TRENTON, N.J. - Atlantic City's casinos were ordered to close Wednesday, the latest casualty of a state government shutdown that entered its second day Sunday after the Legislature failed to adopt a budget by its July 1 deadline.

The head of the Casino Control Commission ordered gaming in Atlantic City to cease at 8 a.m. Wednesday — the day after the July Fourth holiday — if New Jersey fails to enact a budget by then.

Atlantic City's 12 casinos, which require state monitoring, have waged a court battle to remain open, and an appeals court was weighing the matter Sunday. There was no word on when a ruling would be made, courts spokeswoman Winnie Comfort said.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine said Sunday there was "no immediate prospect of a budget." State parks, beaches and historic sites also were expected to shut down Wednesday.

If the casinos shut down, the state would lose an estimated $2 million in tax revenue each day they stayed closed. Republican Assemblyman Francis Blee, whose district includes the casinos, said it was important for them to remain open.

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

Corzine shut down nonessential government services Saturday after the Legislature failed to adopt a budget by its July 1 deadline, leaving the state without the means to spend money. Budget talks became heated this year as Corzine, a Democrat, proposed increasing the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent to help overcome a $4.5 billion budget deficit.

Most Democrats in the Assembly and several Senate Democrats oppose the sales tax increase, fearing voter backlash and reserving any tax increase for property tax reform. Assembly Democrats proposed a series of alternatives, some of which Corzine accepted, but both sides remained $1 billion apart as the budget deadline passed.

About 45,000 state employees were furloughed Saturday. Corzine's order allows him to keep 36,000 state employees working without pay. Services such as state police, prisons, mental hospitals and child welfare were to keep operating.

The lottery and road construction projects were among the first to close. A state appellate panel on Sunday ordered horse tracks closed at the end of business Tuesday. It was not immediately known Sunday whether the horse racing industry would file further appeals to keep harness and thoroughbred tracks open past July 4.

Corzine was expected to meet in private Sunday with top Assembly and Senate leaders. Assembly Budget Committee members were called to the Statehouse and were discussing alternatives to a sales tax increase, panel chairman Lou Greenwald said.

The Senate is scheduled to meet on Monday, and Senate President Richard J. Codey has told senators to be ready to stay in session until a budget is adopted.

"Let's get on with getting this problem solved," Corzine said while touring a state police dispatch center in Hamilton on Sunday, emphasizing he couldn't "sign a bill that doesn't exist."

Republicans, the minority party in both the Assembly and Senate, have expressed frustration.

"I'm appalled that this reached this stage," said Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, R-Hunterdon. "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."

Some lottery sellers — and many customers — were surprised to learn that the games were being put on hold until the budget impasse is resolved.

"People will be angry, but we can't do anything about it," said Umesh Patel, 40, owner of Deli Delight in Ewing. "I don't know how long it's going to be, so let's just see what happens next."

These douchebags in the NJ Senate cannot come up with a budget and therefore it's going to affect THOUSANDS of people in the Tri-State area who work for the casinos. Not only are many people working for the state working w/o pay, but the others won't get money at all and now here in AC, thousands will be out of a job until further notice beginning Wednesday. This will cripple AC's economy, especially seeing how we (AC, Brigantine, Margate, Ventnor) depend on them so much.

Can these people fubar NJ any more? Oh, I believe so.

That happened out in CA either in 2004 or 2005 (forgot which year) where the Legislature failed to get a budget in on time-Schwarzenegger was furious (one of the few times I agree with The Terminator)

I have never been to Atlantic City before so I refuse to comment on them shutting down the casinos and what not....but being that I have been in Las Vegas on July 4th on at least one occasion, something tells me it would be a far better priority for the govt. to look at safety standards rather than what area(s) bring in the most profit....I am sure there are many other areas in New Jersey where state revenue can be expected such as the city of Princeton and all through Newark.

A dear friend of mine lives in central NJ and happens to be very close to Atlantic City....let me see what she has to say about this development (I should warn you that she is not that big of a fan of the state...as for me, I find New Jersey to be very devoted to sports, entertainment, politics, religion, and education).

BTW is it true that New Yorkers and New Jerseyans argue over which state The Statue of Liberty happens to be located? That must be a fun debate.

My answer? Belongs to France!

P.S. Is there a place for the Los Angeles Dodgers out in New Jersey or perhaps back in their stomping grounds of Brooklyn? If you can get them back on the East Coast, that would be much appreciative

BTW is it true that New Yorkers and New Jerseyans argue over which state The Statue of Liberty happens to be located? That must be a fun debate.

My answer? Belongs to France!

Yes, this is true. It went so far that NY got rid of lady liberty off of license plates across the state.

P.S. Is there a place for the Los Angeles Dodgers out in New Jersey or perhaps back in their stomping grounds of Brooklyn? If you can get them back on the East Coast, that would be much appreciative

Ebbets Field is now an apartment complex, so they can't go back there.

Yes, this is true. It went so far that NY got rid of lady liberty off of license plates across the state.

Interesting

Ebbets Field is now an apartment complex, so they can't go back there.

What about next to Yankee Stadium?