Free-play social gaming operators started 2018 off on the right foot by posting double-digit revenue growth in the first quarter.

CDC Gaming Reports recently summarized a new social gaming market recap by Eilers & Krecjik Gaming which claimed the overall social gaming market enjoyed revenue of $1.27b in the first three months of 2018, an 18% improvement over the same period last year and an undeniably staggering sum considering players can’t actually win anything beyond the ability to keep playing.

As with most online gambling metrics these days, social gaming’s Q1 gains were driven largely by mobile devices, which enjoyed revenue growth of more than one-quarter. Eilers & Krecjjik said the overall social gaming market was worth $4.72b over the past 12 months, up one-fifth year-on-year.

Playtika, the former Caesars Interactive Entertainment property that was acquired by a Chinese consortium for $4.4b in 2016, claimed top honors with revenue of $348m. Playtika represents more than one-quarter of the overall social gaming market, thanks in part to the enduring popularity of its Slotomania social casino app.