Atlantic City Closure Cost 45,000 Employees Their Jobs

All 12 casinos in Atlantic City have been ordered to close following the failure of the Legislature to adopt a budget by its July 1 deadline.

Atlantic City gaming venues cannot operate without state inspectors, However, Gov. Jon S. Corzine has deemed the inspectors as non-essential workers and the state has no more budget for them.

Corzine has earlier said there was "no immediate prospect of a budget." For this reason, state parks, beaches and historic sites would also face the same fate as the casinos.

Republican Assemblyman Francis Blee has insisted it was important for casinos to remain open as it brings an estimated $2 million in tax revenue alone.

"We will have tens of thousands of individuals, real people, that are going to be hurt by this," Blee said, adding: "There will be bread-winners who are not bringing home a paycheck."

An estimated 45,000 state employees working in casinos have lost their job in the process.

Lottery sellers as well as some customers were shocked that the games were being suspended.

Meanwhile, the horse racing industry said it would file more appeals to keep racing fields open.

In reaction, Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance said: "I'm appalled that this reached this stage." He added, "It is very unfortunate that the Democratic governor and Democratic majorities in the Legislature could not achieve a budget in place by June 30, and now all the people of New Jersey suffer as a result."