The New Hampshire Lottery Commission has reached an agreement with former State Senator and Concord Casino owner Andy Sanborn following his call for a public hearing, according to a NHPR local report. The state regulator has pushed to revoke Sanborn’s gaming license due to allegations that he misused pandemic relief funds.
Both the New Hampshire Lottery Commission and the state’s Attorney General had investigated Sanborn’s use of these funds between the months of January and August. They found that Sanborn “fraudulently obtained $844,000 in Covid relief funds, which casinos are ineligible to receive, to support his lavish lifestyle.”
According to the investigation, Sanborn had used the money to buy luxury cars for both his wife and for himself by making a cash payment disguised as rent.
Following the inquiry, the Lottery Commission issued a notice of administrative action against Concord Casino to revoke its charitable gaming license.
However, Sanborn issued an email statement, claiming that he is “innocent of all wrongdoing.”
The new agreement will allow Sanborn an additional eight weeks to prepare a defense. The commission also agreed to “step aside and allow someone from a different state agency to preside over Sanborn’s revocation hearing” and take on a heavier burden of proof regarding taking Sanborn’s license.
Sanborn’s wife, New Hampshire state Representative Laurie Sanborn, was recently selected to chair a new commission designed to evaluate charity gaming operations statewide. She serves as the chair of the House of Ways and Means Committee.
The new commission is comprised of 13 members and will examine the state’s gaming laws to determine if charities around the state are receiving the appropriate portion of the revenue.
Because the couple currently operates the Concord Casino, some have raised concerns regarding whether her new role could be a conflict of interest.
