Games are often seen as a waste of time, but what if I told you that gamers could make money playing games?
The gaming industry is a billion-dollar business. So no wonder becoming a “professional gamer” is now a real thing. In 2021, the gaming industry was worth $180.3 billion.
That’s huge!
Believe it or not, there are many ways to make a living through gaming.
From streaming your gameplay online to turning your gaming skills into a profession, here are nine different ways that gamers can make money.
So, no more excuses- get out there and start gaming for profit!
Related: Swagbucks Review: Is The Online Side-Hustle Worth Your Time?
How gamers make money- 9 ways to earn money playing games
Playing video games is not just for fun.
There are many ways to make money through playing games, whether it be live streaming the game on Twitch, uploading videos of your gameplay on Youtube, or simply posting about the game on Facebook.
Here are nine ways that gamers can earn money.
1. Livestreaming Games & Getting Paid To Do So.
Twitch has become one of the biggest platforms to live stream video games. Gamers can stream their gameplay for others online to watch through PC, Xbox One, Playstation 4, or any other devices that you can link up with Twitch.
Different gamers have different ways of earning followers on Twitch. For instance, some gamers might look to doing shout-outs or giveaways on their channel to get more followers interested in watching them play that particular game.
Essentially, live streaming video games is where gamers can stream how they play games live, often with a chatbox for viewers to talk to the gamer as they play.
Sometimes companies might want someone to play their games to see how many people view the game, how popular it is, how difficult certain parts of the game are, how long it takes people to beat certain parts of the game, etc.
Other times, companies will even pay gamers with many followers/fans/subscribers or viewers to play their games to see how they are perceived among that particular gamer's audience.
Aside from Twitch, you can also live stream video on demand (VOD) on Facebook Live and earn gems, diamonds, or coins. It’s like a virtual reward coin convertible to cash where viewers or subscribers give or donate to streamers.
For the most part, a gamer’s personality is a major contributing factor to success in doing live streams. If you do this, be unique and different, as most streamers show their skills in playing games and how they interact with their audience.
Hence, they also become famous.
If you’re timid, maybe the next point will work for you.
2. Create a YouTube channel and upload videos of your gameplay online.
Some gamers make money by uploading videos of themselves playing games onto Youtube and gaining subscribers/viewers over the years.
Moreover, some gamers only stick with uploading one particular game repeatedly, while others might upload multiple games onto Youtube throughout the week or month.
Aside from uploading videos of how you play games, you can also do a digital game review with affiliate links for people to purchase through. Or a video commentary about a specific game.
Furthermore, suppose you're more of a vocal side. In that case, you can host a Podcast to share and discuss trending videos today, strategies, guides/tutorials, and earn money from your subscribers or listeners.
3. Making Money by Posting On Social Media.
Posting on social media about how much you love a particular game can make you money.
This is through affiliate links, influencer marketing (where people who have a large following recommend a product and get a commission from it), or simply liking or sharing posts from other gamers who post about how much they love the game.
4. Being Paid To Play Games To Test For Bugs or become a beta tester for upcoming games.
Many companies hire players to play their games to test out how buggy the game is, how challenging certain levels are, how much the cutscenes are, or how much dialogue is in certain parts of the game.
They often pay gamers to do this sort of work through sites like
As a beta game tester, you can earn around $10-$100, depending on your experience, location, among others.
On the other hand, companies might want to see how gamers play with others in a multiplayer setting.
For instance, if they are looking into making an online multiplayer game similar to World of Warcraft, young children might look at how kids play with each other when playing educational games and how those same kids play when playing an “adult” game.
5. Write Video Game Tutorial/Guide
Some gamers might have the time and resources to make how-to videos or blog posts playing game.
These how-tos can be very popular among gamers seeking advice or simply wanting something more in-depth while looking up how to beat a particular part of their favorite games.
Additionally, you can make an e-book of how you play video games and list it on your website or online stores like Amazon or Shopify.
6. Sell accounts or digital items (in-app purchases)
If you are growing a high-level account and have no time to manage it, you can sell or flip it for a price. More significantly; this will make sense to those NFT games, backed with cryptocurrency.
Moreover, you can sign up on Fiverr and offer your gaming services. Then, you can sell your art, music, skins, or map designs to game developers and other players.
Ultimately, aside from accounts and digital items, you can also start selling gaming merchandise and accessories online. While it won’t bring a steady paycheck, you can use the money to buy other gaming purchases you might need on your next game or if you need quick bucks.
7. Become a game coach
Another way on how gamers make money is by becoming game coaches. This may require specific skills, but if you take courses or is knowledgeable enough on a particular game topic, you can get paid to do so.
Then you can form a team, manage them, and have them compete in international or local gaming tournaments.
Moreover, you can even build a gaming blog website. Bloggers earn a lot of money by blogging about their favorite games.
It's pretty simple- write a blog post with a few sentences about how you feel about a game, then add links to the different stores where they can buy it. Bloggers receive a commission on anything their readers purchase after clicking through their links, and this adds up very quickly!
8. Join Tournaments (Egames)
Yes, gamers make money through participating in in-game tournaments or Egames. Also, these game tournaments can be held internationally!
Players are always competing against each other in tournaments for real cash and prizes.
Here is how it works: first, players need to create an account on the website (this is another example- online casino)
Then they choose how much to bet and how many rounds of each game to play (card games, slot machines, or any other games). Players can then start playing for real money! Once the rounds are finished, players will receive real cash based on how much they won!
9. Surveysites
Many gaming companies hire survey companies to research their game.
Players are given surveys to answer, and in return, they receive small amounts of cash (usually gift cards). This only takes a few minutes but can pay off big time!
Here is how it works;
If players are surveyed through their website, they are sent the survey. Once the survey is finished, players receive a code via email that can be redeemed on the company's website for credits towards their favorite games. This only takes a few minutes but usually pays off pretty well, seeing how there are many surveys to complete!
Here are known survey sites that will pay you to play games:
Apart from playing games, these survey sites will also pay you to do a bunch of easy tasks such as:
- Checking and reading your inbox
- Answering surveys
- Referring friends
- Watching videos
- Surfing the web
BONUS: Playing Games with Cash Betting Sites
Many sites offer gamers the chance to play games like poker for real money- and there are many other similar games too!
Here's how it works: first, players need to create an account on the website.
Then they need to link their account with a payment method like Paypal or Amazon gift cards to be quickly paid out. Once done, players should decide how much to bet and how many rounds of each game to play (slot machines, cards, or any other games). Players can then start playing for real cash!
Once the rounds are finished, players will receive real cash based on how much they won!
How do gamers make money?
The possibilities are limitless when it comes to making money playing video games. Whether you’re a pro gamer, streamer or YouTuber, there is a way for you to make money while doing what you love -playing video games!
Gamers make money in a variety of ways. This includes sponsorships from gaming companies or donations from their subscribers. Some gamers make money through the ff:
- Play games and complete offers to earn money from home
- Participate in paid gaming tournaments for cash prizes
- Bet on favorite gamers in competitive matches for real-money payouts
- Sell gaming merchandise and accessories online
- Create gaming videos and charge people to watch them
- Manage a gaming team and compete in professional leagues
How much money do gamers make?
Many people wonder how much money gamers make. But, of course, gamers can make a ton of money by playing video games. Some professional gamers even make millions of dollars a year!
If you’re part of the big leagues like those professional gamers, you can expect to earn as much as $1,000- $5,000 per month (plus benefits, some have ones if they are doing it full-time)
Of course, that is just a rough estimate. Factors such as skills, experience, what games they play, popularity, location, and more affect how much gamers make money, so it varies. Additionally, income streams from sponsorships, donations, and more are also factored in.
A professional gamer that plays League of Legends (LOL), for example, makes almost $2 million a year.
Final thoughts
If you are a gamer, whether it’s on your phone or PC, chances are there is an opportunity for you to make money playing games. There are many different ways gamers can monetize their hobby, and you can be one of them too!
In the end, gaming as a full-time job isn't for everyone. It’s not an overnight success, and the pay may not be enough to cover your expenses.
There’s also the risk of potential scams, so be aware of that.
Unless you won’t become a pro gamer, playing video games online can be a lucrative side hustle for you. More significantly, if you’re a player at heart. Thanks to play-to-earn schemes, you can now make money while having fun doing what you most love.
Subscribe to our blog today to learn more about other ways people have made money playing games while living out their passion every day.
We hope this post was helpful and gave you some new ideas about how to start making more money while having fun.
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