Atlantic City Gamblers Driven Out
Gamblers that remained in Atlantic City's casinos at 8 a.m. Wednesday were ordered to leave the casino floors under state orders. Some casinos were locked, some were cordoned off under security.
Casinos in the city are not permitted to operate without the presence of state-appointed gaming inspectors and the budget crisis that New Jersey is now facing has forced Governor Jon Corzine to order such state employees not to report for duty.
All of the 12 casinos in the city shut down, a move that will cost the city an estimated $1.3 million in tax revenue a day. Last year saw the casinos raking in $5 billion in gross gaming revenue.
"I've been here all night. I just left to get some food and came back but I guess I didn't make it," said a surprised B.J. Novak, a guest at the Trump Plaza. When he tried to get back to the gaming area shortly after 8 a.m., he was turned away.
"I'm down about 1,200 bucks, now they're going to be closed for good so I'm not sure what I'm going to do," he said.
Gov. Jon Corzine told the state legislators that he was willing to compromise on ways to make up for the $4.5 million budget deficit in his $31 million budget. However, he said he found budget proposals with "speculative" measures unacceptable.
"It's deplorable that the people of this state are left in such a painful position, but I don't have the authority to simply ignore and keep certain things open just because it makes life easier," the governor said in a speech to legislators.
"I have no authority nor is there any law to support the notion that casino inspectors are essential state employees," Corzine said.
Some of the bigger names that were affected by the closure are Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., which operates three hotel casinos, Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, a joint venture between Boyd Gaming Corp. and MGM Mirage. Harrah's Entertainment Inc., which is the world's largest gaming operator and has four casinos in the second-largest U.S. gambling market, was also forced to cease operations.
"The most disappointing item is we have 15,000 people affected who are now earning a fraction of what they would be on a normal July week day," said John Payne, Atlantic City regional president for Harrah's.
"It definitely doesn't make any sense, because this is what brings in the money, " said Cary Putzer, 51, a gambler from Queens, New York. |
