Before computers, people played board games like Monopoly and counted checkers and chess among their favorite games. Today, many people play their games online, whether on a computer or a mobile device, since so many forms of entertainment are literally at a player’s fingertips. Though board games are making somewhat of a comeback in recent years, younger generations do most or all of their gaming in front of a screen. Today, when researchers ask players to find out which games are their favourites, people tend to go directly to their online archive to make their choices. And that trend doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon. According to Statista, the UK video gaming market alone was worth $3,941,529,000 in 2016, but that number pales by comparison to the US market worth $23,459,093,000. In using the United States number, the picture of today’s gaming market becomes clearer. The average age of online games players is 35, and they have been playing games for an average of 13 years. Research showed that 65% of households owned a device for playing video games in 2016. The majority – 56%—played on dedicated game consoles, while a close 53% played on smartphones, 36% on wireless devices, and only 17% on dedicated handheld systems. Online video games are a massive draw for people of all ages, but 48% of them also play social games. That statistic ties in with the social aspect of all gaming, as 54% of the most frequent gamers play with at least one other person, and 53% say the games help them feel connected with friends. Even 42% play video games with family. Social gaming can consist of a number of game varieties, from Facebook games e-sports to online slots games, and it is not only a form of entertainment but sometimes a way to earn prizes and money. Online casinos and poker sites offer those qualities, especially when players can begin for free or using only play-money. For example, slots games frequently list free spins offers (you can find the list here), one of the ways that people become invested in a game and keep returning to play again. Speaking of e-sports, the most popular game titles of 2016 came from that world where video games meet online competition. Some of the most popular games in the history of online play are in this category. The most popular game last year was Dota 2, followed by Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. League of Legends came in third, and Heroes of the Storm and Call of Duty: Black Ops III rounded out the top five. One of the reason those games dominated was because practicing can pay off. E-sports sites often hold tournaments, wherein players can earn five-figure and even six-figure payouts. The numbers are similar to those in poker and chess due to the ability for players to put that experience into a money-making venture. And people want to watch as well, with viewership of e-sporting events has increased dramatically between 2014 and 2016 by 43% in just two years. And globally, e-sports has experienced an even bigger rise for that same time period, as revenue rose from $194 million to $463 million, an increase of 239%. Whether playing online slots, a war-based multiple-player game, or simply a social network game, the majority of the options today are online and will likely continue that trend.