NSW GAMING WATCHDOG CHIEF RESIGNS

THE head of New South Wales' gaming watchdog resigned today after saying on
national television she was sorry a convicted heroin supplier was banned
from Star City Casino.

NSW Casino Control Authority head Kaye Loder made the statement on ABC TV's
Four Corners on Monday, saying she was sorry police banned Dong Van Ia, who
was one of Sydney's biggest heroin traffickers.

She stepped down hours after Premier Bob Carr warned she would be sacked if
she didn't resign.

According to casino records, Van Ia, who was sentenced to eight years' jail
in 1998 for supplying heroin, gambled $94 million in just six months at
Sydney Harbour in 1996.

Mr Carr said he was surprised and appalled by the comments.

He said the government didn't want to see people who had made money out of
inhuman trade in addictive drugs to put their ill-gotten and immoral money
through the casino.

State opposition leader Kerry Chikarovski said a report into casino
operations was needed to reassure the public the venue was not a laundromat
for drug money.