Rob Ray Scores Big For Sabres Alumni Scholarship Fund During Celebrity Blackjack Tournament At Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino!

NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK: (May 18, 2026) – The action was fast, the stakes were high, and, in the end, a Sabres legend scored big.

That was the scene Friday, when Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino held a $50,000 Celebrity Blackjack Tournament. Several invited players competed for cash prizes alongside celebrities who were playing for the same prizes for their charity of choice. Buffalo Sabres legend and broadcaster Rob Ray was the top celebrity finisher, taking home Third Place and $7,500 for the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Scholarship program. The evening’s top prize of $25,000 went to a lucky player from Irving, NY.

“The celebrity Blackjack Tournament was a great event that was just as fun and memorable for our participating celebrities as it was for our invited players,” said Steve McCarthy, Vice President of Operations at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. “Everyone had a great time at the tables competing for big prizes, and Rob Ray’s finish will help advance the important mission of the Sabres Alumni Scholarship Fund.”

The Buffalo Sabres Alumni Scholarship program awards scholarships to eligible high school seniors from Western New York and Southern Ontario who pursue full-time undergraduate study at an accredited college or university. Since its founding, the program has awarded more than 175 scholarships totaling more than $1 million.

The Celebrity Blackjack Tournament started with initial qualifying rounds, with the top 10 scores, advancing to the semifinals. Ray, Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis and former Bills wide receiver Lee Evans all reached the semifinals. The field was then reduced to the top four scores, plus one guest Wild Card player and one celebrity Wild Card winner, who all competed for the evening’s top prizes.

In addition to Ray, Davis and Evans, other celebrities competing in this year’s event were Bills linebacker Greg Rousseau, former Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson, local media personalities Nicholas Picholas of WKSE-FM and Mike Schopp of WGR-AM, and social media influencers Natalie Scott, Scott Richter, and Bianca Falsetti.

Ray’s finish as the top celebrity marks the second consecutive year a Sabres legend scored big at the event. Last year, former defenseman and team captain Craig Rivet earned the $25,000 First Place prize on behalf of The Miracle League of Western New York.

Located just blocks away from the world-famous Niagara Falls, Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino opened on December 31, 2002. The beauty and energy of the falls are matched by the rush of excitement that greets guests during every visit to Seneca Niagara. Today, the resort features 147,000 square feet of thrilling gaming action, including more than 2,200 slot machines, more than 50 table games, and the exciting Seneca Sports Lounge, which offers wagering action on a host of sporting events from around the world. In addition, Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino elevates the resort experience with a 26-story AAA Four Diamond Award-winning hotel with 604 luxury rooms and suites; 10 incredible dining destinations; renowned live entertainment in both the Seneca Event Center and the Bear’s Den Showroom; spa and salon treatments at The Spa at Seneca; signature cocktails at STIR feature bar and Lounge 101; and more. To learn more and to plan your next stay, visit SenecaNiagaraCasino.com.

For more information on the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Scholarship program, visit https://www.nhl.com/sabres/team/alumni/alumni-scholarship-program.

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino is located just minutes from the world-famous Niagara Falls in Western New York, near the Canadian border.  The property is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.  Guests can enjoy 147,000 square feet of gaming space with more than 2,200 slot machines and over 50 table games, 10 restaurants, live entertainment and a AAA Four Diamond Award-winning, 26-story hotel with 604 deluxe rooms and suites, a spa and salon, fitness center, indoor pool and STIR feature bar with live entertainment, signature cocktails, and a stunning 43-foot high-definition video wall as well as the first of its kind on the East Coast-Lightning Link Lounge!  More information is available by calling 1-877-8-SENECA (1-877-873-6322) or visiting SenecaNiagaraCasino.com.  Follow us on Facebook: Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino X: @SenecaCasinos or Instagram: Instagram.com/SenecaCasinos.  #SenecaNiagara

 

Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino…NOTHING ELSE COMES CLOSE!

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