The shutdown of New Jersey’s government by Governor Jon Corzine means that Atlantic City’s casinos must close. The state has no budget, as an agreement cannot be reached on the governor’s proposed 1% sales tax increase. The courts have ruled that the 12 casinos must stop taking bets as of 8:00am Wednesday because they cannot operate without state gambling monitors who are furloughed as part of the shutdown.

The governor is proposing a 1% sales tax increase (moving from 6% to 7%) in order to help close a $4.5 billion budget deficit. That increase would cost the average New Jersey family about $275 per year.

Since a budget cannot be adopted, the government has been shut down and all non-essential workers have been furloughed. The only essential employees still working are state police, prison guards, child welfare workers, and some administration staff.