Former AFL chief Andrew Demetriou is the latest to step down from the Crown Resorts board, making him the fourth director to fall on his sword following a scathing review of the casino giant.
Chief executive Ken Barton looked set to become the third director to head for the exit on Thursday, with reports he agreed to step down after meeting with the company's chair Helen Coonan.
Mr Demetriou also tendered his resignation on Thursday, The Australian reported, saying in a statement he was stepping down "to give Crown the best possible chance of becoming suitable to the NSW regulator".
"In taking this decision I believe the comments directed at me in the report are unfair and unjust and I will defend my reputation at every opportunity," he said.
Mr Barton and Mr Demetriou would have to leave the company for it to have a chance of keeping the licence for its Sydney casino, the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority chair suggested on Thursday.
ILGA chair Philip Crawford said on Thursday it was "obvious" from reading a damning inquiry report that Mr Barton and Mr Demetriou needed to make a swift exit.
"More people have got to go," he told Sydney radio 2GB.
Victoria's gaming regulator said on Thursday it would write to both men and demand they explain why they remain suitable to be close associates of Crown Melbourne.
The report from Commissioner Patricia Bergin found Crown is not currently fit to run the new casino at Sydney's Barangaroo. It singled out Mr Barton and Mr Demetriou for particular criticism.
Mr Demetriou was sprung reading from notes in the witness box when he was quizzed about corporate governance and company culture.
He initially denied he had been reading from a script but Ms Bergin found that the text of his notes were nearly identical to the words in his answer.
She described his performance - including his denials - as "most unedifying" and "quite bizarre".
"Sadly the balance of Mr Demetriou's evidence is affected by it. The authority would be justified in lacking confidence in placing reliance upon Mr Demetriou in the future," Ms Bergin wrote.
Ms Coonan on Thursday promised "root and branch" changes to satisfy the ILGA it could be trusted to run the casino, after Ms Bergin found the company had facilitated money laundering.
Mr Crawford wants the company to make changes quickly, flagging that Crown Sydney's liquor licences are set to expire in April.
He welcomed the departure of directors Guy Jalland and Michael Johnston from the Crown board on Wednesday.
The ILGA board will meet to discuss the report on Friday.
