Deal ends Atlantic City deadlock

Atlantic City attracts visitors from across eastern America

A budget deal clinched in New Jersey means a shutdown affecting all 12 of Atlantic City's casinos as well as public services is due to end shortly.

Casinos had to close their doors on Wednesday as stalemate over the state finances closed down non-essential services including gambling inspectors.

Thousands of people found themselves out of a job after legislators blocked Governor Jon Corzine's budget.

Announcing the deal, he said it could be 36 hours before normal work resumed.

The deal will increase state sales tax from 6% to 7% and use half the $1.1 billion raised to help reduce high property taxes.

"We have much more to do in the coming months and years to fix our state's public finances," Mr Corzine added.

The budget dispute closed state parks, horse racing tracks, beaches, campgrounds and historic sites and the loss of gambling inspectors caught up with the casinos on Wednesday.

According to the Associated Press, casinos stood to lose more than $16 million a day while shut down.