Atlantic City, once the gambling mecca of America’s east coast, is not doing so well these days. The city is struggling with ever-increasing crime rates, and its casinos are losing more patrons every day to blackjack online casinos and out of state competition. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, however, has a plan that could breathe new life into the city: a complete takeover.

The Governor’s plan is for the state of New Jersey to jump in and take control over the city’s municipal services, everything from police to garbage collection. He hopes to freshen up the city, turning it into a convention center and family vacation spot.

This plan, of course, also involves taking control over Atlantic City casinos. It seems that the Governor doesn’t want to do away with the city’s gambling nightlife, but hopes to give it a good scrub. But what effect will this plan have on local blackjack casinos? If Atlantic City moves away from its current focus on an adult market and pushes towards being a family destination, the casinos may seem a little out of place among merry-go-rounds and mini-golf courses.

With Las Vegas clearly focusing very hard on its image as an adult-oriented playground (“What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”), perhaps Atlantic City would do well to open up to a broader audience. The plan certainly has its critics, but Governor Christie seems to be driven. At this point, all we can do is what to see what New Jersey state legislature decides about the takeover plan.