“I told them I don't even like the game; I don't want to do this,” said Duke, one of the queens among the mostly male royalty in the world of high-stakes Poker. “But that was before I found out how fun it is. Poker may be slightly more exciting, but many more people understand and play blackjack.”

And that was what Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino was counting on when they signed her up as a promoter of the Ultimate Blackjack Tour. Duke was at Barona when the Ultimate Blackjack Tour made the first qualifying tournament.

The gambling complex will host the televised tour in December 2007. The winner is expected to be awarded $1 million of the overall $3 million purse. Promoters of the event are going after the gold dust falling through poker's floorboards.