Online gaming sites enjoyed‭ ‬86‭ ‬million visits in the‭ ‬US last year,‭ ‬an annual increase of‭ ‬27‭ ‬percent.

That was the conclusion of a report released by digital marketing analyst group ComScore.‭ The research group adds that the total time spent playing online games has jumped‭ ‬ ‬42‭ ‬percent,‭ ‬while online games gained presence in America’s share of total internet time,‭ ‬up from‭ ‬3.7‭ ‬percent in December‭ ‬2007‭ ‬to‭ ‬4.9‭ ‬percent in December‭ ‬2008.

EA Online was the second-most visited games portal‭; ‬attracting‭ ‬15.4‭ ‬million visitors‭ (‬up‭ ‬21‭ ‬percent‭)‬,‭ ‬while Disney Games followed in third with‭ ‬13.4‭ ‬million visitors‭ (‬up‭ ‬13‭ ‬percent‭)‬.‭ ‬Top of the list,‭ ‬however,‭ ‬was Yahoo Games,‭ ‬which saw annual visitors reach‭ ‬19.5‭ ‬million in‭ ‬2008,‭ ‬a growth of‭ ‬20‭ ‬percent from last year.

‭“‬It appears that online,‭ ‬ad-supported gaming is one of the activities that has benefited during this economic downturn,‭” ‬says Edward Hunter,‭ ‬ComScore director of gaming solutions.‭ “‬Not only have consumers turned to outlets such as gaming to take their minds off the economy,‭ ‬but as they curtail their discretionary gaming-related purchases they are turning to free alternatives.‭”

In what may be a surprise for some,‭ ‬display ads saw a healthy climb through the year as well.‭ ‬ComScore states that the total number of display ad views in the online gaming category grew‭ ‬29‭ ‬percent to‭ ‬8.6‭ ‬billion.‭ ‬The researcher also stated that the average user’s exposure was largely similar from the year prior,‭ ‬with each player subjected to‭ ‬127‭ ‬ad views each.