NH Lottery Suspends Concord Casino Charitable Gaming License

CONCORD, NH — State officials are suspending the charitable gaming license for the Concord Casino on Monday, and the current owner will be given six months to sell the license, or it will be revoked.

The decision to suspend the Concord Casino, owned by former state Senator Anthony “Andy” Sanborn, a Bedford Republican, was made by Michael King, an independent hearing officer, on Wednesday in a nine-page decision. King agreed with more than 100 findings of fact made by the New Hampshire Lottery Commission in concluding to suspend and revoke the license of Win Win Win LLC, which has been operating since 20189. Three of the state’s findings of facts were denied.

Thirteen state conclusions of law were granted, while 19 were denied. Many of the denied conclusions were denied due to not being relevant to the proceeding “and better left for determination by another agency.” Sanborn can operate the casino until Jan. 1, 2024, when the license is suspended and the casino must cease operations. He then has six months to sell the casino. If Sanborn fails to sell the business, the license will be fully revoked.

The accusations against Sanborn included increasing rent payments to himself from $500 a month to as much as $20,000 a month across several years, according to a state audit. The total amount appears to be more than a quarter of a century of advance rental payments. Sanborn was also accused of misusing more than $800,000 in coronavirus relief money for the business to buy himself and his wife sports cars.

In a statement, the lottery said, “The New Hampshire Lottery is in receipt of Attorney King’s decision and thanks him for his efforts. The commission is reviewing the decision and evaluating our options with the Attorney General’s office.”

Neither Andy Sanborn nor state Rep. Laurie Sanborn, R-Bedford, who does not own the business but was acting as a gaming consultant to Concord Casino, were present at the hearing.

They did not return emailed requests for comment before post time.

The full decision can be found here. The state’s full findings of facts and conclusions can be found here.

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