Scott Simons chose not to gamble and cancelled a New Year?s Eve casino because he could not get an answer from authorities on whether it was legal.

He said yesterday he lost money because revellers hoping for a chance to bet at his party at Number One Shed in Hamilton simply walked away because the casino was not on.

And he launched a scathing attack on officials who could not tell him whether his proposed casino night would break the law.

Mr. Simons, of Black and Water Productions, told yesterday that after taking advice, he decided to play it safe and pull the casino, although the party went ahead.

?I have to put it in layman?s terms so everyone understands ? it sucks. It?s really terrible,? he said.

?We?re paying the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the Commissioner of Police too much money because they can?t get their act together.

?I am an ordinary citizen, and if they cannot get an answer to me as to whether I can do this thing legally or not, why are we paying them?

?I can?t even get lawyers to go on record. It?s really nonsense.

?We took a financial loss on the evening because people were coming looking for the casino, and because it was not there, there were other parties to go to.?

A Police spokesman said yesterday that Police were awaiting the results of an appeal from Attorney General?s office on the issue of gambling.