ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.-
New Jersey's casinos closed their doors and ushered out gamblers Wednesday morning as New Jersey's government shutdown dragged into its fifth day.
The closures, the first in the 28-year history of Atlantic City's legalized gambling trade, affects all 12 of the casinos. The gambling halls require state monitoring to operate.
The buildings remain open, their showrooms, hotels and shops still serving customers. But the gambling areas of the casinos are closed indefinitely until state lawmakers end their impasse over Gov. Jon S. Corzine's budget proposal.
Michael Trager, 36, of Cincinnati, was playing a video poker machine at 10 minutes to 8 a.m. when an attendant told him to conclude his bet.
"It's like last call at a bar. It's a little bit eerie," Trager said. "I was on the video poker and they said, 'That's it, you gotta cash out. We're closing.'"
Andy Trechock, 41, of Depford, drove down to Atlantic City just because he wanted to see the closings.
"It's history," he said, stepping away from a slot machine at Bally's Wild Wild West casino.
The doors to the Boardwalk side of Caesar's were locked by janitors. An announcement came over the public address system telling gamblers the casino was closing. But by 8 a.m. the casino floors were mostly clear of gamblers.
