WATCH ALL YOUR FAVORITE MOVIES AND TV SHOWS FOR FREE WITH THE COSMIC CINEMA WHEEL BELOW!
JAY-Z clearly isn’t fazed by his backlash to supporting Kendrick Lamar.
The post JAY-Z Celebrates Grand Opening Of Fanatics Sportsbook As Super Bowl Backlash Continues appeared first on HotNewHipHop.
JAY-Z made quite the splash this past Sunday at the grand opening of a new Fanatics Sportsbook on the Atlantic City boardwalk in New Jersey. You know the scene: bright lights, a celebratory atmosphere, and Jay himself helping to cut that all-important ribbon. Among the onlookers cheering him on were Michael Rubin, the big boss of Fanatics, along with Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming, and Bill Callahan, the general manager over at Ocean Casino Resort. Talk about a star-studded affair!
Now, while Jay was busy making headlines for legitimizing gambling venues, he’s also stirring the social media pot. There’s been some serious chatter online about his decision to pick Kendrick Lamar to perform at Super Bowl LIX instead of the beloved Lil Wayne. Oh, the drama! It’s like watching a high-stakes game of musical chairs—except in this case, everyone’s swinging wild accusations instead of taking a seat.
One commenter hilariously pointed out, “While everyone is yapping about Super Bowl performances, Jay’s over here opening BILLION DOLLAR CASINOS… talk about levels to this REALITY!” Another user didn’t hold back, stating, “Nikki and the squad should take notes—real grown folks’ business happening here!” Honestly, the juxtaposition of cutting ribbons and halftime shows brings a smile, doesn’t it? Can you imagine if Jay-Z took requests for halftime shows while opening casinos? “Alright, viewers, my next track is about recycling—because obviously, we need to repurpose all this social media drama!”
Fast forward a little to August, and you’d find JAY-Z and Michael Rubin teaming up again during Fanatics Fest at the Jacob Javits Center. They were soaking it all in at Jay’s reimagined 40/40 Club, reinforcing his deep roots in the sports betting world. JAY-Z’s not just showing off his fabulous taste in casinos; he’s been pushing for a casino in Times Square to keep the local culture thriving. He wrote a passionate letter last year emphasizing that the “winning licensee must keep New Yorkers’ well-being in mind.” Like, yes, please! We need more places to bet while grasping at our dreams of being on a winning streak.
Now, if you’re feeling a little curious about how the grand opening vibes turned out, hop on over to Instagram and check out those pictures of the Fanatics Sportsbook launch. It seems in an age of endless talk about halftime shows and performances, Jay-Z is out there shaping the future of betting—one ribbon-cutting ceremony at a time.
And let’s be real for a sec: amidst all this glittering chaos, the real question isn’t just who performs at the Super Bowl, but rather what kind of epic ventures will Jay-Z dive into next? Who knows, maybe one day he’ll put out a line of fortune cookies, each with a line from his next hit song! Wouldn’t that be a twist?
Until then, stay tuned for all things JAY-Z and beyond!
—
Meet Cole Blake, an enthusiastic Editor at HotNewHipHop living the Brooklyn dream. With roots in journalism from his time at St. John’s University, he’s been covering everything from pop culture madness to the latest in sports. Whether he’s rooting for the Indianapolis Colts or absorbing all the hip-hop goodness, you can catch his work popping up from Monday to Wednesday or cozy weekends. His favorites? A little billy woods here, an Earl Sweatshirt there… he’s got ears for the good stuff.
JAY-Z joined Michael Rubin at the grand opening of a new Fanatics Sportsbook location on the Atlantic City boardwalk in New Jersey on Sunday. At the event, Jay helped cut the ceremonial ribbon as Rubin, along with Fanatics Betting and Gaming CEO Matt King and Ocean Casino Resort GM Bill Callahan cheered him on. Hov’s appearance at the opening comes as he continues to face backlash on social media for helping select Kendrick Lamar to perform at Super Bowl LIX over Lil Wayne.
“Folks like Nikki out here talking about Super Bowl performances and Jay out here cutting ribbons,” one user commented when Roc Nation shared pictures from the event on Instagram. “Let that be a lesson for her and the rest of them. Start learning how to be an adult.” Another fan wrote: “While y’all talking superbowl halftime shows . Jay opening BILLION DOLLAR CASINO’S… levels to this ISH.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 18: (L-R) Michael Rubin and JAY-Z enjoying JAY-Z’s Iconic The 40/40 Club in partnership with Fanatics Sportsbook at the center of Fanatics Fest NYC at Jacob Javits Center on August 18, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Fanatics)
It’s not the first time Jay has gotten involved in sports betting. He previously argued in favor of opening a casino in Times Square in New York City. “The winning licensee must always put the well-being of New Yorkers at the top of their agenda and do right by its residents,” he wrote in a letter, last year. “This is too important of a moment in our city’s illustrious history. Times Square, the epicenter of entertainment with a palpable energy, is unmatched. Roc Nation and our partners are here to ensure Times Square remains connected to all facets of culture. There’s no better location for a Caesars Palace entertainment destination than the Crossroads of the World.”
Check out pictures from the grand opening of Fanatics Sportsbook on Instagram below. Be on the lookout for further updates on JAY-Z on HotNewHipHop.
About The Author
Cole Blake is currently an Editor at HotNewHipHop based out of Brooklyn, New York. He began working at the site as an intern back in 2018 while studying journalism at St. John’s University. In the time since, he’s graduated with a bachelor’s degree and written extensively about a wide range of topics including pop culture, film & television, politics, video games, sports, and much more. He’s also covered music festivals such as Gov. Ball and Rolling Loud. You can find him publishing work for HNHH from Monday to Wednesday or on weekends.
On the sports front, Cole’s a passionate NBA and NFL fan with his favorite teams being the Indianapolis Colts and Los Angeles Lakers. He also roots for the Yankees whenever he finds himself at Yankee Stadium or the Red Storm when in the company of other SJU alumni.
His favorite hip-hop artists are billy woods, Earl Sweatshirt, Cam’ron, MIKE, and Mach-Hommy.
…
){kind=link}