Could you imagine a world where people play video games for a living and make more than medical professionals? If you even suggested the idea to someone a couple of decades ago, they would’ve questioned your sanity. Even today, telling a parent or a grandparent that you make a living playing video games certainly still spark some confusion. After all, they’re probably thinking, “How could that make sense?”
This is our new reality, where anyone can create a career out of gaming—streaming themselves playing games, building their own brand, participating in competitive tournaments, and posting video content online. The most famous figures in gaming are making lucrative incomes, some in the hundreds of thousands. It’s the same thing with gamblers who found online casinos through bonusfinder.com and turned their hobby into a career—especially those who played poker and other games of skill.
The Days of Gaming as a Hobby
Before gaming was the fastest-growing sector in entertainment, playing video games was nothing more than a fun pastime. Teenagers would hop on their consoles or computers after school, and adults saw it as an escape after work. This isn’t to say that video games weren’t immensely innovative—they deserved every bit of praise and merit they received. Although technology was such a limitation in the past, it didn’t stop developers from creating some of the greatest titles of all time.
However, once the internet became available to the public and we were able to connect with people through gaming all over the world, there was a shift. Multiplayer games broke the standard of playing solo or with those in your vicinity.

They meant that gamers could form communities and turn their love for video games into a social hobby. It supercharged everyone’s passion and enthusiasm for games more than anyone could’ve imagined.
eSports: Gaming Goes Pro
Over time, gaming became a sophisticated activity with plenty of nuance. Those people we talked about who dedicated their downtime to gaming were finally starting to enjoy some recognition. That’s right; it wasn’t just the people behind the game’s creation—developers, designers, and animators—who were getting all the recognition anymore. It was the players who mastered the game.
Those folks could now be classified as pro gamers and participate in high-stakes tournaments against other professionals. Just like athletes in sports, these gamers would train, strategize, and try to come out on top. This activity is now known as eSports—online competitions that pit the best players in the world against each other in a single game. One of these tournaments that has consistently brought in viewers is the League of Legends World Championship, with 6.86 million viewers in the 2024 edition. And if you thought that viewership was impressive, wait until you hear about the largest prize pool ever to exist—Dota 2’s The International 2021, which boasted a prize pool of over $40 million.
The Dream of Streaming
But competing isn’t the only way to build a career as a gamer. Thanks to online platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Kick, anyone can start their own channel or begin crafting their brand as a streamer. While anyone can learn the ropes, streamers put hard work into their profession, with the initial challenge of standing out in a world where everyone wants a hefty paycheck and exclusive perks. It’s a tremendously crowded space where gamers need to build a standout presence, engage their audience, create eye-catching content, and stay relevant—all from their gaming chairs.
Get that all right, however, and you’re looking at potentially becoming a household name. Ask any chronically online video game lover who Dream is, and they’re bound to know who he is. The Minecraft Twitch streamer and YouTuber has amassed over 7 million followers (as of September 2023) on the Twitch platform alone and over 10 million subscribers on YouTube. Although he is loved by plenty in the gaming community, he is considered a polarizing figure due to his speedrun cheating scandal.
Why are we mentioning this? Because it shows how seriously the gaming world can be taken. The integrity of competitive gaming is not something people take lightly, especially when you’re one of the biggest names in the space.

Given his status, people consider him a celebrity and influencer with the obligation to act responsibly as a role model.
How Gaming Careers Are Set to Evolve
With gamers already able to become millionaires based on their hard work, gaming skills, and charisma, what’s next? Technology and the gaming industry are evolving before our eyes, which means even more opportunities for competitive gaming and streaming to expand.
eSports players are likely to enjoy increased sponsorships and more media coverage, placing them on the same pedestal as traditional athletes. Perhaps that will lead them to follow more structured career paths that come with health benefits, training programs, and even post-gaming career transitions. It’s like when athletes transition to broadcasting or management—the eSports ecosystem is set to mature and mirror the pathways of traditional sports.
Could we see the rise of new platforms in the content creation and streaming landscape to compete with the current giants? Perhaps niche-specific platforms exclusive to VR gaming, indie game streamers, or heavily AI-integrated platforms? Rather than going more global, maybe platforms could find value in localizing their content to serve specific markets. Could we see mixed-reality headsets like the Apple Vision Pro become more widespread? The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to gaming careers. As such a dynamic industry, it seems like we’re just getting started.