New Hampshire Authorities Suspend Cheers Poker Room and Casino License

A popular poker spot in Salem, New Hampshire is closing its doors for at least a week. State authorities suspended the operating license of Cheers Poker Room and Casino this week. Business owner Dan Dandreo says the suspension is the result of “unforeseen” issues with their business permits.

Cheers is regulated by the state lottery commission under the director of racing and Charitable gaming, Valerie King. King first alerted Cheers to the issues with their permits on May 7. According to King, her office contacted the business multiple times to warn them about the problems before suspending their operating license.

The list of citations include a failure to complete required background, and criminal records check of all employees. King said she tried to inform Cheers so that Dandreo could collect the required information and submit it to the New Hampshire attorney general’s office, but the business did not comply.

Dandreo disputes King’s claim that she contacted him more than once. He accused the state lottery of making “non-factual comments” about his business and says the situation his company is in should not be happening in America.

In addition to a suspension by the state lottery commission, the New Hampshire Department of State now says Dandreo’s ownership of the trade name “Cheers” is no longer in good standing. The department says Dandreo must resolve the problem of his corporate ownership of the trademark name in order to maintain the name of his business.

The Cheers Poker Room will remain closed through June 12, when it is scheduled for a hearing with the lottery commission.