From lotteries and raffles to digital slots and games like Blackjack, there are dozens of opportunities to stretch your luck - and win cash prizes.

Play games of chance. In many areas, casino-like games that pay users real money are legal.

Entry into tournaments or giveaways for your shot at a grand prize or a portion of a prize pool.

Win contests. Trivia, sweepstakes, free drawings, you get the idea.

The more complex the game, the higher the level you achieve, or the longer you play, the larger the reward. Certain games will reward users with cash or cash equivalents - like free gift cards - for reaching certain levels or unlocking certain features. Other times they’ll pay a small cash bonus, anywhere from $0.50 up to $10, just to get you to install an app (in the hopes that you’ll become an active user).

Some apps will pay you a portion of the fee they charge these advertisers which can add up to a few extra bucks each month. Your Facebook News Feed, your TV, and yes, the sponsored ads in the games you play. Advertisers will pay to get in front of relevant buyers wherever they are. Generally speaking, gamers can make money in one of several ways: There has to be something in it for them, too. Ways to Get Paid to Play GamesĪs amazing as it would be, no one is going to pay you meaningful amounts of cold hard cash to loaf around and play video games all day. With this explosion of people playing games, new opportunities to earn money through games keep cropping up. From video game blogs to YouTube channels to tech support, you can take your passion for video games and turn them into a lucrative side hustle. In 2020, the video game industry boomed with revenue close to $180 billion.

Smartphone and online gaming have soared in the last ten years, and nearly 73% of people ages 4 to 20 own at least one video game console. More and more people are spending money and time on their favorite games. Video games have come a long way since Pong was released in 1958. If a purchase or signup is made through one of our Partners’ links, we may receive compensation for the referral. Our number one goal at DollarSprout is to help readers improve their financial lives, and we regularly partner with companies that share that same vision.

Games that can give you real money