Ralph Gerdelan has resigned as Chief Executive of the Problem Gambling Foundation.
Board Member Richard Northey says Gerdelan's resignation is effective immediately.



He says the board was unanimous in accepting Gerdelan's resignation and work will begin immediately to appoint a successor.



He says it has been a sad day for the board, which will now work to tighten its financial processes related to expenses and credit card use.



Gerdelan has been accused of advancing himself $30,000 on the company credit card and gambling some of it away.



On Wednesday, a good friend of the disgraced anti-gambling campaigner blamed the gambling lobby for helping to push him over the edge.



Doctor Peters Adams is a clinical psychologist, gambling counsellor and foundation chairman, a close personal friend of Gerdelan for almost a decade.



"We have worked side by side for a long time and fought a lot of battles," he says.



Despite all of that he did not spot any signs his friend was heading for trouble.



Adams claims Gerdelan's deceit of the board was systematic and well organised.



But he maintains that until recent events, the now suspended executive director performed exceedingly well.



The gambling sector which provides funds for organisations like Gerdelan's accepts it must help pay for problem gambling services, but says it is worried about future funds heading the foundation's way.



"We have our reservations about that because it would seem a lot of that money is going to gurgle down the drain of incompetence," says Garry Ward of the Gaming Industry Association.



But it is the fight against that industry that Adams blames, in part, for Gerdelan's fall from grace.



"We sustain enormous pressure from people who are hostile towards us," he sys.



And other gambling help groups fear the demise of anti-gamblings poster boy will make life toughter for other recovering addicts.



"The implication is that we need to do a quick check on John over there because he is a recovering gambler," sats George Willdridge of the Oasis Centre.



Adams says in recent days he has had no contact with Ralph Gerdelan, and he feels betrayed by a man who was his friend.