You are grinding away in your favorite online game, assuming that you are one of the best out there, which may have got you thinking Could I make a living doing this?
The video game industry has been growing in the last couple of years, and it is projected to reach more than $500 billion by 2029, so obviously, there is a lot of money involved.
You may also see some professional gamers who are making tons of money from streaming or participating in tournaments, and you can do the same. The only thing you need is to focus on a niche (particular game), get good at it, and that’s about it.
So, the answer is YES! You can make a living playing online games, but there are many different ways to do so. Let’s cover some of them.
We obviously start with eSports since this is where most gamers make their money. The eSports industry has been growing in the past couple of years, and the value of eSports is already surpassing some of the traditional sports we all know and love.
Esports is where professionals come together to test their skills. These tournaments have million-dollar prize purses up for grabs, but it is not as easy as it seems. Climbing the ranks or even getting into a professional team is hard. It requires a lot of grinding, and although you may think you are the best in a particular game, there is a good chance that there is someone better.
Professional eSports players are just like regular athletes. They sign deals with teams, get salaries, performance bonuses, and a percentage of the prize purse.
Top-level professionals like Faker are earning over $1 million per year in salaries, sponsorships, and winnings.
However, getting into the top ranks requires a lot of grinding for free. These professional gamers live for the game, and they are mostly isolated from the outside world and only play video games.
So, you have to think, is the price worth paying just to enter the professional eSports scene?
If eSports sounds too difficult for you and you want something simpler, you can always try video game streaming. This is free, and it only requires time. On top of that, you don’t have to focus only on one game. You can play all the games you love and stream your footage.
Platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick let you broadcast your gameplay, and this is a place where you can earn from subscriptions ($5-$25/month per fan), donations, and ads.
There are a lot of streamers like xQC and the not-so-popular anymore Ninja who made millions of dollars per year. You’ll need charisma, consistent streams (20-40 hours a week), something unique to specify your niche, and you're good to go.
The downside is that there is a lot of competition in the video game streaming market, and you’ll need a lot of time until you start to see an income (and that’s not guaranteed).
If you want a quick way to earn money while gaming, you can always find a real money casino app where you can test your luck. Of course, this isn’t exactly a job, and in most cases, the house always wins, but it is still a way to earn money.
So, can you make a living playing casino games? Well, it depends on which game you play. If you play slots, which operate on an RNG, the probability of you winning money consistently is small. But with games like Blackjack, where you can use strategies to pull the odds in your favor, there is a chance to make a living out of playing casino games.
Play-to-earn games, on the other hand, are the new kid on the block, letting you earn cryptocurrency or NFTs by playing. Titles like The Sandbox or Parallel reward you with tokens for completing quests or trading in-game assets, tradeable for real money. In 2025, the P2E market will be worth $2.5 billion, with 10 million active players. Some players in games like Axie Infinity earned $500-$2,000 monthly during the 2021 boom, though earnings now average $100-$500 for dedicated players.
Not into live streaming? Content creation—think YouTube videos, TikTok clips, or blogs—lets you cash in on gaming without going live.
YouTubers covering game guides or reviews earn $3-$5 per 1,000 views via ads, with top creators like Markiplier hitting millions annually. TikTok gamers with 100,000 followers can make $1,000-$5,000 per sponsored post.
In 2025, 40% of gaming content creators earn a living, but it takes months to build a following. Skills like video editing and SEO are crucial. Users suggest niche content, like retro game lore, to stand out. It’s less intense than streaming but still demands hustle—posting consistently and chasing trends is a full-time job in itself.
So, is it possible? Yes. Is it difficult, of course. But if you are determined and set a goal for yourself, you can do it.