Trenton, New Jersey - New Jersey has reached a new budget that will end a historic shutdown that forced Atlantic City's 12 casinos to close and furloughed 45,000 state workers, a statehouse source said on Thursday. The lawmakers accepted Gov. Jon Corzine's plan to hike the sales tax to 7 percent from 6 percent and spend half of the USD 1.1 billion this will raise to lower property taxes, another statehouse source said. Both sources requested anonymity.

The first-ever shutdown of all 12 Atlantic City casinos forced a broad decline in the shares of companies with big stakes in the USA's second-biggest gambling market. The casinos closed Wednesday morning after New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine's recent order that stopped non-essential government functions as part of a budget impasse with the state Legislature. The state regulates gambling, so with no regulators, the casinos closed.

Atlantic City, New Jersey (Reuters) - Gamblers in Atlantic City, an East Coast cousin of the more glitzy Las Vegas, were ordered to leave the tables and slot machines on Wednesday because of a budget crisis in the state legislature. The casinos in Atlantic City, which raked in USD 5 billion of gross gaming revenue last year, are not allowed to operate without state regulators in place and a budget crisis has prompted New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine to order nonessential state employees to be furloughed.

Atlantic City - A thief stole 15 gaming chips Monday valued at USD 75,000 from a high-roller blackjack table. State Police in the Division of Gaming Enforcement said the theft occurred about 6 p.m. Monday at the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort. The thief grabbed 15 USD 5,000 chips and fled the casino, Detective Sgt. David Hickman said.

A Las Vegas man is dead after a confrontation with Metro Police on the Strip. Police say they were forced to shoot and kill him. Two California tourists captured part of the incident on video and shared that with Eyewitness News. By the time 31-year-old Las Vegas resident Tarance Hall is pulled from his car, he has already been shot. Tourist Eric Yost started rolling his tape only after he saw the commotion while standing on a nearby skybridge.

Moscow/Luebbecke. At the beginning of June 2006 Axel F. Pawlas’ team focused once again on the Russian capital Moscow – since the “World of Games” opened its doors for three days. After an impressive start in last December in wintry Moscow Merkur Gaming now had to prove that they keep their promises as to products, services, and consulting. Merkur Gaming can draw from almost five decades of competence of the Gauselmann Group.

Panama/Luebbecke. Together with the Spanish partner MGA Merkur Gaming has presented AWP machines for the Central American market at the SAGSE trade show in Panama-city for the first time. All products exhibited were presented in the new casino style cabinets with TFT screens, which are so attractive for the players.

Hoofddorp/Luebbecke. According to Axel F. Pawlas, CSO Merkur Gaming, “the multiplayer ‘Blue Power’ specifically developed for the Dutch market was the absolute star at the small but exclusive trade show in Hoofddorp”.

Clarion ATE, organisers of London’s ATEI, ICE and ICEi shows, have bolstered their team with the confirmation of two appointments within the operational division. Sophie Matthews becomes Operations Manager, whilst Paul Mills is drafted in as Operations Executive.

The billionaire Dome tycoon who entertained John Prescott on his ranch in Colorado had dinner with Tessa Jowell three months later and has met other ministers responsible for the gambling reforms. The Culture Secretary has disclosed that she discussed the subject of casinos with Philip Anschutz, who is hoping to open Britain’s first super-casino in the Dome, at a dinner hosted by the public relations expert Matthew Freud on October 30 last year.

Trenton - The state Supreme Court has denied casinos a reprieve to stay open amid a shut-down of state government services. The casinos need state monitors to stay open. The Casino Control Commission has told Atlantic City's 12 casinos to lock up at 8 a-m Wednesday. Assistant Attorney General Patrick DeAlmeida, who argued the case on behalf of the Commission, said that if the casinos won judicial approval to stay open that other private parties would also seek such relief.

Mohegan - While hotels in the region struggle to fill rooms, Mohegan Sun casino is contemplating plans for another hotel as part of its next big expansion, according to casino officials. Mohegan Sun now has an architect working on a master plan for future development, said Mohegan Sun President and Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Etess. "We know for sure the demand for hotel rooms exceeds the supply," Etess said. "We need more hotel rooms."