Games are played by gamers, who are those who participate in interactive games such as video games, tabletop role-playing games, and skill-based card games, and who do so for extended periods of time. Various gamers are competitive, which means that they regularly compete in some games for monetary compensation, trophies, or other rewards. According to the laws of certain nations, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, the word "gaming" refers to permitted gambling that may take place in both conventional and digital formats, such as via internet gambling. There are a plethora of various gaming communities spread over the globe. Since the invention of the Internet, various communities have sprung up in the form of Internet forums, virtual communities on YouTube or Twitch, as well as in-person social gathering places. For others, it has progressed from a recreational activity to a full-time job. There will be around 3.24 billion gamers on the planet in 2021, according to estimates.
It has been in use since at least 1422, when the town regulations of Walsall, England, prohibited "any dice-player, carder, tennis player, or other illicit gamer," according to a source cited in the town laws. This description, on the other hand, has not been embraced in the United States, where it has been connected with other recreational activities. They first made an appearance in the United States as wargames. When wargames were first developed, they were used as a military and strategic tool. When Dungeons & Dragons was first produced, it was advertised as a wargame, but its founders eventually changed their minds and characterised it as a role-playing game instead. They, too, referred to their players as gamers, and it was at this point that the term's meaning evolved from "someone who gambles" to "someone who plays board games and video games."
As of 2018, 28 percent of gamers in the United States are under the age of 18, 29 percent are between the ages of 18 and 35, 20 percent are between the ages of 36 and 49, and 23 percent are beyond the age of 50. As of 2014, 29 percent of the population in the United Kingdom is under the age of 18, 32 percent is 18-35, and 39 percent is over 36. According to the Pew Research Center, 49 percent of people have participated in a video game at some time in their lives, and those who have participated are more inclined to let their children or future children to participate. While males and females are nearly equally likely to play video games on a regular basis, men are more likely than women to describe themselves as 'Gamers.' The average age of a gamer in 2019 is 33 years old, according to statistics.