Switzerland has long been one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, with the bulk of travelers coming for the breathtaking scenery and extensive ski facilities, available at resorts such as Zermatt and St. Moritz. Prior to the year 2000, casinos did not form part of the Swiss tourist experience, but following the liberalization of the law in that year, casino operators were quick to step in, and Switzerland casinos are now increasingly popular with both Swiss citizens and foreign visitors alike. Indeed, it is estimated that Switzerland has the highest ratio of casinos per head of population of any major nation.

Until 1993, gambling was banned by law in Switzerland, but this was repealed in a referendum by the Swiss people, and the first Switzerland casinos opened in 2002. There are now 19 casinos in Switzerland, categorized according to their size; however, even the biggest Switzerland casino, located in the Grand Hotel in Lugano, has a relatively modest 26 gaming tables and around 350 slot machines, and many others are significantly smaller. Most are situated in popular resorts and tourist destinations, in order to take advantage of the demand for gambling that large numbers of foreign visitors inevitably bring.

In addition, there is a fairly stringent set of regulations that govern the Switzerland casino business, which are designed to help maximize the positive effects of gambling in the context of a socially responsible regulation regime. Swiss casinos are required to train their staff in recognizing and helping those who are gambling beyond their means, and they are also obliged to provide information detailing the potential risks of excessive gambling to all customers. Customers are also required to show identification when entering casinos, but unlike many other European countries, there is no requirement for patrons to be registered with the casino.

Apart from the aforementioned Grand Hotel Lugano, which is the largest of all Switzerland casinos, there are also several other large casinos in the country, situated in Baden, Basel, Bern, Luzern, Montreux, and St. Gallen. Thirteen smaller casinos are spread around Switzerland, including facilities in Davos, Interlaken, and St. Moritz. These casinos cater to local and international visitors, in particular those visiting Switzerland for winter sports, but also to the business traveler. The Switzerland casino business is a relatively small but growing sector of the economy, and visitors to the country will find the facilities ultra modern and extremely welcoming.

Zurich has a multi faceted appeal with its cultural events, booming nightlife, extravagant shopping and glorious old town streets and sights on the banks of the Limmat River. All this in addition to its close proximity to the magical Swiss Alps make a trip to Zurich unforgettable.

Through the ages Zurich has seen many avant-garde writers and artists both frequent and live here. Zurich is ranked highly on the list of the worlds top art cities alongside New York, Paris, London and Berlin. A typical feature of Zürich is indeed its high density of art galleries which are minutes apart on foot. The Rämistrasse “art mile” is a must see for visitors to Zurich with gallery after gallery. Museums too are in abundance here with Zürich and the surrounding region is home to the biggest number of museums and exhibitions in the whole of Switzerland.

Art and culture aside, taking a stroll around Zurich’s centre is a special experience. Zürich’s well-preserved Old Town is on the banks of the Limmat River. It is not only home to countless places of interest but is a simply a beautiful place to visit and gather your thoughts over a lazy beer or coffee.

Having sampled the culture you may be in need of sampling some of the local night sports. Luckily Zurich is home to around 700 bars and clubs, most of which stay open until the early hours. DJs from all over the world play everything from House, Techno and Latin to Acid Jazz. If you prefer things a little more mellow, drop into one of the numerous open-air bars (in summer).

Zurich’s proximity to the Swiss Alps makes trips to these glorious mountains very easy. Car hire in Zurich is in abundance with all the main brands having a presence. The Alps however are not the only thing that can lure you away from Zurich. Zurich’s surrounding region has so many attractions that if you are not the skiing type you will be spoilt for things to do and see.

The Rhine Falls are a must see as they are the largest falls in Europe and will take you breath away. In this glorious region you can also visit Alpamare, the largest water park in Europe or for something less active the Emma-Kunz-Zentrum in the former Roman Quarry is an oasis of wellness and relaxation. With parks, zoo’s and museums there is too much to mention but visiting Zurich’s surrounding region must be done and will give any visitor a memorable trip. For further information on Zurich and its surrounding area go to Zuerich.com.