Target will sell Facebook gift cards for FarmVille, Mafia Wars purchases

Target announced on Tuesday that it will begin selling Facebook gift cards on Sept. 5, making it the first brick-and-mortar retailer to stock them.

The gift cards can be redeemed to buy digital goods in online social games, such as Zynga's FarmVille and Mafia Wars. They will be available in increments of $15, $25 and $50.

Americans will spend more than $1.6 billion in 2010 on virtual goods and social gaming, according to Target, citing a figure from Inside Network.

Users who play FarmVille are prompted to buy a wad of currency, up to $50 worth, the first time they sign up. As they work at raising a virtual farm, they can buy items such as seeds, fuel, buildings and decorations for the buildings. Signing up for the games is free.

Users pay for items with FarmVille coins, a currency with an exchange rate of $5 for every 7,500 coins. They pay for the currency by major credit card or via PayPal.

Items on FarmVille can be pricy. One of the more expensive ones, a Villa, goes for a reported $600.

Facebook allows third-party developers to host such games on its site.