New Hampshire Proposed Casino Moves Forward After Legal Win

Posted on: July 7, 2024, 09:00h. 

Last updated on: July 7, 2024, 09:00h.

Andy Sanborn’s planned gaming property in Concord, New Hampshire reportedly has received a much-needed court victory making it more likely the casino will be able to open.

An unsuccessful lawsuit filed by local resident Kassey Cameron in Merrimack Superior Court had challenged the 43,000-square-foot project on many fronts.

Opposition to Casino

She claimed it violated local zoning regulations and that it was improperly approved.

Other residents have also voiced complaints about traffic and environmental impacts if the casino were to open. Some residents even claim the gaming property would lead to risk of prostitution and illegal drugs.

A local environmental group which advocates for limited growth, the Concord Greenspace Coalition, gave town officials a petition opposing the planned casino. There were more than 150 signatures on the document.

According to the Concord Monitor news outlet, the project’s first phase will lead to a 26,000-square-foot gaming floor. It will include 634 seats and 486 electronic games, 21 table games, and a poker room. Also included will be an 8,500-square-foot restaurant and brewpub. 

A hotel and event space will be included in the second construction phase. Developers could add more gaming space, too.

Supporters of the project point out that the casino will add more than 250 jobs and attract visitors to the city. They also note that charities will benefit from the gaming property.

As a charitable gaming operation, 35% of gross revenue from the casino will be sent to approved charities every 10 days.

Forced to Sell Other Casino

Sanborn is no stranger to controversy when it comes to casinos in Concord.

In December, state officials ordered him to sell his existing charitable casino called Concord Casino. It’s located in Concord’s Draft Sports Bar & Grill.

One of the reported five interested buyers is Full House Resorts Inc., based in Las Vegas. It owns seven gaming properties which are in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, and Nevada. Among its casinos is Stockman’s Casino located in Fallon, Nev.

Sanborn recently was given three additional months to close the transaction with a new buyer, the Monitor reported.

Last month, Gregory Albert, who has taken over as hearing officer on the case, said there needs to be an actual pending sale. That “requires evidence of a clear intent from both seller and buyer to close the transaction,” the Monitor explained.

If Sanborn fails to sell the gaming property, he will lose his license for two years, according to the New Hampshire Bulletin, another local news outlet.

State officials appear skeptical that a buyer was in place.

Sanborn, a former state senator, and his wife, state Rep. Laurie Sanborn, R, were investigated after they allegedly improperly applied for $844K in COVID-19 relief funds. Some of the money was misused with the couple purchasing fancy cars with a portion of the cash, officials added.