Threat to Atalntic City Casinos Affects Bus Companies

Unless the state of New Jersey's authorities resolve the impasse it faces regarding the state's budget, planned trips to the York area including Atlantic City N.J. will be affected. The York area bus companies that cater to the casino crowd still remain hopeful however, and are wagering that A.C. casinos will remain open.

New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine along with state assembly leaders remained at a standstill on a new budget. Until they decide on which action to take, nonessential government services such as the casinos will be shut down beginning Wednesday at 8 am. Gaming activities are set to also cease.

The city's casinos have already filed legal action to remain open, and an appeals court was considering the case Sunday. However, the plea by the casinos to stay open during the shutdown was rejected by a N.J. appellate court. The closing of the casinos would cost the state about $2 million in tax revenue each day. State parks, beaches and historic sites would also shut down along with casinos Wednesday in compliance with the cease of nonessential government services.

A lot of locals are keeping an eye on the New Jersey budget impasse. Bailey Travel Motor Coach operations manager Larry Stutts said he remains optimistic that the casinos will remain open. Stutts said that he will be in constant contact with the casinos to stay updated on the status of the looming closure.

"It naturally will affect us," Stutts said of temporary casino closure. Bailey Travel Motor Coach makes an average of five trips a week to Atlantic City. "Everybody is sitting still and waiting to see whether the state is going to get their act together."

Hanover based Lincoln Bus Line Inc. similarly does trips to Atlantic City, and they have a scheduled trip this Sunday. Employee Carolyn Stauffer said that a few customers have already called, asking if the trip will still push through in light of recent events.

"We usually go twice a week. It's very popular. I can't imagine they're not going to open," Stauffer said.

Red Lion Bus Co. also remained hopeful that the casinos would stay open." It has had no effect on us at the moment," said Dennis Warner, owner and president of Red Lion Bus Co. The company makes trips twice to New Jersey every week scheduled for Friday and Saturday. "I'm sure that the state of New Jersey will try to not shut down the casinos until they have no choice."