New Hampshire Supreme Court Upholds Casino License Revocation in COVID Fraud Scandal

New Hampshire’s Supreme Court has upheld the revocation of the gaming license of a former Republican state senator embroiled in a COVID-relief fraud scandal involving luxury sports cars and an attempted multimillion-dollar casino sale. Andy Sanborn, a former New Hampshire Republican state senator, pleaded guilty in July to stealing $255,232 in federal pandemic relief funds intended for his casino business. (Image: New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office) In a ruling Wednesday (Oct. 28), the court rejected an appeal by Andy Sanborn and his company, Win Win Win LLC, which operated Concord Casino in the state capital. The decision also upheld the New Hampshire Lottery and Gaming Commission’s refusal to approve a prospective buyer for the casino or extend a deadline requiring Sanborn to sell the business. Sanborn was ordered to sell Concord Casino after state investigators concluded he improperly obtained $844,000 in federal pandemic relief loans, allegedly spending some of the proceeds on two Porsches and a Ferrari. The casino closed in January 2024, and its gaming license was subsequently revoked after Sanborn failed to complete a sale to a regulator-approved buyer. Casino Sale Falls Apart Sanborn had arranged a deal potentially worth $40 million with an unidentified buyer, but regulators rejected the proposed transaction over concerns about the buyer’s financial capacity and Sanborn’s continuing involvement in the business. The agreement included an initial $10 million purchase price and a further $30 million in payments over five years, contingent on conditions including the buyer securing authorization to operate historic horse racing machines. Regulators questioned whether the buyer could finance the deal and whether the arrangements would allow Sanborn to retain substantial influence over the casino. Sanborn argued that regulators had unfairly obstructed the sale, effectively destroying the value of his business. The Supreme Court sided with the commission, finding that its decisions were supported by the evidence. Fraud Guilty Plea In July, Sanborn pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing $255,232 in pandemic relief funds, admitting he diverted money intended for his business toward personal expenses. The guilty plea followed a yearslong investigation into his use of Economic Injury Disaster Loan funds administered by the Small Business Administration. State investigators previously alleged Sanborn concealed the casino’s identity on loan applications because gambling businesses were ineligible for the assistance. They also accused him of using relief money to purchase two Porsches and a Ferrari for his wife, former state representative Laurie Sanborn. Sanborn separately faces state fraud charges alleging he inflated casino revenues by more than $1 million to obtain additional pandemic assistance. Under his federal plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to recommend a prison sentence of one year and one day, although the ultimate sentence rests with the court. The ruling leaves the future of Concord Casino in doubt. The post New Hampshire Supreme Court Upholds Casino License Revocation in COVID Fraud Scandal appeared first on Casino.org.