Overshadowing the launch of sports betting in New Jersey and the opening of two new casinos in Atlantic City, is the threat of a state-wide shutdown due to a budget battle in Trenton.
The state’s legislature and Governor Phil Murphy are battling it out over the budget and proposals to secure steady streams of revenue. However, if they can’t reach a deal by June 30, the state would see a shutdown that would include state parks and recreation areas as the July 4th holiday approaches.
Atlantic City’s casinos and the state’s racetracks would be allowed to stay open for the first seven days of a shutdown—meaning state regulators would still be on the job—but would have to close if the impasse drags on. Last year, a similar fight caused a three-day shutdown, but it did not affect casinos and tracks. The casinos and tracks are allowed to stay open under a 2006 law.
Assemblyman Chris Brown, who represents Atlantic City, has called on the governor to sign an executive order to allow the casinos and tracks to stay open past the seven-day mark.
“It’s unbelievable to me that as our gaming industry is turning the corner and improving our local economy by putting families back to work, Trenton would force the casinos to shut their doors during the busiest time of the year,” Brown said in a press release.
Brown is a Republican while Murphy is a Democrat and Democrats control the statehouse.
Also, the state legislature has passed a bill to declare Atlantic City International Airport, the William J. Hughes Technical Center and the surrounding mile a Garden State Growth Zone.
Under the bill, qualified businesses relocating to the area around the airport will be eligible for the tax breaks that are currently offered to businesses in other growth zones such as Atlantic City, Camden, Passaic, Paterson and Trenton. The bill now goes to Murphy for his signature.