Charity Blackjack Tournament Planned by Jay-Z, Music Tycoon, in Atlantic City
Jay-Z, the famous music producer and potential casino owner, is planning a casual game of blackjack with his friends. With the high-class individuals in his social circle, none should face any issues in providing the expected $100,000 deposit for the game.
This event, known as Reform Alliance’s Casino Night and Gala, is organized by Jay-Z's charity, Reform Alliance, which works towards reforming probation and parole laws. According to the New York Post's gossip column, Page Six, the event will take place at Atlantic City's Ocean Casino & Resort on September 30th.
The whole proceeds from the game, including the initial buy-in amount and $50,000 from those who wish to attend the party without participating, will be donated to the charity. The $1-million prize, though, is reportedly being covered by the Ocean Casino itself.
Shaken, Not Stirred
The night holds a James Bond Casino Royale theme, although it's unlikely the latest 007, Daniel Craig, will be in attendance. He himself has admitted that he isn't great at poker and might find blackjack equally challenging.
But there'll be numerous other celebrities present. As per Page Six, at the very least, one can expect Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, Kim Kardashian, DJ Khaled, Tom Brady, James Harden, and Emily Ratajkowski to show up.
Kevin Hart will also grace the event. The Jumanji actor has signed on to be the host for the night.
Robert Kraft, Meek Mill, and Michael Rubin could potentially make an appearance as well. All three are part of the Reform Alliance board, so they might stop by.
Rubin, the founder and CEO of Fanatics and the former owner of the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, has a close connection with Jay-Z. In 2021, the two teamed up for a mobile sports betting license in New York. However, the New York State Gaming Commission rejected their application.
The party is expected to host around 300 guests, a mix of blackjack players and onlookers. Jay-Z aims to raise at least $20 million for Reform Alliance through this event.
The final guest list isn't revealed yet, and anyone looking to attend must receive clearance from the charity's board. As per Page Six, enough people have cleared the test that $15 million has already been gathered.
Eyes On Broadway
Earlier, New York sports bettors had no choice but to travel to nearby New Jersey (or use the George Washington Bridge) in order to place a wager. However, with the legalization of sports betting in New York more than a year ago, the state has quickly turned into the nation's sports gambling hub.
It's even overtaken well-established gambling markets like New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This has encouraged a new casino initiative in the state, spurred on by the end of a decade-long moratorium.
Towards the concluding part of 2022, real estate firm SL Green, Caesars Entertainment, and Jay-Z's Roc Nation joined forces. They seized the opportunity to bid on putting a casino in the center of Times Square.
The outcome of this alliance, as per the group, would be an extraordinary, state-of-the-art casino at 1515 Broadway. The location is currently used for the theatrical performance of The Lion King.
There's no clear path forward for the casino - opposition has been strong, and few places are as politically contentious as New York City. For now, Jay-Z and the others are focusing primarily on their charitable pursuits.
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