How to Make Money Playing Video Games: 5 Ways to Get Paid to Game

 How to Make Money Playing Video Games: 5 Ways to Get Paid to Game

Video games can be lots of fun, but they’re also time-consuming and expensive. In addition to the cost of the game itself, you have to factor in any money you spend on gaming accessories like controllers, headsets, and other pieces of equipment to get the most out of your gaming experience. Because gaming can be so expensive and time-consuming, many people wonder how they can make money playing video games—and if it’s even possible to make money from something as fun as video games.

#1 - Participate in Online Tournaments

Online gaming tournaments have become increasingly popular in recent years, with platforms like Twitch and YouTube making it easy for gamers to broadcast their gameplay to a wide audience. If you're good at a particular game, you can sign up for tournaments and compete for cash prizes. Competitions vary by skill level and often offer different payout amounts depending on how many people enter the tournament. Entry fees usually range from $5-$10, but you'll need to keep in mind that your winnings will likely be taxed as income. It's important to note that not all games are eligible for tournaments. It is worth your time to do some research before entering any competitions. 

#2 - Play the Lottery: One of the most obvious ways to make money playing video games is by playing lotteries or betting on esports matches, where players risk real money on outcomes of online events. There are two main ways of doing this: participating in online lotteries or placing bets at an offline casino.

#2 - Write About Gaming

One way to make money playing video games is to simply write about gaming. This can be in the form of a blog, YouTube channel, or even just creating social media posts. If you have a passion for gaming and can articulate your thoughts well, this is a great way to get paid to do something you love. There are many popular gaming YouTubers that live off their ad revenue alone! You'll need some starting capital to build up an audience though. And while writing may not pay as much as some other jobs on this list, it's still possible to make decent money from it. Especially if you're also doing #1 on this list - live streaming - at the same time. Some gamers will only stream their gameplay, but others will include ads before, during, and after their streams which generates a little bit of income each time. The best part is that the more viewers you have to your stream, the more money you'll earn. So while they might not see dollar signs yet when they start out live streaming, it could eventually turn into a very lucrative side hustle!

#3 - Twitch.tv

Twitch.tv is a website where people can watch others play video games live. You can also sign up to be a Twitch Partner, which allows you to make money from your channel. There are a few different ways to make money as a Partner, including advertisements, subscriptions, and donations. You can also make money by selling products or services related to gaming, such as game guides or walkthroughs. It's important to note that the more followers you have on Twitch, the more likely it is that these monetization options will work for you. If this sounds like something you want to try out, check out the FAQ page for detailed instructions on how to start streaming! #4 - Tournaments: Not only can you earn cash prizes in competitions, but there are often times additional opportunities for sponsorships and endorsements with companies. #5 - YouTube Gaming: On YouTube Gaming, gamers get a chance to showcase their talent to the world. Anyone can upload videos of themselves playing games on their YouTube channel, so if that sounds like something you would enjoy doing then head over to YouTube Gaming today!

#4 - Tutorial Videos

Making tutorial videos is a great way to get paid to play video games. You can create videos that show other gamers how to complete certain levels, achievements, or tasks in a game. Plus, you can get paid for every view your video receives!

#5 - Sell In-Game Items (five sentences): Selling in-game items is another great way to make money playing video games. You can sell items that you no longer need or want for real-world cash. Another option is to trade the item with someone else who might want it more than you do. Another idea is to donate the item to someone and then they will give you something in return, such as donating food to an animal shelter and they'll pay you back with an Amazon gift card!

#5 - Game Design

Believe it or not, you can get paid to design video games. If you have a passion for gaming and the creative chops to design virtual worlds, characters, and storylines, then a career in game design could be for you. The average salary for a game designer is $75,000 per year, but the top earners can make over $100,000. So if you want to get paid to play games all day, this is one way to do it. And it just might lead to your dream job designing games. 

#4 - Playtesting: Participating in game testing programs are another great way to make money playing video games without having to invest any upfront costs. Companies need help finding bugs, providing feedback on gameplay elements, and assessing how fun the game is. In return they will typically offer you free copies of the game before release as well as vouchers for online stores like Amazon so that you can buy your own copy when it's released at no cost to you. You'll also receive any rewards that are offered during the program such as t-shirts, hats, and pins. Many companies will even provide food for their playtesters (usually pizza). Playtesting is usually done remotely from home with little supervision required. You'll simply be given tasks to complete and document them accordingly with videos and screenshots so that testers from other countries can run through them too. It's an easy way to make some extra cash while playing new games!