Graton Resort & Casino dealer wins inaugural G2E Dealer Championship

The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) introduced a new competitive feature this year with the launch of the first G2E Dealer Championship, an event designed to evaluate casino dealers on technical proficiency and command of table games.

Thirty-four dealers from casino properties across the United States competed over two days in Las Vegas, with scoring based on hospitality, technical accuracy, and control of the game environment.

Participants were narrowed to 12 dealers in the semifinal round and six in the finals. Competitors were required to deal both blackjack and roulette before panels of four judges at each table. Judges were table games executives from casinos represented in the competition.

“The inaugural G2E Dealer Championship brought an exciting new layer to this year’s event,” said Korbi Carrison, event vice president at RX, one of the organizers of G2E. “The competition celebrated the incredible skill, precision, and showmanship of casino dealers while highlighting the vital role they play in the gaming experience. The showdown not only recognized top talent but also reinforced how G2E continues to celebrate all facets of the gaming industry.”

The championship concluded with 51-year-old Elleonor Hoffman of Graton Resort & Casino in Sonoma County, California, securing first place and the $5,000 top prize.

Hoffman, a dual-rate table games dealer, joined Graton nearly 10 months ago after she said she was unable to find full-time employment in Las Vegas. Before entering the land-based casino industry, she spent 22 years as a table games dealer on cruise ships.

Hoffman said the competition was not driven by financial gain. “I didn’t even think about the money,” she said. “This means so much more to me. I can make money. But this, they can’t take away from me.”

She also noted that competing allowed her to watch herself deal for the first time. “Honestly, this is the first time that I’ve seen myself perform because I’m always at the back of the table,” she said. “So, to myself on video, and judging myself, I was like ‘Damn, I’m good at this.’”

Several of her colleagues from Graton Resort & Casino attended the event. “A lot of people came (from Graton), and it means so much to me,” she said. “I love my work. For me, dealing is an art, and I love my work.”

Four Las Vegas casino dealers made the final round of six. The second-place finisher was Madalina “Maddy” Ristea of The Cosmopolitan, who received $3,000. Third place went to Marko Vekovic of Encore, who received $2,000. The other finalists were Taras Ploshchanski of The Venetian, Milan Jesic of Bellagio, and Chaz Chim of Muckleshoot Casino in Washington state.

Along with the cash award, Hoffman received a trophy and the G2E Dealer Championship Cup. The cup will be engraved with her name and displayed at Graton Resort & Casino for one year.