A casino, also known as a gaming house or a gambling establishment, is an establishment that houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shops, cruise ships or other tourist attractions. In the United States, casinos are licensed and regulated by state governments. Some states also control the number of slots and table games available on the premises. Other states regulate the number of players at a casino game and prohibit the use of electronic devices such as cell phones. In addition, some casinos host live entertainment events such as stand-up comedy shows or concerts.
Some casinos are notable for their size or architecture. The Casino Estoril, located in the Portuguese municipality of Cascais, is the largest casino in Europe by capacity. The complex was designed by architect António de Azevedo and opened in 1968. It was a gathering point for spies and dispossessed royalty during World War II, and was later used as the inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007 novel “Casino Royale”.
Modern casinos typically divide their security operations into two departments: a physical security force that patrols the casino and a specialized surveillance department that operates the casino’s closed-circuit television system. The specialized surveillance department is generally responsible for monitoring the activities of guests and employees. Reputable casinos also employ independent testing and auditing companies such as eCOGRA and iTech Labs to ensure that their games maintain fairness and pay out according to their advertised percentages.