Jay-Z & Michael Rubin Set to Host $250,000 Blackjack Tournament in Atlantic City

Jay-Z will be splitting eights and doubling down on 11 at the blackjack table this weekend.Hov and Michael Rubin are hosting an invite-only blackjack tournament in Atlantic City on Sunday (Sept. 15), reps for the Fanatics CEO confirmed to Billboard. (Page Six was first to report the news.)

Per a press release, it’s all going down at the Ocean Casino Resort in celebration of the grand opening of the new Fanatics Sportsbook, which Jay-Z co-founded and co-owns. Fanatics VIPs and star-studded guests will have the chance to mingle in the sportsbook while watching the early slate of NFL games on Sunday before the blackjack tournament gets going later on, which will reportedly feature both Jay and Rubin, with a grand prize of $250,000 going to the winner.

Last year, Rubin and Jay teamed up to host another high-profile blackjack tournament at the same hotel in Atlantic City. The Reform Alliance event saw celebrities in attendance ranging from Jack Harlow to Kim Kardashian and actor Matthew McConaughey.

Jay-Z revived his 40/40 Club at Michael Rubin’s inaugural Fanatics Fest NYC, which brought a reimagined version of the classy sports-themed lounge to the Javits Center in August. Athletes such as Carmelo Anthony and Tom Brady, along with artists such as Quavo and Travis Scott, made appearances throughout the weekend in August.

The celebrity blackjack tournament will serve as Jigga’s first public outing since the NFL announced that Kendrick Lamar is slated to hit the stage at Super Bowl LIX as the Halftime Show’s headlining act.

Jay-Z has been a co-producer of the Halftime Show since Roc Nation struck a partnership deal in 2019, and he’s faced some backlash from Nicki Minaj, Cam’ron, Master P and more for not having Lil Wayne perform at the big game in his hometown next year.