New Jersey’s brief budget crisis earlier this month almost meant Atlantic City casinos would have to close, but a new bill would allow casinos to stay open indefinitely during a government shutdown.
Right now, New Jersey casinos can stay open for seven days during a shutdown. Governor Chris Christie only shut down the state’s government for three days before a budget compromise was adopted.
Casinos have to close during shutdowns since state regulatory agencies must monitor their finances and gaming action.
The new bill was proposed by state Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Senators James Whelan and Jeff Van Drew.
“The casinos continue to be the driving force for the economy in the city and the entire region. Atlantic City is turning around, and to allow the casinos to close now or at any time in the future would be destructive to the lives of the casino workers and their families and would create an economic riptide with negative consequences for the entire city and region,” Whelan said in a press release.
