New Hampshire casino honored as Business of the Year

The Brook, America’s largest charity casino located minutes from the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border, was named “Business of the Year” by the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce last week.

The Chamber’s Board of Directors, in conjunction with Chamber President John Nyhan, honored The Brook during the Annual Awards Dinner at Blue Ocean Event Center in Salisbury, MA on Thursday, 26 January. CEO Andre Carrier accepted the award on behalf of The Brook and its more than 200 employee-owners.

“One of our goals from the very beginning was to show this community that people and profits can not only coexist, but thrive, and we thank the Chamber for recognizing it, ” said Carrier, who is also CEO of parent company, Nevada-based Eureka Casino Resort, the only hospitality company in the U.S. that is 100% employee owned by its more than 700 team members.

In addition to creating hundreds of new jobs since completing a multi-million dollar refresh and renovation of the 75-acre property formerly known as Seabrook Park, The Brook, using a charity casino model, has donated over $8 million to local organizations on a rotating basis during the last four years.

“The Brook exhibits their overall knowledge of how important employees are because it is employee-owned,” Nyhan said. “We encourage that not only are business owners members of the chamber, but every employee in those businesses are chamber members … The Brook gives back. They give thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars back to Seacoast communities.”

Added Carrier, “When my business partner (Gregory Lee) and I took this opportunity in New Hampshire, it was because it was a charity casino in a state we both grew up in and love.

“Since that time we have spent tens of millions of dollars on what has become a passion project. This year, we’re already on pace to raise more than $500,000 per month for essential charities. And as a 100% employee-owned company, that has allowed us to pay above-market wages, and provide low-cost benefits and fully funded retirement plans.”

Other local business award winners at the ceremony were Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Company (Faith in the Future Award), North Hampton Business Association (The President’s Award) and Lisa Parker (Humanitarian Award), a volunteer at St. Vincent De Paul Community Kitchen?.

The Brook is a 90,000 square-foot Las Vegas-style casino that recently increased the number of gaming machines on its expansive casino floor to over 500. In addition to simulcast racing seven days a week, The Brook features a range of casino table games, a live poker room and a DraftKings Sportsbook that is the largest of its kind in New England.

The Brook also recently unveiled Seasons Showroom, a 300-seat, upscale venue with comfortable couch seating and booths, high-top tables, a dedicated bar area, and multiple VIP sections.