Casino Estoril

Casino Estoril, located in the resort town of Estoril on the Estoril Coast west of Lisbon, opened in 1916 and became one of the most geopolitically significant casinos of the 20th century. During World War II, Portugal's neutrality made Lisbon — and particularly the Estoril casino — the meeting ground for spies, diplomats, exiled royalty, and intelligence operatives from both Allied and Axis powers. British intelligence officer and novelist Ian Fleming observed this atmosphere firsthand while working for Naval Intelligence, and used Estoril as the direct inspiration for the fictional Casino Royale in his 1953 novel.

At its peak in the mid-20th century, Casino Estoril was the largest casino in Europe — a title it maintained until the expansion of Macao and later Spanish and British competitors. The casino building is a distinctive salmon-pink neo-baroque structure surrounded by formal gardens, positioned directly opposite Estoril's train station and within a few hundred metres of the seafront.

Today, Casino Estoril operates as Portugal's most historic gaming venue, offering roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, and slot machines. The complex includes a theatre, a restaurant, and the Estoril Congress Centre. An adjacent hotel, the Hotel Palácio Estoril — where Allied and Axis agents famously stayed and dined — continues to operate as a luxury property.