On June 3, 1999 the Queensland Government issued the first Interactive Gambling License under its Interactive Gambling (Player Protection) Act 1998 to Australian company GOCORP Limited.
GOCORP Chief Executive Officer Paul Appleby said: "GOCORP is proud to be the first purely online gaming company to be awarded an online gaming licence in Australia."
The Queensland Government's drive to attract technology-based companies such as GOCORP is consistent with its vision to become the hub for technology and e-commerce in the region.
Industry analysts have estimated global Internet gaming revenue will reach a staggering US$7 billion and US$10 billion by 2001. The
Australian share of this revenue is estimated at more than US$2 billion.

"GOCORP's sole business function is online gaming," Mr Appleby said, "and we are focused on not only setting the benchmark in entertainment driven by leading edge technologies, but also establishing leadership in the management of player protection in accordance with the regulatory guidelines."
GOCORP has already commenced its software implementation process, using software, hardware and network security technologies in conjunction with industry vendors such as Cisco, Sun Microsystems and Access Systems.

Mining company takes on Internet gambling

Trans-Global Interactive Limited is the latest company to jump on the bandwagon and capitalise on the success of interactive gambling.
The company, listed on the Australian stock exchange, NASDAQ and the Canadian VSE, announced their purchase of various gambling interests during a number of roadshow media launches beginning June 1.
Since 1970, Trans-Global resources N.L. have held various mining interests in Australia, the United States, and South America.
Trans-Global Interactive Limited.
In a turnabout, they will now receive revenue from software sales,ongoing royalties, advertising and pay-to-play streams.
Trans-Global has initially purchased interests in internet casino gambling and equity in GET Interactive Inc, a reputable Australian-based software and internet gaming provider.
GET has also developed technology for digital TV-based internet gaming channels, which will be launched in a joint venture operation in the USA. The interactive software links home players via internet and digital TV technology to game show networks developed by GET, allowing simultaneous transmission of data, video and interactive responses. Revenues are predominantly generated from "pay to play" and advertising.

"Our vision, some six months ago, began to diversify because we believed in the future of the home entertainment industry and the integration of the media, information and communication industries," said Mr Tibor Vertes, CEO of the GETGroup of companies.
"We believe that it is through entertainment and digital television that will open the doors for GET's home entertainment opportunities in
developing on line home entertainment channels and for the future of both the casino industries and the entertainment industry to grow."
Since 1995, GET has grown into a team of some 34 computer software and content specialists, and has developed customised products for various casino games.
"We strongly focus on the regulated casino environment, and as such the software was specifically developed to aim at complying with the
government regulatory models."
According to Mr Vertes the software includes financial, transaction, auditing, records and encrypted security for all product activity.
"This is the significant differentiation between us and the unregulated casinos that you have heard so much about. "
Trans-Global Interactive Limited further expect that the current posture in the USA will change as a consequence of commercial reality - an obvious reference to the Kyl Bill that aims to outlaw internet gambling.

TGL said "Currently it is not legal for USA based casinos to provide internet gambling, but this seems unlikely to continue as USA citizens can legally gamble on offshore internet casinos.
"Any failure to legislate would result in a major loss of revenue for USA Governments."