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<\/p>\nThe content on DollarSprout includes links to our advertising partners. When you read our content and click on one of our partners\u2019 links, and then decide to complete an offer \u2014 whether it\u2019s downloading an app, opening an account, or some other action \u2014 we may earn a commission from that advertiser, at no extra cost to you.<\/p>\n
Our ultimate goal is to educate and inform, not lure you into signing up for certain offers. Compensation from our partners may impact what products we cover and where they appear on the site, but does not have any impact on the objectivity of our reviews or advice.<\/p>\n
Maybe it sounds too good to be true, but there are several websites and apps that offer real money earning games. Here’s where to get started.<\/p>\n
Written by Ben Huber Last Updated: June 10, 2024
\nReviewed by Jana Lynch<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Video games have come a long way since Pong was released in 1958.<\/p>\n
More and more people are spending money and time on their favorite games. 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. In 2022, the video game industry boomed with revenue close to $347 billion.[1]<\/sub><\/p>\n 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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n As 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. There has to be something in it for them, too. Generally speaking, gamers can make money in one of several ways:<\/p>\n Even if full-time gaming isn\u2019t your goal, you can still earn money on the side. Many people earn enough each month to buy a new game (or two) \u2014 or upgrade their equipment \u2014 simply by playing real money-earning games in their free time.<\/p>\n While you can only earn virtual money or credits with many online games, there are plenty of real money-earning games that you can play for cash \u2014 namely through passively watching the ads in between levels, or by completing micro tasks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not interested in becoming a professional gamer but want to earn some easy cash each month playing games, consider these sites.<\/p>\n Users can get paid to play games on Freecash.com<\/strong> in several ways. First, by participating in game app testing, users can download and test new game apps, providing feedback to earn cash rewards. Additionally, users can earn cashback on in-app purchases, receiving money back on every transaction they make within their favorite games.<\/p>\n Progressing in games also becomes rewarding as users can unlock payouts by reaching specified levels. Freecash offers daily check-in rewards, providing bonuses simply for logging into the account daily.<\/p>\n Lastly, users can get paid for watching game trailers or promotional videos for new games.<\/p>\n Available On: All Devices<\/strong><\/p>\n More than just a gaming app, InboxDollars<\/strong> is a market research company that rewards users for sharing insights about their shopping, online, and gaming behavior.<\/p>\n Big brands pay them to ask their users how they feel about the games they\u2019re playing. InboxDollars then passes along a portion of their earnings to their members when they give feedback about how to improve the game, or when they hit a certain milestone, like reaching certain levels.<\/p>\n InboxDollars has dozens of arcade games, including card games, strategy games, word games, action games, and more. You can also enter cash tournaments, earn cash back, or win cash prizes through a wide selection of GSN games, including Poker, Casino, Wheel of Fortune, and more.<\/p>\n Plus, you\u2019ll instantly get a free $5 with InboxDollars just for creating an account.<\/p>\n Mistplay<\/strong> is a loyalty platform for gamers available for Android devices through the Google Play Store (there is a waitlist for iOS users).<\/p>\n This particular app is neat because it\u2019s completely passive income<\/strong>. You play the games you normally would on your phone, but this time you earn points that you can redeem for gift cards to Amazon or iTunes, or to video-game outlets such as Nintendo and Xbox.<\/p>\n The Mistplay games list includes Super Mario Run, Pokemon Go, Fruit Ninja, chess, Solitaire, Candy Crush Saga, Wordscapes, and dozens of others. You can read more about the app in our Mistplay review<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Swagbucks provides an opportunity for casual gamers to make real money playing games. These games are simple to play and usually a lot of fun, and it\u2019s easy to sign up.<\/p>\n Once you download the app and verify you\u2019re email address, you can start to earn SB towards free gift cards in one of three ways:<\/p>\n Installing a game and unlocking certain levels is by far the most lucrative option, but make sure to pay close attention to all of the offer details before embarking. There is usually an exact level and a certain timeframe you have to achieve that level by in order to earn the prize.<\/p>\n KashKick<\/strong> offers games like Scrabble GO, Stars Slots, and King of Avalon. Each offer and reward varies.<\/p>\n Right now, KashKick tells me I can earn $2.50 for completing level 16 in Scrabble GO within 7 days. Since I\u2019m a Scrabble lover already, it\u2019s worth it for me to earn some cash for playing a game I enjoy. However, some games offer higher stakes. For example, you can earn $20 for making it to level 17 in King of Avalon within 20 days of signing up for the offer.<\/p>\n Once you reach $10 in your account, you can request to cash out via PayPal. Payments are processed and sent to users every two weeks.<\/p>\n Second Life is a popular online virtual world simulator that allows users to create avatars who interact with other people, places, and things like they would in real life.<\/p>\n It offers its own currency called the Linden Dollar that can convert to actual money. Users can make money on Second Life by doing \u201chunts\u201d or contests, selling objects or content to other users, or finding employment. You\u2019ll get paid through PayPal or Skrill.<\/p>\n If familiar casino games are your thrill, you\u2019ll be happy to know there are several apps that offer cash prizes if you\u2019re able to best your house or human opponent. State legal regulations will apply so certain apps or real-cash play may not be available in your area; you may still be able to participate in the free-play options on your device.<\/p>\n Solitaire Cash<\/strong> is a mobile app that allows users to play solitaire games for the chance to win real money. Users can participate in cash tournaments by paying an entry fee, where they compete against other players, with winners determined based on their scores.<\/p>\n The app also offers free practice games to help users improve their skills before entering paid tournaments. Additionally, players can earn daily check-in rewards and get paid for watching game trailers.<\/p>\n One Reddit user reported winning over $200 and successfully withdrawing their earnings via PayPal, highlighting the app\u2019s potential for real money rewards.[3]<\/sub> <\/p>\n Available On: iOS<\/strong>, Samsung<\/strong><\/p>\n Blackout Bingo, a modern take on the traditional bingo game, introduces a level of strategy and speed for a more interactive experience.<\/p>\n With over a million downloads and thousands of positive reviews, this Skillz-powered game allows players to compete against one another in real-time, offering a balance of fun and the potential to earn cash rewards.<\/p>\n Its popularity is reflected not just in its user base but also in the significant amount of prizes awarded monthly, highlighting its place as a favored choice for gamers seeking both entertainment and financial incentives.<\/p>\n *Cash tournaments are not allowed in the following states: AZ, AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD, and TN<\/p>\n Compete 1-on-1 in real-time games against other people \u2014 for free \u2014 or for cash prizes. Cash prizes are redeemable via Paypal, Apple Pay, and more.<\/p>\n Master the basics of ball positioning, calling pockets, and trick shots before turning to real-money play. Once you\u2019re ready, you can compete in head-to-head competitions, leagues, and tournaments.<\/p>\n *Cash tournaments are not allowed in the following states: AZ, AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD, and TN<\/p>\n A fun twist on a classic game, compete head-to-head or in large tournaments for real cash prizes.<\/p>\n In head-to-head action, players get the same, and whoever finishes with the most points wins. Large tournaments work in a similar manner except you advance to another player once someone is eliminated. Even if you don\u2019t live in a real-prize-enabled region you can still play for their free virtual currency, which can be redeemed for fun virtual and physical prizes.<\/p>\n *Cash tournaments are not allowed in the following states: AZ, AR, CT, DE, IN, LA, ME, MT, SC, SD, and TN<\/p>\n From popular app-based games like Spades and Angry Birds to the big boy console games [COD, Fortnite, CS: GO, etc.], here\u2019s where you can play games of skill for cash prizes.<\/p>\n With GamerSaloon<\/strong>, available as an app or website, you can find various types of online gaming tournaments including everything from Halo and Call of Duty to NBA2K20 and Madden NFL 20. You play individually or in teams, and you can join existing tournaments or create your own.<\/p>\n To get started, you\u2019ll need to create a user account and make an initial deposit. This is the money you\u2019ll use as your entrance fee for tournaments. Then you can search for ones to join. On each tournament listing, you\u2019ll find the entrance fee, what gaming system you need, and the start date.<\/p>\n All tournaments have a cash prize, and you can collect your winnings through PayPal or a physical check.<\/p>\n Through World Winner<\/strong>, a web and app-based gaming platform, you can enter various gaming tournaments and win cash. You\u2019ll make a deposit, pick a tournament, play, and wait for the results to withdraw your earnings. Gaming tournaments available include Spades, Super Plinko, and Angry Birds.<\/p>\n The minimum entry fee is $0.25, and the site lets you practice for free before you commit to a tournament. You can only use PayPal or a credit or debit card to pay your fees. When you cash out your winnings, they\u2019re credited onto the same card. World Winner also offers a $10 Bonus Bucks credit when you enter the promo code WELCOME and make your first deposit.<\/p>\n Completely free to join and use, these apps offer giveaways, trivia contests, and other fun ways to win real cash prizes. You won\u2019t often see a payout, but there are often large prize pools associated with them.<\/p>\n Although it\u2019s had some difficulty in the last few years, HQ Trivia relaunched in March 2020 for iOS users who enjoy trivia to play real money earning games.<\/p>\n To use it, you\u2019ll need to download the app onto your iPhone, iPad, or other Apple device and create an account. Every day, you can log in at a specific time, usually around 9:00 p.m. EST, to participate in live multiplayer trivia and word game tournaments. Each night\u2019s winner earns a cash prize.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no entry fee to participate, but how much you can win varies with every tournament. You\u2019ll need to connect a PayPal account to deposit your winnings.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in earning money through gaming, there are a variety of ways to accomplish that beyond the games listed above.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re constantly beating your friends in Call of Duty or are competitive in online tournaments, you might want to consider e-sports.<\/p>\n E-sports is a multimillion-dollar industry where players compete in organized competitions, either as professionals or amateurs. Those competitions are watched live and streamed for millions of fans. Fighting games, first-person shooters, and card games are popular among e-sports gamers.<\/p>\n The average e-sports gamer salary is $60,000, and the highest-earning gamer<\/strong> has career earnings of well over $6,000,000 as of 2020. In the US, some of the top prizes for e-sports tournaments garner up to $200,000 per tournament.<\/p>\n Multiplayer competitions can offer higher rewards to split between five or six players. Not everyone who competes is going to win big money, but the potential for large cash rewards is there.<\/p>\n Starting a gaming YouTube channel is simple and relatively inexpensive. You need compelling content and good equipment. Shooting videos on your smartphone and editing them together can be an easy way to start building an audience.<\/p>\n Content is crucial when building your YouTube channel. Whether you\u2019re generating play-through gaming videos, discussing the merits of one gaming system over another, or giving tips and pointers for other gamers, each strategy is going to require engaging content. Otherwise, your fans will go to other channels.<\/p>\n As your channel grows, so does the expectation for even better content with a more professional presentation. The more people notice your channel, the more revenue you may generate.<\/p>\n Twitch Interactive is a live-streaming video game service that lets gamers around the world watch e-sports competitions, music videos, and other types of content. The platform integrates with consoles like Xbox 360, Xbox One, Sony PlayStation 3 and 4, and devices like Amazon Fire TV and Google Chromecast.<\/p>\n The process for making money broadcasting with Twitch is fairly simple: more views lead to the potential for more income. Once you get at least 500 regular views per video, you can apply to be a Twitch Partner<\/strong>, which is a free opportunity through the site. Subscribers then generate more income for your channel. Twitch will pay $2.50 for each subscriber.<\/p>\n Twitch also gives you the ability to ask for donations from your channel, allowing your fans the opportunity to support you directly.<\/p>\n Professional gamers can earn money from sponsorships, similar to how professional athletes earn money by partnering with brands and companies. Depending on your popularity, you might be able to secure a fairly lucrative deal. All you\u2019ll need to do is wear sponsored gear during tournaments or promote brand products to your social media followers.<\/p>\n Even if you don\u2019t land high-dollar deals, you might be able to negotiate with smaller or up-and-coming brands for a lesser fee or free items.<\/p>\n If you can\u2019t get to a casino or other in-person building, you can enter online poker and other gambling tournaments online to win real money. A quick Google search for \u201conline poker tournaments,\u201d \u201conline blackjack tournaments,\u201d or visiting a website like Casino.org will give you a list of active or future tournaments or online casinos you can visit to play virtual slot machines.<\/p>\n Before choosing this way of making money playing games online, make sure you vet each site or tournament to ensure it\u2019s legitimate and legal in your state.<\/p>\n Just like people make money selling fan art and fan-fiction books, you can make money selling merchandise based on your favorite games or gamers. This might be T-shirts, mugs, cell phone cases, notebooks, or even printable tournament brackets for your favorite e-sports competition.<\/p>\n You can use a site like Teespring or CafePress to design and sell your wearable items or Canva for printables or notebooks you might want to sell on your website or Etsy. How much you charge varies based on what you\u2019re selling and on what platform.<\/p>\n Should you opt for this, make sure you\u2019re complying with all permissions, trademarks, and copyrights. You don\u2019t want to have to stop selling your merchandise or be subject to a lawsuit.<\/p>\n Depending on how long you\u2019ve been into video games, you might have a lot of old games or consoles around your house or taking up space in a closet. If that\u2019s the case, selling your retro games and equipment is a good way to get rid of some of your things and make some extra cash.<\/p>\n Decluttr<\/strong> is a great place to get started selling your used games, and eBay is good for selling not only games, but consoles and other gaming equipment as well. You can also contact local stores, put your items for sale on places like Facebook Marketplace, or hold a yard sale.<\/p>\n How much you\u2019ll earn for the games depends on their age and condition, as well as how in demand or rare they are.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d prefer to work behind the scenes in the gaming industry, there are a number of opportunities to choose from.<\/p>\n There are dozens of successful gaming vloggers, but not many gamers are writing about gaming online. Starting a blog<\/strong> can help you build an audience and maybe even earn a side income.<\/p>\n Generate revenue with blog traffic and write compelling content that attracts visitors, sponsors, and gaming companies to your site. Create another revenue stream with affiliate marketing products in gaming gear and game recommendations, or write your blog in conjunction with your YouTube or Twitch channel. You can even create a course or a short eBook with your best gaming tips.<\/p>\n A game testing position pays you to play games and give feedback about certain aspects of the game. While some companies require software and data knowledge, many simply want gamers to test beta versions of their new products.<\/p>\n Beta testers provide feedback about their experience including any bugs they find or features to add or delete so the game developers can make adjustments to the game before it hits the market.<\/p>\n Video game developers are the people who design the game \u2014 from the graphics you see to the functionality of the features. If you have good graphic design and coding skills and love video games, this is a potential career path for you.<\/p>\n A college degree isn\u2019t essential for this career. There are online programs that can teach you video game design and coding.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re good at helping people work through their video game-related problems, like troubleshooting an issue with a gaming system, working in technical support may be a legit option.<\/p>\n These communication and problem-solving skills might even lead to a full-time career in the gaming industry. Technical support professionals make around $44,000 on average per year, and you might even be able to do it from home.[4]<\/sub><\/p>\n If you\u2019re an avid gamer or fan of video games or e-sports and you enjoy writing, you might consider finding a job as a video game journalist. In this job, you\u2019ll report on things like video game trends, new products or games, interview well-known gamers, and provide breaking news on the video game industry. You might also cover events or tournaments or attend product launches.<\/p>\n You can get started as a video game journalist by looking for jobs within industry-specific blogs, websites, or magazines. If you\u2019d prefer, you can work as a freelancer or start your own video game blog and build a portfolio of your writing before looking for full-time work.<\/p>\n Although helpful, you do not need a degree in journalism to work as a video game journalist.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re an avid gamer, making money with online games is worth a try. There are real money-earning games for those who like being in front of an audience or playing tournament style as well as options for more behind-the-scenes work.<\/p>\n Make sure you\u2019re realistic about your expectations. Unless you\u2019re pursuing a full-time traditional job in the online gaming world, chances are slim that you\u2019ll make a six-figure income. But if you put in the time, effort, and commitment to grow your platform, skills, and connect with an audience, your gaming habit can turn into a decent way to make money online<\/strong>.<\/p>\n [1] Gough, Christina. \u201cTopic: Video Gaming Industry.\u201d Www.statista.com, Statista, 16 May 2024, www.statista.com\/topics\/868\/video-games\/. Accessed 10 June 2024. Hi! I’m Ben. A personal finance nerd on a mission to help DollarSprout readers make and save more money. A quoted contributor for Business Insider, Business.com, Discover, Intuit, MSN, NBC News, Yahoo Finance and more, I work to help others live their financial best life.<\/p>\n –> 11 11 comments Everyone wants to earn some extra money in their free time. For that, playing a game that gives you money or prize is a great option. You have shared a great list of game apps. Keep sharing this type of information so that more and more people get an opportunity to earn money.<\/p>\n There are also a few mobile games that payout some decent side money like typingWARS. Pretty easy to play and you can mostly get out their first reward ($10) in like less than a week with a few minutes every day.<\/p>\n Good to know \u2014 our editors are actually in the process of overhauling this article so I\u2019ll pass this info along for them to consider!<\/p>\n Mary Poling –><\/p>\n \u201cGo Testify\u201d is a great gaming platform that pays users very well for testing new games and sharing input. I have made $25 for less than a half-hour of my time on several occasions. A lot of fun but a little difficult to get regular invites (and they fill up very quickly).<\/p>\n I would just love to get paid to do game and movie reviews for the millions of titles that are out there. There are so many of them and I look forward to trying to find companies that offer paid reviews for the games that I like.<\/p>\n You could start a YouTube channel that does that. That could lead you to getting paid for your reviews.<\/p>\n Marry Walker –><\/p>\n I was looking for new ideas on making extra money and I\u2019m thankful I found this blog. I love the gaming apps. Really great post. Thanks!<\/p>\n Sally McMurray –><\/p>\n There are so many gaming apps that say they pay cash but as soon as you get close to reaching the payout criteria, they give pennies, then change the rules like having to play 100 days consecutively. I should say most do. Does Google not care about false advertisements and fraud in these games? Thanks for your list!<\/p>\n Cheri Baker –><\/p>\n I love playing solitaire-type games. I know a lot of the games don\u2019t really payout, but it would be really nice to have the correct PayPal cashout info right upfront so I can see if it\u2019s worth my time.<\/p>\n John Harris –><\/p>\n Wealth Words is an online crossword puzzle that allow users to win real cash up to $1,000 instantly.<\/p>\n John Harris –><\/p>\n Not just video games, but by playing even desktop or mobile games like Wealth Words, you can easily win up to $100 per day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The content on DollarSprout includes links to our advertising partners. When you read our content and click on one of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-game"],"yoast_head":"\nWays to Get Paid to Play Games<\/h2>\n
\n
Apps and Games That Pay Real Money<\/h2>\n
1. Freecash<\/h3>\n
![\"WSOP](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/wsop.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"users](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/reach-game-levels-get-paid.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2. InboxDollars<\/h3>\n
![\"InboxDollars](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/inboxdollars-bonus-game-lp-scaled-e1626374279197.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Mistplay<\/h3>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/mistplay-how-it-works-e1626451507691.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. Swagbucks<\/h3>\n
![\"sample](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/swagbucks-games-1-e1626447843160.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\n
5. KashKick<\/h3>\n
6. Second Life<\/h3>\n
![\"secondlife](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Second_Life_604x423.jpg\")
<\/p>\nApps That Offer Casino-Like Games<\/h2>\n
7. Solitaire Cash<\/h3>\n
![\"solitaire](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/rsz_solitaire-cash-preview.jpg\")
<\/p>\n8. Blackout Bingo<\/h3>\n
![\"blackout](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/blackout-bingo-app-preview-e1711479777845.jpg\")
<\/p>\n9. Pool Payday<\/h3>\n
![\"pool](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/pool-payday-app-screenshots-e1626458376238.jpg\")
<\/p>\n10. Solitaire Cube<\/h3>\n
![\"solitaire](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/solitaire-cube-app-screenshots-e1626458762851.jpg\")
<\/p>\nPlaces That Offer Cash Prizes for Games of Skill<\/h2>\n
11. GamerSaloon<\/h3>\n
![\"Gamer](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Gamer-Saloon-Homepage.png\")
<\/p>\n12. World Winner<\/h3>\n
![\"WorldWinner](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/WorldWinner-Homepage.png\")
<\/p>\nApps That Offer Free Cash Contests<\/h2>\n
13. HQ Trivia<\/h3>\n
More Ways to Make Money Playing Games<\/h2>\n
14. Compete in e-sports<\/h3>\n
![\"esports](\"https:\/\/dollarsprout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/esports-competitions-scaled-e1579902344790.jpg\")
<\/p>\n15. Start a gaming YouTube channel or podcast<\/h3>\n
16. Start a Twitch gaming channel<\/h3>\n
17. Find sponsors<\/h3>\n
18. Participate in online card tournaments<\/h3>\n
19. Create your own merchandise<\/h3>\n
20. Sell retro games and gaming equipment<\/h3>\n
Gaming Careers<\/h2>\n
21. Start a gaming blog<\/h3>\n
22. Game tester<\/h3>\n
23. Video game developer<\/h3>\n
24. Technical support<\/h3>\n
25. Video game journalist<\/h3>\n
Have Realistic Expectations<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s Next?<\/h2>\n
\n
[2] Hore, Jamie. \u201cWho Are the Biggest Twitch Streamers?\u201d The Loadout, 15 Apr. 2021, www.theloadout.com\/streamers\/biggest-streamers.
[3] Blueberry_muffin4843. \u201cI Won around \u00a3200, T\u2026.\u201d Reddit<\/i> , 7 Sept. 2023, www.reddit.com\/r\/IsItBullshit\/comments\/10jc6ql\/comment\/jzhtw4b\/.
[4] \u201cGaming Support Technician Salaries.\u201d Glassdoor. 15 Jul. 2021, www.glassdoor.com\/Salaries\/gaming-support-technician-salary-SRCH_KO0,25.htm.<\/p>\nAuthor<\/h6>\n
\nKevin Richards –><\/p>\n