One of the world’s most exotic casinos has won a prestigious World Travel Award for South America’s Leading Casino Resort 2006, it has been announced.

Found at the Iguazu Falls site in Argentina, the casino is found in one of the world’s most spectacular settings, and is the only venue in Brazil or Argentina to offer a combination of live entertainment, casino gaming, hotel residences and gourmet dining.

Voted for by over 165,000 travel agents from across the world, the award honors the most notable South American venue of the year.
The Iguazu was acquired by James Shasha in 2002, and promptly underwent an extensive overhaul.

South America itself now has several hundred casinos, with Argentina the most popular location with over 70 casinos. Peru, Chile and Ecuador also feature numerous venues for far-flung gamers to enjoy themselves in.

The five-star Iguazu Grand Hotel Resort and Casino is found at the top of the 300 foot waterfall, and offers over 1,200 square meters of gaming entertainment.

Those looking for something more local, however, may well find themselves equally enticed by the chance to play at their favorite online casino from the comfort of their own home.

Another major European capital has introduced pro-gambling legislation, confirming the continent’s recent trend to regulate rather than prohibit when it comes to gambling issues.

Madrid’s regional government has announced that the Spanish capital will now permit betting via gaming venues, online casinos and telephone exchanges, in a move that is being seen as a benchmark for future nationwide legislation.

However, city officials have also announced that they will oversee the imposition of strict regulations aimed at preventing problem or underage gambling from arising.

Similar regulatory moves have recently been made in the UK and Italy, with operators such as William Hill seeking to set up venues across the continent as a result of the new permissive culture.

A recent study by the European Commission found that gambling now amounts to three per cent of overall European Union GDP, a figure that is set to rise still further thanks to growing interest from offline and online betting companies looking to establish themselves in new markets following recent prohibitive legislation in the US.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is now considering its next move following two days of talks with the US, Antigua and Barbuda regarding online gambling, it has been revealed.

November saw the trade organization rule that the laws of international trade were being breached by the new Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), but the US has maintained that it is within its rights to make such a law.

The two Caribbean nations, whose online gaming businesses rely heavily on US players, expressed their concern that the US has thus far ignored last month’s initial ruling by the WTO.

With other countries and bodies such as China and members of the EU supporting the Antiguan stance, the weight of global opinion appears to be against America’s own.

“We believe that a crucial factor in their respective decisions to [support our claims] was the pure merits of our case,” said Antigua finance minister Dr Errol Cort.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is now considering its next move following two days of talks with the US, Antigua and Barbuda regarding online gambling, it has been revealed.

November saw the trade organization rule that the laws of international trade were being breached by the new Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA), but the US has maintained that it is within its rights to make such a law.

The two Caribbean nations, whose online gaming businesses rely heavily on US players, expressed their concern that the US has thus far ignored last month’s initial ruling by the WTO.

With other countries and bodies such as China and members of the EU supporting the Antiguan stance, the weight of global opinion appears to be against America’s own.

“We believe that a crucial factor in their respective decisions to [support our claims] was the pure merits of our case,” said Antigua finance minister Dr Errol Cort.

The entry of Bulgaria into the European Union has led the European Commission’s spokesman, Oliver Drewes, to clarify the rules and regulations that underpin the bloc’s gambling policies.

Speaking about the fact that countries only now falling under the EU umbrella often had unusual laws of their own, Mr Drewes said that there had to be an overarching policy informing all national legislation.

“Each member state can have its own policy as long as basic treaty provisions are not violated […]According to the treaty rules and principles you have to respect free movement of services. Of course you can apply certain restrictions, but they must apply without exceptions,” said Mr Drewes, speaking on behalf of EC internal markets commissioner Charlie McCreevy.

Discriminatory practices that stopped certain companies from providing services would not be tolerated, Mr Drewes warned, in what was taken to be a reference to gambling laws found in some member states.

“Usually if the country does not change the law, a fine may be imposed,” he advised.