Jay-Z’s Charity Blackjack Event in Atlantic City Has $100K Buy-In

Article ByDavid Weir

September 7, 2023

Spread the Word:

Posted in: New Jersey Gambling News, New York Gambling News, US Casino News, US Gambling News

Billionaire hip-hop mogul Jay-Z is set to host a James Bond-inspired charity blackjack party in Atlantic City, aiming to raise funds for his probation law reform campaign.

The exclusive Reform Alliance’s Casino Night and Gala Event is scheduled for September 30th at the Ocean Casino Resort. It boasts a cool $1 million pot. The star-studded guest list is expected to include high- profile celebrities like Jay’s wife, Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, NFL legend Tom Brady, rapper Travis Scott, and Fanatics founder Michael Rubin.

Comedian Kevin Hart is slated to emcee the intimate event at the New Jersey brick & mortar casino venue. It will be limited to just 300 attendees, with each ticket vetted personally by the Reform Alliance Board.

Players looking to participate in the high-stakes blackjack games will need to put down a hefty $100,000 as a buy-in. Even those looking to watch the action unfold without participating will have to pay $50,000 for the privilege.

The Ocean Casino Resort is generously donating the jackpot, and the event is being organized in collaboration with the Reform Alliance board.

“The black-tie party transcends beyond the usual fundraising gala concept to bring together the nation’s top leaders outside of REFORM’s board for the first time to raise a goal of $20 million for criminal justice reform,” said a statement reported by Page Six.

Inspiration and Aspirations

The idea for this grand event was conceived by Jay-Z himself, drawing inspiration from Fanatics founder Michael Rubins’ star-studded 4^th of July White Party earlier this year, which Jay-Z also attended.

The primary objective of this blackjack night is to support the Reform Alliance, which has been instrumental in changing probation and parole laws across the U.S. To date, the board has committed more than $100 million to its cause.

The organization has already made significant strides, having successfully passed 18 bills across 11 states. It says me than 700,000 individuals who were unjustly trapped in the system have been guided out by the Alliance’s efforts.  

The board of the Reform Alliance boasts a diverse group of influential individuals, including Brooklyn Nets co-owner Clara Wu Tsai, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, and Rubin.

Glitzy Affair

The new high stakes game of blackjack will be a glitzy affair, with a fleet of more than a dozen helicopters ready to shuttle guests between New York City and the venue.

The goal is to raise a cool $20 million from the event. Sources close to the charity have indicated that they’ve already managed to raise $15 million. Jay-Z’s Shawn Carter Foundation had previously raised an impressive $20 million at one of its galas.

Jay-Z himself is no stranger to gambling interests. Earlier this year, his Roc Nation corporation teamed with Caesars Entertainment and other investors to propose a multi-billion new casino project in Times Square, New York City.

Fanatics sports merchandise (and betting) founder Rubin is also close friends with the legendary rapper. The pair tried to launch a New York sportsbook together in 2021, but the project was denied a license.