Jay-Z cut the ribbon Sunday, as Ocean Resort officially welcomed the state’s first Fanatics Sportsbook to Atlantic City.

The 12,000-square-foot space has a little bit of everything from betting windows and gaming to a bar. Large screens surround the first floor so patrons can keep an eye on whatever game holds their focus at any time.

Fanatics Sportsbook at Ocean Resort

Photo credit: Alex Subers and Shareif Ziyadat

Fanatics Sportsbook inside The Gallery has been open since Sept. 5, in time for the start of football season.

It all began with a half-hour talk between Ocean General Manager Bill Callahan and Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, the casino leader said.

The question was, “Would this make sense for us from a customer perspective?” Callahan explained. “Over a 30-minute phone call it started out, ‘Maybe we should do this,’ to, “What do we do next?’

“It takes two really good brands that combine very well and connects them,” he said. “It’s a perfect marriage.”

The two men go back two decades when Rubin said Callahan was “my first real casino host.”

“It’s amazing,” said Rubin, who is partnered with Jay-Z in the Fanatics venture. “This is my favorite casino to come to in the world. The CEO’s an amazing leader. To have it launch here with a team I consider family, it’s a very special moment.”

The city also is a plus, said Matt King, Fanatics’ CEO of Betting and Gaming.

“I think Atlantic City is an amazing place where a lot of people go for entertainment, a lot of people go for straight gambling and, obviously, within our industry, New Jersey has been an incredible innovator in the online gaming space, which has been awesome,” he said.

“I think Atlantic City has some challenges, but I think every business has challenges,” Rubin said. “We want good things to help Atlantic City.

“New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania — they are three of the most important markets in the entire online gaming space,” he added. “It’s a natural. It would almost be wrong not to come here.”

    Pro-golfer Justin Thomas, center, shows the first official bet as he stands with Jay-Z and Michael Rubin. (Photo credit: Alex Subers and Shareif Ziyadat)
  

Following the ribbon-cutting, 15-time PGA-winning golfer Justin Thomas placed the first official bet at the win.

The University of Alabama alumnus put $100 on his Crimson Tide to win the national championship.

When someone in the group suggested he pick a game being played Sunday, he jokingly named the Dallas Cowboys, a nod to Jay-Z’s NFL allegiance.

But when BreakingAC asked if he was betting on his Boys, the entertainment mogul said that he wasn’t betting “today.”

It turned out a smart decision, as Dallas lost to the New Orleans Saints 44-19.

Hov — as he is also known — did predict that his team would take the division.

    Jay-Z during the invite-only game after the public opening ceremony. (Photo credit: Alex Subers and Shareif Ziyadat)
  

He later was photographed smoking a cigar as he sat a one of the tables for an invite-only $250,000 blackjack tournament.

There was also a closed live watch party.