The coming year looks to be a good one in terms of interesting investment opportunities. A lot of technological advancements and new laws are paving the way for developments within exciting industries. Below are some of such industries, many of which are seeing a growing number of start-ups in search for investors passionate about the industry.

Casino

A wave of gambling legalisation is underway across the world, from the US where states are looking to reintroduce online poker, to Japan where casinos have just been legalized. The prospect of the casino business entering more areas in Asia is particularly interesting because of the region’s untapped market. Places like Macau and Singapore prove the casino business can thrive in large Asian cities, and every major international gambling firm is racing to open one of their own casinos in Tokyo. In fact, Daiwa Research Institute estimates that three casinos alone could generate as much as $10bn each year in Japan, with the industry predicted to make $60bn annually overall. Major casino brands such as Wynn and MGM Resort have already seen increased investor interest in shares as a result of the news. The prospect of legal online poker in the US, in the meanwhile, means a big boost for the igaming industry and the various online poker rooms that have for years been met by limitations in the North American market. Now is a good time to invest in igaming companies.

Fine Art

It might seem rather odd that out of all markets, art is one which would continue to boom despite the economic hardships of recent years. But boom it has – and by no small margin. In fact, people are making profits of several thousands of dollars in as little as one or two years. The dramatic rise in value for some fine art can be accredited to how trends develop at an unusually fast pace within this market. Whilst this means you could get rich quick, it also means that investing in art is unpredictable and risky. Despite the art market making revenues of almost $40bn each year, most financial advisors would suggest staying away from art investment unless you are extremely familiar with the art world and have a keen eye for trends.

Virtual Reality Technology

VR technology has long been known as the next big thing to hit gaming, and the raving reviews surrounding recently release virtual reality games and consoles would suggest the technology lives up to the hype. The number of people playing video games worldwide is estimated to be around 1.7 billion – with 700 million of those frequently gaming online. Streaming platform Twitch has managed to propel gaming into a spectator’s sports; introducing a whole new element to the industry. Today, there are also more opportunities to get ROI through involvement with small indie studios thanks to the internet and – in particular – sites like Kickstarter.

Artificial Intelligence Technology

When we talk about the use of artificial intelligence, we’re not referring only to the concept of a personal robot doing our laundry and giving us the weather forecast. That would be nice – but before we get to that stage, there are numerous ways that current AI technology can be integrated into almost every business as a means of improving overall performance and cut down on employee costs. From self-driving cars to automated customer service to advanced search algorithms to procedural generation in games – the uses for artificial intelligence are endless, and companies specializing in their development and application are going to be making significant revenue very soon.

Drones

Drone technology has improved rapidly in past few years, which has important implications as to how we deliver not only consumer goods but emergency aid. It will transform deliveries, cutting both costs and time. Drones will help us observe and study areas for educational purposes. The technology will help fire fighters and law enforcement gain intelligence in situations where people need to be evacuated. Without a doubt, the use of drones is going to become increasingly common in the following years, making drone design and manufacturing an appealing business for investors.

As it’s clear to see, there are plenty of industries that in 2017 (despite being far from conventional investment choices) look promising for good ROI. Better yet; it’s never been easier to reach out across the world and get involved with lesser known businesses on the other side of the globe.