For some the month of January and the beginning of a new year bring trepidation and broken resolutions with the holiday season but a distant memory. For others it is a time for innovation, planning and opportunity, a new year, a fresh start given the previous difficult few years and continuing economic woes. I for one relish January and the prospect of attending ICE Totally Gaming which as a truly global event continues to amaze and invigorate me with the energy and atmosphere of all who participate in the event. The show continues to get bigger and better and in stature every year and that is testament to the organisers in bringing the great and good of the industry under one roof through constant communication with attendees in delivering what they want. In terms of innovation, InterGame Ltd, the global gaming publisher has introduced a daily digest newspaper called the ‘Show Daily’ which will capture the vibe, immediacy and energy of the attendees at the show. I for one embrace this concept as it provides a rare, touch, feel and tactile relevant snapshot of topics, events, news and gossip that one can refer to during and after the event in terms of aide memoire in order to follow up with relationships and contacts made. As the newly appointed Managing Director of eMainstream Marketing Ltd, a division of Mainstream Financial based on the Isle of Man, we are committed to spreading the gossip of this year’s show and will be providing some live radio updates back to the Island’s e-gambling industry community that perhaps cannot attend the event in person. So what does the future hold for the industry and eMainstream Marketing? We see further consolidation across the sector to drive further economies of scale and innovation with new distribution models not just for the operators but on the supply side such as software vendors and indeed digital egaming specialist advertising and marketing agencies will need to respond to these newly formed gambling behemoths in order to fulfil their global ambitions with a global but local network of offices in the markets that these giants wish to operate in. On the technology front the industry will need to adapt further to new platforms and distribution models. The next generation of the Apple iPad - given that many analysts are forecasting the demise of the home PC and laptop due to falling consumer sales - needs to remain high on the agenda of every gaming operator. Other areas of note will be the increasing adoption of 3D and internet TV, which is the next wave of technology for television viewing. These TVs have just started appearing on the market with cable and satellite companies scrambling to add channels and shows in 3D. This offers the opportunity for an enriched experience centred around gaming and could be awesome on these televisions. In fact, I would love to see PKR deliver their 3D poker platform creatively on 3D TVs – now that commercial would win awards! - ENDS -