Sanborn Appeals “Unreasonable and Unlawful” License Revocation

Last week, we reported on the interest expressed by Full House Resorts Inc. and Bettor Investments Group in purchasing Concord Casino, the venue owned by former New Hampshire state senator Andy Sanborn, who was arrested over fraud allegations and later on indicted.

At the end of November, administrative law judge Gregory Albert decided to clear the path for the owner’s license revocation, adding more uncertainty regarding the completion of the sale.

Now, the embattled owner is challenging the state’s decision to revoke his gaming license.

The Decision, “Unreasonable and Unlawful” 

Sanborn’s appeal, filed in Merrimack County Superior Court, asked for Judge Albert’s recent ruling to be overturned. 

Albert had previously declared that the ongoing disputes between Sanborn and the New Hampshire Lottery Commission were “moot,” noting that the licenses in question had already expired. 

He further stated that aspects of the case were “not ripe for review” due to pending felony theft charges against Sanborn and his company.

Sanborn’s legal filing, which described the move to revoke the gaming license as “unreasonable and unlawful,” considered the judge’s conclusions to be inconsistent and illogical. 

The court filing argued that it was contradictory for his petitions to be deemed both too early and too late, as he was still attempting to sell Win Win Win, LLC, the company that was responsible for running Concord Casino. 

In his view, the ongoing legal entanglements are directly affecting his ability to sell the company while the lack of a valid gaming license would cause the business to lose significant value and deter prospective buyers.

Alleged Attempts to Shut Down the Sale

In his appeal, Sanborn accused the New Hampshire Lottery Commission and the Attorney General’s Office of deliberately obstructing the casino’s sale. 

“Respondents attempted to intimidate buyers (e.g., by suggesting buyers would face criminal liability for conduct alleged to have been undertaken by Petitioners before the sale), undermine the possibility of a sale, and cause delays to run out the clock on the revocation deadline,” the appeal said.

The legal disputes over Sanborn’s gaming license and the fate of the Concord Casino have dragged on for over a year.

Sanborn’s predicament stems from felony theft charges that allege financial misconduct linked to his casino operations. 

The unresolved nature of the charges has further complicated his efforts to clear his name and facilitate the sale of his business.