The eagerly anticipated hearing regarding the future of the Concord Casino's license, which was poised to determine the fate of this high-profile establishment, has reportedly been postponed for a period of ten days.

The New Hampshire Lottery Commission had originally set the hearing date for this upcoming Tuesday, 3rd of October. However, the commission has rescheduled the hearing and it will now take place on 13th of October. According to emerging media reports, the hearing date has been postponed to allow for additional time to deliberate and ensure that all aspects of this vital decision are thoroughly considered.

The casino license in question was originally awarded to a former state senator Andy Sanborn. However, the legitimacy of the license slipped under scrutiny following an investigation led by New Hampshire’s Attorney General (AG), John M. Formella. The outcome of the investigation could potentially result in the revocation of the license, as the AG has expressed concerns by arguing that Sanborn is unsuitable for association with charitable gaming in the state.

The investigation by the state revealed that Sanborn improperly received a substantial amount of $844,000 in federal relief funds to fight against COVID, which, as a casino owner, he wasn’t eligible for. Some of those funds were allegedly diverted by the former senator for personal use, including for purchasing of three race cars and future rent payments. One of those race cars was an expansive Ferrari that was reportedly gifted by him to his wife, Laurie Sanborn, who is a state representative. Both individuals are registered as Republicans.

Adding to further complexity of the situation, New Hampshire’s Attorney, Jane Young, has also announced the launch of her own probe into the COVID relief funds.

In response to the aforementioned allegations, Sanborn argued, “Like many other businesses and organizations, we applied for federal relief to address the operational challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I am confident that our actions were fully transparent and in complete accordance with the law.”

Meanwhile, concerns have arisen regarding the allocation of proceeds from the Concord Casino to nonprofit organizations. In New Hampshire, charitable casinos are supposed to allocate 35 per cent of their proceeds to approved nonprofits. The Concord Casino's contribution of only 17.5 per cent of its proceeds raises concerns about its commitment to charity and adherence to regulations.