Earlier this month, an ongoing legal case against Andy Sanborn, the owner of Concord Casino and former New Hampshire senator, hit a snag. The fraud case saw two experts dismissed by a judge who concluded that they engaged in gross negligence while investigating the issue.
Following that small victory, Sanborn enjoyed another favorable change in the circumstances this time regarding his license revocation. Last week, the New Hampshire Supreme Court decided to reverse the Concord Casino owner’s gaming license revocation, at least temporarily.
License Revocation Temporarily Suspended
As announced by the Concord Monitor, the Supreme Court ruled to accept Sanborn’s appeals, filed over his license revocation. The owner of Concord Casino has been trying to sell the property for quite some time. However, legal proceedings hindered that process and possibly contributed to making the casino unappealing.
While Sanbordn was given different deadlines, which ultimately got extended on several occasions, he failed to close a deal within that timeframe. Consequently, a judge cleared the path for Sanborn’s license revocation back in November, effectively ruling that the New Hampshire Lottery Commission could proceed with the action.
Not unexpectedly, Concord Casino’s owner appealed to the actions of the Commission. In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Sanborn claimed that the Commission, together with the Attorney General, tried to “intimidate buyers, confuse buyers and delay a sale.” Besides challenging the regulator’s decision that rejected Concord Casino’s sale, the former senator also appealed his license revocation.
In the latest chapter of the legal battle, the Supreme Court’s temporary suspension of Sanborn’s license revocation also resulted in a combination of his appeals. While the Court ruled to temporarily put on hold the revocation, Sanborn’s license, at least for the moment, remains suspended. Still, the progress may help clear the hurdle surrounding the license of Concord Casino, potentially clearing the path for the sale of the property.
Concord Casino Sale to Benefit the State and Charities
Resolving the legal battle that affects the sale of Concord Casino may be in the public’s interest. In fact, early this month, New Hampshire lawmakers asked for a license revocation review. Similarly to Sanborn himself, several lawmakers asked the Supreme Court to look into the casino license revocation and determine whether or not the process was completed in line with the established laws.
The court filing was signed by Jason Osborne, majority leader, Joseph Sweeney, deputy majority leader as well as Sen. Keith Murphy. The legislators explained in their filing that they are acting in the public’s interest, considering that the completion of the sale of Concord Casino can ultimately help generate funds for the state, as well as charities.
If a buyer takes over Concord Casino, they will likely expand the venue’s operations. This, according to the lawmakers, can generate even more proceeds. Still, how the legal dispute will play out remains to be seen.