New Jersey: End to slotless nights

After three slotless nights at Resorts Atlantic City, Lucille Mock was packing her bags to head home when she heard the news: the casinos had reopened! “I lost $75 in the first 15 minutes, but that’s OK,” said Mock, 49, of New York City.
Gov. Jon S. Corzine signed a $30 billion compromise spending plan to formally end a state budget impasse that spurred a weeklong government shutdown and shuttered Atlantic City’s 12 casinos. On Saturday morning, the governor signed an executive order clearing the way for lottery ticket sales to resume, state parks to reopen and casinos to get back in the game.
“I was hoping we would have something better to do than hang around the Statehouse on a Saturday night” Corzine joked before signing the spending plan shortly before 7 p.m. at his Statehouse office.
He said it was “regrettable” that the budget was adopted eight days after the July 1 deadline imposed by the state Constitution, saying it was “something that should not have occurred and can never be repeated.” New Jersey’s 12 casino-hotels, closed since Wednesday, rumbled back to life hours after lawmakers finished the budget during an all-night session in Trenton.
The shutdown furloughed 45,000 state workers, including the state casino inspectors who by law must be present in New Jersey’s 24-hour casinos. That forced the gambling halls to close, idling about 36,000 casino employees.
“We’re back in business,” said Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa pit manager Bob Westerfield, unlocking a chip tray on a $100 (§78) minimum blackjack table.
The casinos, which had never been ordered closed in 28 years of legalised gambling in Atlantic City, got the go-ahead to resume operations at 7 a.m., little more than an hour after legislators passed the budget. Like rebooted computers, they took a while to get up and running. Most didn’t start taking bets until 7:30 a.m., as slot machine systems powered up, dealers straggled back to work and gamblers filtered in.

Gambling articles | Comments

Rushmore Casino
With an enormous $888 Welcome Bonus, a knowledgeable and helpful support staff available 24 hours a day, fast payouts and over 80 of the crispest and immersive Real Time Gaming powered games, Rushmore Casino is a sure bet. All USA players are always welcome!