Internet market research firm eMarketer predicts that social gaming will become a billion dollar business in 2011. eMarketer reckons almost 62 million U.S. internet users – over a quarter (27 percent) of the total – will play at least one game on a social network per month this year.

If eMarketer is right, not only will these figures represent a 17 percent increase in online gamers, but the overall social gaming audience will spend more and more on virtual goods, lead-generation offers and advertising.

All in all, eMarketer expects social gaming revenues to reach $1.093 billion dollars, with over half ($653 million) expected to come from virtual good sales, followed by $248 million from lead generation offers and $192 million from advertising.

eMarketer reckons social gaming revenues will reach $1.323 billion in 2012.

Source: eMarketer, “Social Gaming Market to Surpass $1 Billion,” eMarketer, January 12, 2011

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