Social gaming will explode in 2011.

Retailers using parcel delivery and courier services may have to take gaming into consideration when thinking about their social media strategies.

New figures suggest that the social gaming market will expand quickly this year, adding another dimension to firms' approach to sites like Facebook.

The social gaming market will pass the $1 billion (£630 million) mark for the first time, according to new figures from eMarketer.

Last the market was worth $856 million (£540 million), marking a 28 per cent predicted increase over the 12 months.

"Even though fewer than six per cent of US social gamers spend money on virtual items, these avid players will produce $653 million in the US alone this year," commented Paul Verna, an analyst with eMarketer.

"This is the largest segment of the social gaming economy, and one that marketers are increasingly turning to as a branding vehicle."

Betting journalist Richard Preen said this week that online bingo will increasingly migrate to social sites.

Posted by Lucy Pritchard 

Article Added: 14/01/2011 16:50:02