HARRISBURG -- Anne LaCour Neeb will resign next week as the state Gaming Control Board's executive director, but board officials say it has nothing to do with House Republicans' recent attacks on the board's licensing process.

Mrs. Neeb, 52, who is from New Orleans, is returning to Louisiana to deal with family matters, board officials said Thursday. She is the first, and so far only, person to serve as board director. She was hired in September 2005 for the $180,000-a-year position.

A nationwide search will soon begin to find her replacement. Until then, Frank Donaghue, the board's chief counsel, will serve as acting director.

The gaming board has been criticized by House Republicans over its background investigation process. They are especially upset that the board gave a slots license to Poconos businessman Louis DeNaples without knowing that he was under investigation for perjury. He has since been charged with four counts of perjury, for allegedly lying about his connections to reputed organized crime figures.

House Republican leader Sam Smith of Punxsutawney said he wasn't surprised to learn of Mrs. Neeb's resignation. "There were enough questions over there about how they've handled these license applications," he said.

Board members said partisan political attacks by the GOP had nothing to do with her decision to leave. They praised her for playing a major role in the start-up agency, which was authorized by a July 2004 law and now employs 250 people in four regional offices, in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Scranton. The board oversees seven existing casinos, with seven more still to open.

Mrs. Neeb had worked for Louisiana casino regulators before coming to Pennsylvania.