Directed by Martin Campbell (GoldenEye), the film is based on the first Bond book by author Ian Fleming, which was published in 1953. And, other than coming from the same source, it has no connection with the '67 Casino Royale with Peter Sellers.

The story involves a banker who caters to terrorist organizations. Terrorist loan shark Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen), a stereotypical levelheaded Bond villain who has the deadly habit of playing the stock market with his clients' funds. After a disastrous investment that leaves him near penniless, he sets up a multimillion-dollar Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament (in the book, it was baccarat) at Casino Royale in Montenegro to win back his capital.

M (Judi Dench) brings Bond into the game, with the intent of bankrupting his opponent, then offering protection from the furious clients in exchange for information about the terrorist groups. For this, Bond is teamed with Vesper Lynd (Eva Green), the woman who stirs Bond's soul deeply, making him contemplate trading it all in for love.