According to a study by Parks Associates entitled 'Trends in Digital Gaming: Free-to-Play, Social and Mobile Games', the number of gamers in the United States has increased by 241% since 2008. The study revealed that 135 million people play at least one hour per month as compared to 56 million in 2008. The study further revelas that smartphone gamers have increased significantly.

A study shows that 24% of people who play casual games have clicked on an ad in a social game and made an online purchase. The study commissioned by RockYou and conducted by Interpret surveyed about 2,000 social gamers in the United States. Findings suggest that some social gamers buy more than expected, are receptive to advertising because they want real-world rewards, are competitive and achievement-oriented and the most social of all media users.

The gaming ecosystem is undergoing major technology and business model transitions that will last beyond 2015. Gartner, Inc. estimates that worldwide spending on the gaming ecosystem will exceed $74 billion in 2011, up 10.4 percent from 2010 spending of $67 billion. By 2015, spending will reach $112 billion.