According to the report, "Casual Gaming Market Update" from Parks Associates, online gaming remains the most popular entertainment in the United States, ahead of the videos and social networks. Continues the report, 34% of U.S. adult users play online every week and they are ahead of the 29% who watch videos or 19% who visit social networks. Despite the popularity of YouTube, MySpace and Face book, gaming remains the king of online entertainment, driven in large part by the casual games and the serious games.

The games also have benefits for businesses. Unlike portals or social networking videos that rely solely on advertising revenue, the casual games are more mature and heterogeneous models of income in addition to advertising, advertising in games and clicks ads game (some are very annoying for players).

The frequency of growth from year to year for the players online is 79%. The Social Networkers grew 46% over 2006, and viewers of videos grew 123% in one year. Casual gaming is the next generation gaming.

What exactly is a casual game?
A Casual game is an easy to understand online video game or just a video game which is been attracted by a lot of online gamers. Some propertied of casual game:
They are very easy to understand and easy to follow.
Casual games can be played by a teen or even by a retired old man.
Casual games have an easy to complete level or a stage.
Many of them have 2D graphics which helps the low quality / bandwidth users.
They are becoming a fast growing source for the time pass from stress.
Casual games are easy to find and each one has its own different way of fun.
Usually companies launch a trial or demo version of their casual games which helps the user to first try and then confirm to buy.

There are lots of websites which provide free gaming and many of them are becoming well known gaming portals.