Before the new facility was created, officials typically trained at casinos or would train one or two at a time in Des Moines. The gambling training room, allows many more people to study at once and allows for more frequent training.

It also offers a more realistic simulation of what agents will see.

“The difference is immeasurable,” Miller said. “There’s a lot to know about with this (unit) and it can be overload. This helps make sure you pick up on things quickly.”

A dozen or so agents milled around tables Thursday, watching and participating in craps and blackjack games. They took turns dealing, tossing the dice or being dealt in.

One of them was Brad Cunningham, a special agent assigned to the Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque. Cunningham went through several hands of blackjack — going bust on a couple — but said his card skills had improved immensely since he joined the gaming unit.

“I’d certainly like to think so, anyway,” he said with a laugh. “We learn a lot about the strategies that people use, the techniques. The training we get here is very important.”

Miller said the training and new facility would provide long term dividends.

“We want people to know that casinos are a place they can have fun, but that it’s a place of integrity,” she said.