On Monday, Linda M. Kassekert, chairwoman of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, ordered the 12 casinos in Atlantic City to cease gambling operations. The order came after Governor Corzine decided to shut down state government due to a dispute with legislators about his plan to increase the state sales tax.

Today, at 8 a.m., all the casinos were closed. Minutes before the deadline, punters were still playing at the slot machines. “What else can you do down here besides gamble?”, said Janice Sidwa, 60, who was in the middle of a trip to the city.

The hotels and shops in the casinos were allowed to remain open because they do not require state regulators in place in their daily operations. State lottery, parks and beaches have also been affected by the measure.

The closure will cost the state $1.3 million in lost tax revenue a day.