BEIJING, July 6 (Xinhuanet) -- The dice stopped rolling, dealers quit shuffling and slot machines fell silent Wednesday as New Jersey's casinos closed for the first time, the latest victims of a five-day state government shutdown that showed no signs of ending soon.

    In the first mass closure in the 28-year history of Atlantic City's legalized gambling trade, all 12 casinos were closed at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

    "I never thought this would happen," said 77-year-old Ruth Dodies of Philadelphia as she stood outside a closed entrance to Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino. "It doesn't make sense."

    New Jersey's state parks, beaches, historic areas and motor vehicle offices were also shut, as was the state's lottery system and road construction.

    The shutdown could cost the 12 casinos more than 16 million dollars a day, and the state could lose 1.3 million dollars a day in taxes. The closures forced about 20,000 people off their jobs as dealers, pit bosses and cocktail servers.

    The problem stems from a battle between the Legislature and Democratic Governor Jon S. Corzine over his proposed sales tax increase. Lawmakers missed a July 1 deadline to pass a budget.

    Without a spending plan, Corzine ordered state offices shut down Saturday and furloughed more than half the state's employees.

    Corzine wants to raise the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent to close a $4.5 billion state budget gap. Democrats who control the state Assembly oppose the tax increase, estimated to cost the average New Jersey family $275 per year. Enditem

    (Agencies)