings that Sanborn had improperly obtained federal pandemic assistance for the casino. State investigators concluded that the business received an $844,000 loan despite restrictions on gambling businesses’ eligibility for the program. Concord Casino closed in January 2024.
Regulators had required Sanborn to sell the casino to an approved buyer. The proposed transaction raised concerns about the buyer’s financial capacity and Sanborn’s continuing connections with the business, including arrangements that would have extended beyond completion of the sale.
The court supported regulators’ rejection of the proposed sale
The Supreme Court concluded that the challenged regulatory decisions were supported by the record. Its ruling leaves the license revocation in place following the unsuccessful effort to complete a sale acceptable to the state’s gaming authorities.
“Charitable gaming in New Hampshire must be conducted with integrity, transparency, and accountability,” Attorney General Formella said in a statement reported by New Hampshire Public Radio. The attorney general’s office welcomed the decision; Sanborn’s lawyers declined to comment to the outlet.
The licensing appeal is distinct from Sanborn’s criminal cases. He pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges in July and is awaiting sentencing. He separately faces state charges concerning another pandemic assistance program, according to New Hampshire Public Radio’s reporting.
