5 Casinos You Must Visit While Gambling in Portugal

Not only is Portugal a beautiful place to visit, but it also has a booming casino culture. These casinos are usually located in beautiful areas that attract tourists from around the world. That means you can enjoy some great scenery while diving into your gambling adventure.

These casinos are usually like Las Vegas where the casino is a part of a bigger complex that offers a ton of entertainment. Along with plenty of slots to choose from at these casinos, you will have the traditional table games such as blackjack, baccarat, poker, and roulette.

Aside from these, you can also enjoy some original Portuguese games like banca francesca, which is an exciting dice game.

Here are five casinos you must visit while gambling in Portugal.

1 – Casino Lisboa

Casino Lisboa is located right in the middle of the Park of Nations. It is owned and was started by billionaire Stanley Ho. Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, so this is a hotspot for tourists. Around 10,000 people populate Casino Lisboa daily.

In addition to hitting the table games inside their gambling halls, you can hear famous Portuguese artists that have traveled from around the country to perform at Casino Lisboa’s nightclub.

As far as table games are concerned, poker is probably the most popular at this casino. You will be able to enjoy poker tournaments that will appeal to both the amateur and the professional player. Aside from poker, other table games that are available at Casino Lisboa are blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and Banca Francesca.

With over 1,000 slots, there is definitely no shortage of options to choose from. A smart-casual dress code is enforced, so don’t try to walk in wearing your sandals and shorts.

You will find three awesome restaurants within the casino in addition to some bars. The food is top-notch, so you’ll never go hungry while you’re on a break from the slots!

2 – Casino Estoril

Casino Estoril is the largest of all of the casinos in Europe, and it’s for sure the most popular in all of Portugal.





This casino has some interesting history associated with it. The writer of the very first James Bond novel, Ian Fleming, was apparently inspired by the location after many visits to the Casino Estoril.

Casino Estoril is also rumored to have been involved in several instances of international intrigue. Many spies during WWI had supposedly met within the confines of the grand old building. Things such as military activity were rumored to have been discussed at Casino Estoril during this time.

Dance performances from the country’s best flamenco dancers, as well as concerts by top artists, occur daily in addition to all the non-stop gaming action that takes place from morning to night.

Banca francesca, baccarat, blackjack, roulette, and poker are the table games available to you at Casino Estoril. Along with cash poker games, there are poker tournaments held on the weekend. If poker is your style, then Casino Estoril will surely satisfy your thirst for the game.

There are also over 1,000 slots at Casino Estoril, including video and jackpot slots. Another great perk that is a part of the casino is that it has its own art gallery on-site, featuring some of the world’s best modern artists and sculptors.

In addition, there are four different restaurants located within the casino, each offering different types of cuisine. If you are a fan of Cantonese food, we highly suggest checking out Casino Estoril’s Mandarin Restaurant.

3 – Hotel Casino Chaves

Located in the northeast part of Portugal is the city of Chaves. Just across the border from Spain, and known for its culinary skill, Chavez is one of Portugal’s beautifully quaint towns.

Here, you will find the modern and stylish Hotel Casino Chaves. Even though the city of Chaves is a small one, Hotel Casino Chavez gives you a first-class experience. First of all, it’s a hotel. So, you can stay here overnight, which is extremely convenient if you’re planning to hit the gaming floor multiple times throughout your trip. Second, there is a spa, a concert hall, and a restaurant located within the casino.

For gaming, the Hotel Casino Chaves offers the best table games which include baccarat, roulette, poker, and a Portuguese dice game. Eight tables are dedicated solely to real money Texas Hold‘em. Once again, this is another spot that is a must-see if you love playing poker.

There are also over 300 slots to choose from including video poker. The dress code is smart casual, so like many other casinos here, you can’t just enter wearing shorts and sandals.

4 – Casino da Povoa

In the city of Povoa de Varzim is the Casino da Povoa. This casino was built in the 1930s and was a favorite destination of the rich and famous. Estoril Sol now owns and operates the Casino da Povoa.





This casino has the best table games such as poker, baccarat, blackjack, and banca francesca. With over 500 slots to play, you can also enjoy some video poker while gambling. Besides the casino, the city of Povoa de Varzim is full of entertaining things to do.

You can visit the Municipal Museum of Ethnography and History. This museum contains artifacts and treasures that bring to life the history and folklore of the surrounding area that include the occupation of the Roman Empire up until the Middle Ages. The facility is housed within the historical, ornate mansion known as the Solar dos Carneiros, which was built in the late 18^th century.

The history of Povoa de Varzim is steeped in fishing culture. In 1892, there was a massive storm that killed more than 100 fishermen, and the locals still honor the memory of these mariners.

Perhaps you love the beach and bodyboarding. If so, then you must visit Praia da Salgueira. This white sand beach appeals to visitors from all over Europe. For some great scenery, you can visit Monte de Sao Felix, a series of beautiful rolling hills.

The tallest of these hills is over 600 feet, and at the crest, you will find an isolated religious sanctuary, home to many monks over the past centuries. It can only be traversed by walking a huge stairway that will take you through the forest.

If you decide to visit Monte de Sao Felix, plan on spending the day there as there is a lot of ground to cover. There’s also Praca do Almada, the town square with many things to see. A neoclassical town hall that was built in 1791 is a must-see for any lover of architecture.

On the east side of the square, you can view some beautifully painted houses. A view that can be seen behind a statue of writer José Maria de Eça de Queirós who was actually born in the very same location.

5 – Casino Figueira

Opened in 1904, the Casino Figueira is the oldest casino in Portugal and one of the most beautiful structures in the entire country. Portuguese aristocrats brought attention to this town as it was the place they preferred to play.

There are not that many table games compared to other casinos in Portugal, however, you can enjoy games of poker, baccarat, banca francesca, and blackjack.

You will definitely enjoy their variety of electronic games such as slots, video poker, and electronic roulette. The slot room has more than 300 slots available to play.

Although the Casino Figueira is not the biggest casino in Portugal, it still offers daily performances by great artists, and the dining accommodations offered at the casino restaurant will leave you wanting for more.

Conclusion

Portugal is one of the most beautiful countries to visit, and the people there are extremely nice. The gambling and casino industries are both booming right now and that has just happened in recent years.

Perhaps you are thinking about traveling with family members who may not want to gamble. The great thing about Portugal is that there are so many things to see and do at every casino’s location.

With a rich history and beautiful architecture, this trip will have much more to offer you than just gambling.

If reading this inspired you to take a gambling trip to Portugal, I am certainly interested in hearing about it! Let me know in the comments.