From Hobby to Income: How to Make Money Playing Video Games

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Video games are not limited to being just a hobby anymore. For some they have become a full-time income source. Just like all career paths, to actually earn from gaming, you’ll have to be good at what you do. Below are some practical ways to earn money from gaming, including a quick note for New Zealand gamers.

Competitive Play

Esports is one of the obvious entries in the list of ways to make money gaming. Esports, by definition, is competitive gaming. Just like traditional sports, esports allows the best of the best at any game the chance to fight for the ultimate glory. The government in New Zealand is also pushing the development of esports through institutions like NZ Esports.

Interestingly, the adrenaline rush and excitement of e-sports are somewhat similar to the sensations experienced in gambling. Online casinos and card and slot game tournaments offer the same euphoria of competition, the thrill of risk, and the excitement of victory. For those who want to explore this world safely, there is a review of Paysafecard casinos in NZ, which contains all the necessary information about platforms that accept Paysafecard.

Now, while most players might think of a successful esports career as the flashy one, playing on big stages, it’s actually the opposite. In reality, less than 1% of the players end up reaching the big leagues across all esports.

Even fewer last, with billionaire Mark Cuban famously refusing to invest in esports teams, saying, “I'm worried about how quickly players burn out. It's a grind to keep up and to become great.”

But that doesn’t make the rest unsuccessful at what they do. See, some players realistically never have the chance to make it to the majors, but can still earn well. Countries like New Zealand never had noticeable teams reaching the big leagues, but there are plenty of players who are still getting paid. Most of these earnings come from brand deals, team salaries, and tournament winnings of national and regional tournaments.

Coaching and VOD

If none of the above-mentioned paths feels like the right one to get paid to play video games, then don’t worry. Coaching and VOD reviews are becoming a great income source for gamers too.

With more developed infrastructure and opportunities in place, players are now willing to spend a considerable amount of money learning how to actually get good at games. That’s where the opportunity lies, be it esports, gambling or something else. But the entry barrier to becoming a coach is also a bit higher than the others.

You first have to build your own credibility before you can convince others to buy your service. You can build this credibility by winning some notable tournaments or by simply reaching the highest ranking available in the game.

Once you have something to show for your expertise, then you can start selling your service as one-off gigs or time-specific projects. Offer services in third-party marketplaces, or sign up for any organisation that needs support in training their players.

Streaming + Content Creation

Streaming and content creation are currently the most common, but also one of the hardest paths to play video games to make money. However, streaming and content creation undoubtedly give you the most visibility among all the other options on the list. You can start with Twitch streams or making gameplay videos on YouTube.

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From these streams or long-form content, push the highlights or funny memes to TikTok or Instagram Reels to capture as many eyeballs as possible. The money will come in after time, once you have a couple of thousand followers or subscribers.

The main earning comes from platform ads, subs, donations, sponsorship, and affiliate links. But the biggest differentiation factor that makes someone great rather than just good in this industry is giving viewers a unique reason to watch you. You can be extremely good at the game, or extremely funny at it, but you need to specialise in at least something to get you started earning money.

A warning though: you’ll need thick skin. NBA All-Star Gordon Hayward once described gamers as “100% more toxic than any NBA teammate I’ve ever had.”

Betting on Esports

If you are knowledgeable enough about the esports scene of any game, then you can use your gameplay smarts to bet on tournaments and earn real money playing games. Just like sports betting, esports betting is gaining popularity worldwide.

While betting on any site should be considered entertainment, with the right knowledge and insights, you can easily monetize your smarts for profitable bets.
Marketplaces, Trading and Flipping

This one is a bit uncommon, but can be an extremely profitable way to earn real money playing games. Certain in-game economies, like CS2, reward smart buying and selling. With the development of the markets in these games, players can trade in-game items just like they trade in real life. These items have a price chart, and the market also has bull and bear rushes.

At the same time, the entry barrier to this line of earning is also a bit high. You first will have to start out with some capital and a great understanding of the market. You’ll also need to be patient, aware of the scams, and avoid breaking any rules. But with the right strategy, you can easily make money trading in-game items.

Conclusion

The gaming industry that started booming a few decades ago has now reached the point where people can seriously consider earning money from it, just like they can from other sports. As detailed above, not all of these income options come from developing games; there are many simpler ways to earn money and to get paid to play video games.