I think Las Vegas will be seriously looking at online gambling to create revenues that will replace what they lose to the bad economy and people’s reluctance to travel.
There will be initial opposition from the Indian gambling places in the US, but eventually they will hop on and ride with the times. They can hold online tournies and will have the advantage of being local and giving away full trips to their casinos to locals, including shuttle or Limo pickups. Who can resist a comp like that?
I doubt anything will happen next year in that regard, but the year after I bet the offline gambling industry will push for it.
When they are ready to enter the market they will partner with existing software companies as well as develop their own games. They will definitely use affiliates. Affiliates are THE established online advertising venue.
I think the internet will boom and travel will become both more expensive and less trouble. The skies in the US and many other places are pretty much full of planes to the limit, growth is not really possible. The internet and electronic meetings will become prominent – not so much next year but as a trend for the future.
Shopping online is getting more popular every year and next year will be no different. I think the economic downturn will help the web, no waste of gasoline or time.
Baby boomers are retiring in increasing numbers over the next decade, they are computer savvy and they will spend lots of time on line.
The more people spend time online, the more people will look for entertainment online.
My prediction for the future in general concerning the web is: You ain’t seen nothing yet!