NH Attorney General Denies Charitable Gaming at Concord Casino

The state Attorney General’s Office announced that it would not approve the resumption of charitable gaming at former state Senator Andy Sanborn’s Concord Casino.

The decision is a result of the Attorney General not giving the green light to the pending sale of the venue. 

Two Years of Attempts Could Come to an End

Following Friday’s decision, New Hampshire’s two-year effort to remove controversial Sanborn from charitable gaming after allegations of misusing $844,000 in pandemic aid could finally come to an end.

Sanborn has been attempting to sell the casino since the state ordered its closure in December 2023 due to fraud-related charges. 

The judge who issued the order set a limited timeframe for Sanborn to sell. 

While the deadline has been extended multiple times, it appears it could finally end as soon as next month, if not earlier.

Felony Theft Charges Against Sanborn

The state is pursuing felony theft charges against Sanborn and his gambling venue related to the alleged fraud. 

A conviction would prevent the casino from holding a gaming license for 10 years.

Sanborn’s attorney, Zachary Hafer, previously accused the state of trying to block the sale by indicting the casino separately from his client.

However, neither the Attorney General’s Office nor Sanborn’s lawyers disclosed specific reasons for the recent licensing decision. 

Sanborn’s attorneys claimed the state’s concerns were not personally related to the buyer, who has not been publicly identified.

During the hearing, lawyer Adam Katz argued that there was “no criticism of the buyer’s background” and also “no criticism of the buyer’s credentials.” 

Katz went on to say: “There is not one blemish on the buyer’s record that the suitability letter cites. The buyer is spotless from the perspective of the state.”

Sanborn’s Lawyers Called the Proceedings “Kafkaesque”

Sanborn’s legal team argued that the state was intentionally obstructing the sale. 

“Again, there’s been no question about the buyer’s credentials, the buyer’s personality, the buyer’s reputation. All of that is good to go from the perspective of the state,” lawyer Katz explained. 

“So far as we can tell, it seems like the answer is (the state does) not like the order (allowing Sanborn to sell). Lawyers can be too quick to call proceedings Kafkaesque, but this one seems to me to fit the bill.”

The Narrative Is “Simply False”

Senior Assistant Attorney General Jessica King interrupted Katz before he could elaborate on the state’s findings, explaining The Granite State is obligated to keep licensing suitability decisions confidential.

“This narrative that the state is trying to obstruct and prevent the sale is simply false,” King added, further explaining that the New Hampshire Lottery Commission had “met with the buyer, many, many, many times.”

She added that the commission “had constant communication with the buyer” and went “out of its way to ensure” that they had all the necessary things “to complete a suitability determination.”

The senior assistant Attorney General suggested the state might have raised issues with the proposed financing of the deal, which would have been part of the license suitability review. 

However, the details of the 75-page purchase agreement have not been disclosed.

If the decision stands, it could also forfeit significant revenue for the state’s public education system, which benefits from casino earnings.

Katz made it clear that the legal battle would persist if the licensing decision was upheld.