A veteran casino dealer living and working in Sonoma County has been named the “Best Dealer in America” after winning a two-day competition in Las Vegas.

Elleonor Hoffman, a table games dealer at Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, beat out over 30 other competitors from across the United States to take home the trophy and a $5,000 cash prize in the inaugural G2E Dealer Championship, that took place Oct. 7-8 during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E), a gambling industry convention and trade show held each fall since 2001.

Contestants competed in both blackjack and traditional roulette where they were judged on technical skills, hospitality and game control by table game executives from all participating casinos, including Las Vegas casinos like Bellagio, Caesars Palace and The Venetian.

In an email to The Press Democrat Friday, Hoffman called the win a “great honor” and a celebration of her passion for her job.

“For me, dealing is a connection. You have a connection with your players,” she said. “You know, they come here for entertainment. You drive a long way to be in a casino, or sometimes you work hard, you have this money for your entertainment, so I want everybody to have a good time.”

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Hoffman, a Las Vegas native, traveled the world for 20 years as a dealer aboard Royal Caribbean cruise ships before coming to work at the Sonoma County casino nearly a year ago after failing to find a full-time job in the gaming mecca, she said.

“My friend, my best friend, works here, so when there was an opening, he told me,” she said.

Now, she calls the casino her home away from home and the staff she works with like her brothers and sisters.

“I’m enjoying my stay over here, looking forward to staying here long term,” she said.

For the competition, Hoffman said she first had to show off her skills at dealing both blackjack and running a roulette table at an audition locally to earn her spot on what she called the biggest stage of her life.

The hardest part of the contest, Hoffman said, was the pressure she put on herself.

“Thirty-four dealers are there, and everybody is the best. So the challenge for me is how am I gonna top the best,” she said. “I still have butterflies in my stomach. I still cannot believe that I’m capable of of doing something like that.”

Among the competitors that Hoffman beat were several Las Vegas-based dealers, including second and third-place finishers Madalina Ristea of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and Marko Vekovic of Encore Las Vegas.

“To win Las Vegas, and I am here in California, it’s a great honor, not just for me, but for Graton,” Hoffman said. “Yeah, I came there to get that for all of us.”

Brian Green, Graton’s chief operating officer, said in a statement shared Friday that the casino is “immensely proud” of Hoffman’s win.

“This achievement is a testament to the world-class professionalism, skill, and dedication that defines the Graton Resort & Casino team. Our commitment is to provide the best gaming experience in Northern California, and Elleonor’s national recognition confirms that we employ the finest talent working on our floor,” he said.