New Hampshire Rep. Laurie Sanborn is scheduled to meet on Oct. 26 with the House Republican Caucus, even as her husband fights the New Hampshire Lottery Commission (NHLC) to retain the license on their charitable gaming facility, Concord Casino.
Sanborn, R-Bedford, is the House Ways and Means Committee chairwoman. That committee killed the 2023 online casino bill in April.
While she remains in that position, she resigned on Sept. 1 from her leadership role in the Commission to Study the Effect of Recent Changes Made to Charitable Gaming Laws.
That’s because the day before, the NHLC declared her husband should lose his gaming license. That declaration arrived in an Aug. 31 letter to Anthony M. Sanborn, in which the lottery alleged he’d “unlawfully obtained” $844,000 in pandemic funds. The lottery also accused Sanborn of misusing the funds to buy his wife a Ferrari.
Court records show the lottery alternately labels Laurie Sanborn “a bingo consultant” to the Concord Casino or a “gaming consultant” and “hall manager” for Win, Win, Win — doing business as Concord Casino.
The lottery is New Hampshire’s gaming regulator overseeing charitable gaming establishments that, in any other state, would be called retail or commercial casinos. In the Granite State, the land-based casinos are called charitable gaming facilities because part of the proceeds go to charities.
In a related matter, Garry Rayno reported on Oct. 17 for InDepthNH.org that the study commission replaced Laurie Sanborn:
Former state Rep. Pat Abrami, R-Stratham, was chosen as the new chair of the commission over state Sen. Timothy Lang, R-Sanbornton, on a 7-5 vote.
Lang introduced the 2023 online casino gambling bill.
Concord Casino Still in Business
Meanwhile, Anthony Sanborn was due in Merrimack Superior Court today for the hearing on his petition for an injunction. However, the former state Senator wasn’t present to talk about the Covid-19-related matter because he had a medical appointment, his lawyer Zachary Hafer told Annmarie Timmins of the New Hampshire Bulletin today.
Timmins reported today that Superior Court Justice Amy L. Ignatius granted the plaintiff eight more weeks to prepare his defense against the lottery’s allegations.
She wrote:
Sanborn’s license revocation hearing is expected to be scheduled for early or mid-December, three weeks before his license expires.
That meant Anthony Sanborn, who prefers to be called “Andy,” was still listed as the contact person on the casino’s Facebook page today that posted an announcement about the Monday Poker Tournament.
Around 8 p.m. today, the Concord Casino urged its page’s 2,000 followers:
Come on in and try your luck!
Laurie Sanborn May Meet With Republicans
On Thursday, Laurie Sanborn is scheduled to attend the House Republican Caucus.
That gathering’s point person — state Rep. Jason Osborne, R-Auburn — told Bonus on Oct. 16 that the body won’t discuss Laurie Sanborn’s status or request that she resign.
Osborne is the House majority leader. However, the party’s majority is slim. Ballotpedia shows 198 Representatives are Republicans and 197 are Democrats.
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