What happens if you leave your territories?

For long periods of time? I'm leaving here next week, and won't be back for a year. If no one takes them, are they still mine? I expect to lose some, though I've maxed defense for about 50 of them, so it'll take them time if they even bother.

Though I don't see anyone taking my territory in the middle of the lake for awhile. How do my mobsters stay afloat anyways?

As of right now, nothing other than other real-life players would be able to take any of your territories that have 40 or more men on them. If they have less than 40, you could possibly lose some to the bot gangs, but they are supposed to only take ones that you took from them, so I doubt you would lose much - the main difference is that you will lose some value over that time, considering you lose 7.5% every night.

Now, only Nicorr could really tell you if that will be the same a year from now...

Any way to tell the bots from the real players? I took like 20 today, most of them highway, NONE of them with any surrounding players. Is Al Capone one of the bot gangs?

to differ from a real player and bot:

check the players profile. if the profile didn't have any badges, it is a bot. if have, it is a real player

If no one took your territories, they will still be yours.

They will be at the minimum value after one year, which is defense / 10. So make sure to put some defense on it.