Jay-Z, Rubin, and Meek Mill Raise $20M at Alliance Casino Gala
Jay-Z, Michael Rubin, and Meek Mill hosted the REFORM Alliance Casino Night and Gala at Atlantic City’s Ocean Casino Resort this past weekend, raising more than $20 million for criminal justice reform for the second year in a row.
The event drew a star-studded guest list, with celebrities from music, film, and sports joining the fundraiser. High-profile attendees included Beyoncé, Kevin Hart, Jamie Foxx, Travis Scott, Ice Spice, Latto, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker, Odell Beckham Jr., French Montana, Tiffany Haddish, and others.
At the resort’s Fanatics Sportsbook, stars such as DJ Khaled and Quavo joined Jay-Z at the tables, while a live auction brought in some of the night’s largest sums.
Among the biggest items was a golf outing with Tom Brady at Michael Jordan’s private Grove XXIII course, which raised $1.8 million. An exclusive Megan Thee Stallion concert sold for $600,000, while luxury timepieces from Audemars Piguet, including one from Jay-Z’s personal collection, drew significant interest.
Guests were also treated to a series of performances, with Travis Scott, Ice Spice, Quavo, and DJ Khaled taking the stage before The Weeknd delivered a full concert at the resort’s Ovation Hall.
Times Square casino faces fierce Broadway opposition
Even as Jay-Z celebrated success in New Jersey, his involvement in another casino project met sharp resistance in New York. The final public hearing on the Caesars Palace Times Square bid, which has been backed by SL Green Realty, Caesars Entertainment, and Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, was held last week at the Broadhurst Theatre, where tensions ran high.
The $5 billion proposal would transform the office tower at 1515 Broadway into a casino and entertainment complex featuring nearly 1,000 hotel rooms, celebrity chef restaurants, a wellness retreat, and a Caesars Sportsbook at Jay-Z’s 40/40 Club. Developers have also pledged over $250 million in community benefits, including arts funding, security, and a civil rights museum.
However, opposition from the Broadway League, stagehands, actors, and local residents dominated the hearing. Many said that a casino would take audiences away from the theater, worsen congestion, and damage Times Square’s reputation.
Supporters, including union members and small business owners, countered that the project would create thousands of jobs and diversify Times Square’s economy, while Rev. Al Sharpton, speaking in favor of the plan, emphasized its equity aspects.
The debate drew more than 500 registrants, with nearly 200 speaking. Most opposed the project, though some cultural figures, like Blue Man Group co-founder Matt Goldman, argued that casinos can boost theater audiences through increased tourism.
The Community Advisory Committee will now determine whether to advance the proposal to the state level, leaving the future of a casino in the heart of Midtown uncertain.
