The official website for Atlantic City tourism has a strapline that its 'Always turned on'. As of this wednesday, that may not quite be true as state officials have ordered a total gambling shutdown due to a state dispute over local taxes.

The casinos cannot continue without state inspectors which are unavailable due to a weekend state government shutdown. Lottery sales were stopped immediately. Hotels, shops and food sales will be able to continue.

The East Coast Vegas, which has revenues of $5 billion a year has never seen such unprecedented action and is causing uncertainty for 45,000 employees - from pit bosses to bartenders. Its also bringing confusion to tourists over the July 4 weekend who don't know if they should head out to the casinos or not.

Dan Heneghan, a spokesman for the casino commission, said two things could alter Wednesday's 8 a.m. order: The state adopts a budget, or the state changes the order based on a court ruling. The casinos, which require state gambling regulators to operate, lost a motion Friday asking Superior Court to declare the monitors "essential employees" who could keep working during a shutdown.

The president of the Casino Association of New Jersey, which acts as the voice for the 12 casinos, said late yesterday that it would challenge the shutdown and consider appealing Friday's Superior Court decision.

"We continue to believe that a closure is not required by law and will seek redress in the courts to prevent the closure of casino operations from occurring to protect the interests of our employees, our customers, and the state's financial interests," Joseph A. Corbo Jr. said. "The industry would be disheartened over the prospect of having to close the casinos."

Article: Casinos ordered to halt gambling on Wednesday