How to Make, Win, or Earn Money Playing League of Legends: Play LOL For Real Cash Profits Using Proven Methods
There are 10 key ways to make money on League of Legends if you’re adept at playing games. LOL is one of the most prominent titles in the world of esports and a leading name in the gaming industry since its creation by Riot Games in 2009.
By RealMoneyGames – Steve Cross : Last updated 10th March 2025
- Participating in online video game tournaments
- Betting on LOL esports matches
- Becoming a professional Esports team player
- Selling upgraded game accounts
- Using skills for Eloboosting
- Streaming a personal game on Twitch.tv
- Creating and maintaining a channel on YouTube.com with game guides and training videos
- Offering professional coaching, mentoring and tutoring services
- Creating and selling game items
- Writing LOL content
Most earning options involve requirements for an active level 30 game account and significant game experience. Success is challenging but achievable with skill and dedication.
Betting on matches is an exception and you can bet on League of Legends contests after simply mastering the basics of the game and growing your knowledge of professional team abilities. You still couldn’t classify it as an easy way to make money gaming, though.
Earning money with LOL through other options requires deep gameplay knowledge, strategic skills, and strong teamwork.
This article explores 10 legit ways League of Legends players can monetize their expertise and passion to earn real money.
The study will culminate with my view of the overall best way of making money from the game. We’ll also consider any likely tax requirements that could impact the level of profit and finish up with some analysis illustrating how much cash you can make.
Let’s start with a generally-accepted highly viable way of profiting from playing the game – competing against other players in tournaments.
Competing in online video game tournaments
Competing in one-on-one (1v1) video game tournaments offers a unique avenue for players to win money while showcasing their LOL skills.
Unlike traditional team-based esports, 1v1 challenger matches emphasize individual skill, strategy, and game knowledge. Success requires analyzing opponents’ strengths, weaknesses, and optimal build paths. The site at ChallengerProject – where you can be a tournament organizer – is worth noting for one against one contests. Repeat.gg is a valuable alternative.
Regular 1v1 practice sharpens reflexes, improves decision-making, and enhances combat mechanics. Staying updated on the meta, including top champions and item builds, provides a competitive edge.
Strategically, winning in 1v1 tournaments involves more than just mechanical skill; it requires psychological insight and adaptability. Each match is a mental game, where understanding and predicting the opponent’s moves becomes as important as executing your own strategy.
Successful players often study their opponents’ past matches and tendencies, if available, to gain insights into their playstyle and preferred champions.
Adapting strategies based on match flow is crucial. Knowing when to play aggressively, farm safely, or target objectives like tower damage can determine victory. Efficient resource management – health, mana, and cooldowns – maintains a competitive edge.
To start winning money in 1v1 League of Legends tournaments, players need to find and participate in reputable competitions. These can range from online tournaments hosted on platforms like Battlefy, Toornament, or the aforementioned ChallengerProject to local or regional esports events, sometimes offering good value prize pools.
Building a reputation within the 1v1 community can lead to success in other ways of making money, such as attracting sponsorships or invitations to higher-stakes tournaments with larger prize pools. Equally, streaming or creating content around your tournament experiences can open additional revenue streams, such as viewer donations, ad revenue, and sponsorships.
If you don’t actually want to play the game for an income, there’s a way to earn some cash from the playing efforts of others. It involves placing wagers on outcomes of contests. Equally, there are other ways to win money online for anyone wanting to know how.
Betting on LOL esports matches
Betting on esports contests is a rapidly growing facet of the online betting industry, offering fans another option for engaging more deeply with their favorite games and tournaments.
The process of betting begins with understanding the basics of esports and the specific games that are popular, such as League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, and Overwatch.
Each game has its unique set of rules, player dynamics, and strategies that can affect the outcome of matches. Before placing bets, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with these aspects, as well as the current teams, players, and their recent performance history. This knowledge is crucial for making informed bets.
The next step is to choose a reputable and legally compliant betting site that caters to bettors from your region. Look for sportsbooks and bookmakers that are licensed and regulated to ensure security and fair play. The review I carried out of Bet365 demonstrated why they’re classified as one of the leading platforms. They offer various betting options, including match winner, overall tournament winner, and more specific in-game events alongside several other types of esports betting markets.
Becoming a professional Esports team player
Embarking on a professional esports career in League of Legends is a journey that combines talent, dedication, and strategic planning. Aspiring professional players looking to play in leagues often start by honing their skills in the game, aiming to reach high ranks in the LoL ranked ladder, which serves as a fundamental proving ground.
Players interested in pursuing an esports-based career can take several steps that will help their visibility:
- Participation in online tournaments and local leagues can provide valuable competitive experience and visibility.
- Building a personal brand through social media and streaming platforms like Twitch or YouTube also plays a crucial role in attracting attention from professional teams.
- Networking within the community, seeking mentorship from experienced players, and staying abreast of the evolving meta-game are crucial steps.
- Joining amateur or semi-professional teams can provide practical experience in a team environment, which is essential for making the leap to professional play.
The path to becoming a pro player in LoL is arduous and requires not only gaming prowess but also mental resilience, adaptability, and a strong work ethic. Certainly, if you can get to anywhere near this level, you’ll be adept at building a strong game account, which opens another avenue.
Selling upgraded game accounts
Making money by upgrading your account level in League of Legends (LoL) is an unconventional method and typically not a direct source of income. However, there are indirect ways that a higher account level can potentially lead to monetary benefits.
Primarily, in LoL, account level signifies the amount of time and effort a player has invested in the game. Higher-level accounts often have access to a wider array of champions, runes, and in-game features, which can be advantageous in competitive play.
For players looking to monetize their LoL experience, a well-developed account can be a stepping stone. It can lead to improved performance in ranked matches, which is essential for a player aspiring to enter the realms of streaming, content creation, or professional gaming.
An account with a high level and an impressive ranked status can attract viewers on streaming platforms like Twitch or YouTube, where revenue can be generated through ads, sponsorships, and fan donations.
Additionally, for players interested in coaching or mentoring, a high-level account can serve as a testament to their game knowledge and skill, thereby attracting potential students.
Anyone taking this route should note that directly selling or monetizing an upgraded LoL account is against Riot Games’ terms of service and can result in account penalties, including bans which would mean all that time developing skills might be wasted.
Using skills for Eloboosting
Elo boosting, in the context of League of Legends (LoL), refers to a practice where a skilled player (the booster) logs into another player’s account (the boostee) to play ranked games with the intention of artificially increasing the boostee’s rank or elo (a term originally used to describe a player’s skill level in chess, but now commonly used in various competitive gaming contexts).
Through superior gameplay, the booster wins matches, thereby increasing the account’s rank.
Elo boosting is typically a paid service. The boostee pays the booster or a game-boosting service company for the improvement in rank.
Boosting is controversial due to issues around fairness. It’s generally frowned upon in the gaming community and is considered unfair and unethical. It undermines the integrity of the competitive ranking system, as it places players in ranks that do not accurately reflect their skill level.
Engaging in elo boosting is against the terms of service of League of Legends. Riot Games, the developer of LoL, penalizes players who participate in boosting, both boosters and boostees, with punishments ranging from temporary bans to permanent account suspension.
Streaming is a better option than boosting.
Streaming a personal game on Twitch.tv
Streaming and content creation offer readily accessible pathways to monetize League of Legends gameplay.
Platforms like Twitch and YouTube have become hotbeds for gamers to broadcast their gameplay, share insights, and entertain a global audience. Successful streamers and content creators generate income through advertising, subscriptions, donations, and brand partnerships.
This monetization approach rewards gaming skills, creativity, personality, and the ability to engage and grow a community of followers. As a content creator, the potential to earn is closely tied to one’s ability to consistently produce compelling, high-quality content that resonates with a LoL community that’s regularly looking for high-value guides and training material.
Creating and maintaining a channel on YouTube.com with game guides and training videos
Creating and maintaining a YouTube channel focused on League of Legends game guides and training videos offers a viable avenue for monetizing gaming expertise.
The initial step involves creating content that caters to a wide range of LoL players, from beginners seeking basic guidance to advanced players looking to refine their skills. This content can include comprehensive game guides, champion-specific tutorials, strategic advice for different game phases, and analysis of professional matches.
High-quality, engaging, and regularly updated content is key to building and retaining a dedicated viewer base. Utilizing SEO strategies by incorporating relevant keywords in video titles, descriptions, and tags can enhance visibility on YouTube.
Additionally, integrating interactive elements like live gameplay, Q&A sessions, and community challenges can foster viewer engagement.
As your channel grows, so does the potential for monetization through YouTube’s Partner Program, which allows you to earn revenue through ads displayed on your videos.
Beyond the ad revenue generated by a successful streaming account, there are several other ways to monetize a League of Legends YouTube channel.
Affiliate marketing is one such method, where you can earn commissions by promoting gaming-related products or services. This could include linking to gaming gear, LoL merchandise, or software tools in your video descriptions.
Sponsorships from gaming brands or companies are another lucrative opportunity, although they typically require a substantial and engaged subscriber base. Creating and selling channel merchandise, such as branded apparel or accessories, can also generate additional income.
Over time, a well-trafficked channel can evolve into a personal brand, opening doors to collaborations with other content creators, invitations to gaming events, and even opportunities in esports commentary or analysis.
At this level of visibility as a competent gamer, it’s a short step to moving up to professional-level coaching activities.
Offering professional coaching, mentoring and tutoring services
For those with a deep understanding of the game, coaching and mentoring other players is a rewarding and profitable avenue.
Whether working with beginners or advanced players, coaches can offer personalized training sessions, strategic advice, gameplay analysis, and specific detail on how a player might make an income from creating and selling on marketplaces.
Creating and selling game items
Creating and selling items gained in League of Legends for real money is a practice that goes against Riot Games’ Terms of Service. Items such as skins, champions, and other in-game assets are the intellectual property of Riot Games, and the company strictly prohibits their sale or trade outside of their official in-game or store channels.
Hence, engaging in such activities not only risks legal repercussions but also can result in the permanent banning of accounts involved in these transactions.
On other levels, selling in-game items can undermine the game’s integrity and fairness, and often exposes sellers and buyers to potential scams and security risks.
That said, there are several platforms dedicated to marketing in-game items. Playerauctions.com is an example of a well-known auction-based site where you can trade LOL skins and even sell boosting services.
Use your skills as a LOL content writer
To make money as a content writer focusing on League of Legends, you’ll need to demonstrate high-quality writing skills and deep knowledge of the game, especially if covering the professional esports scene.
Starting as a freelancer on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, writers often begin with lower-paying jobs to build a portfolio. Fluency in English, either as a native speaker or at a near-native level, is crucial.
Specializing in a specific niche like LoL esports requires showing familiarity and expertise in that area.
Payment for content writing is typically based on word count, with an initial rate of around $15 per 1000 words being common. As experience and portfolio quality grow, writers can command higher rates.
Overall, the income can be steady and potentially substantial, depending on the volume of writing and the pay rate. For instance, writing ten 1000-word articles a week at $20 each can yield about $800 per month, with opportunities for higher earnings as one’s reputation for quality and professionalism grows.
One major consideration with content writing is the recent growth of AI, where AI tools can now create written material on a par with the best human writers. It’s likely that opportunities to make cash from content writing will reduce significantly.
What’s the best way to make money playing LOL?
Readers of realmoney.games will know I’m keen on real money tournaments as the best way to win cash online, so it’ll be no surprise that for skilled League of Legends players, the recommended way of making money from the game is by competing in head-to-head Player versus Player contests.
Clearly, for players that can progress to the higher competition levels, there are avenues for unlocking immense earnings potential both through prizes and professional esports careers. Top-tier global events like the LoL World Championships offer multimillion-dollar payouts for those able to claim victory on the international stage. Even local amateur tournaments provide four-figure rewards for tournament winners.
The great news is there are significant additional benefits to tournaments over and above the cash prizes you might win. Indeed, the true value lies in gaining exposure and credibility with each rung climbed on the competitive ladder.
Sustained tournament success earns invites to join elite esports organizations with salaries, health benefits, and equipment sponsorships superior to many traditional occupations. Fan followings accumulated from streams and viral highlights enable lucrative branded influencer deals. Sharpening one’s skills against the world’s best builds game knowledge instrumental in pivoting into coaching or analyst roles long-term.
In summary, LoL’s robust tournament ecosystem enables skilled competitors to transform passion into full-time, financially stable gaming careers. Consistently excelling in PvP events generates income through both prize earnings and access to associated opportunities like sponsorships, team contracts, and personal branding deals.
For anyone choosing play over college, university, or corporate life, LoL’s infrastructure uniquely bridges modern enthusiasm for gaming with traditional concepts of professional development and success.
What’s the easiest way to profit from the game?
Content creation is the easiest way to make money from League of Legends without professional-level skill.
Why it’s accessible for many players:
- Entertainment and personality matter more than rank.
- Platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and TikTok offer monetization through ads, subscriptions, and donations.
- Short-form content (funny moments, highlights, quick tips) gains traction on TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
- Minimal equipment is needed—a good microphone and a gaming setup.
Educational content works well:
- Create champion guides, tutorials, or patch breakdowns.
- Explain common mistakes and fixes.
- Review VODs to help others improve.
There are several key advantages to content creation:
- Lower barrier to entry than professional play.
- Can be done part-time alongside work or school.
- Grows gradually without requiring instant success.
- Doesn’t rely on tournament wins.
- While audience growth takes time and consistency, content creation is the most accessible way for average players to earn money from League of Legends.
Do you have to pay to play League Of Legends or is it free?
League of Legends is free to play even though you can make money in a similar way to other real money free games. All game modes, maps, and ranked play are accessible without payment, and a rotating selection of champions is available for free.
Monetization for the game owner -Riot Games – comes from players making optional purchases, including cosmetic skins, champion unlocks, battle passes, and loot boxes.
Spending money as a player offers no in-game competitive advantage, and many top players succeed without purchases. This free-to-play model drives the game’s popularity and accessibility.
Clearly, some of the methods we’ve covered will involve some expenditure. What that is will depend on your own abilities and knowledge.
It’s worth noting that since play is free, getting banned isn’t so much of a problem other than you’ll lose everything you’ve created or won in-game. You can just sign up and get another account.
Are there any hacks for improving your chances of making money from LOL?
Real proven hacks for playing LOL are hard to come by. However, strategic approaches improve chances of success.
For content creation:
- Find a unique niche, such as a specific champion or educational content.
- Post consistently to build an audience.
- Expand visibility through Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, and Discord.
- Collaborate with established creators.
For competitive play:
- Master 1–2 roles instead of spreading skills thin.
- Focus on a small champion pool for deep expertise.
- Compete in amateur tournaments to build a reputation.
- Network with teams, coaches, and players.
- Use replay analysis and coaching for improvement.
For coaching:
- Offer free or low-cost sessions to gain reviews.
- Show rank progression as proof of effectiveness.
- Develop structured lesson plans.
- Specialize in teaching specific champions or roles.
Successful earners often combine multiple strategies, such as competing while streaming or coaching based on gameplay insights. Standing out in less crowded niches increases visibility in the competitive battles you’ll encounter.
All that said, this video extols the virtues of playing in LOL ARAM tournaments as a way of making some real $s back from the game…
For the uninitiated, ARAM tournaments focus on the “All Random All Mid” game mode in League of Legends, offering a fast-paced alternative to standard play.
Key ARAM Features include:
- Players receive random champions.
- Matches take place on Howling Abyss, a single-lane map.
- No jungle or laning phase—only constant team fights.
- Games are faster and more chaotic than Summoner’s Rift.
ARAM Tournament Characteristics:
- Teams of five compete in a bracket format.
- Prize pools are smaller than standard LoL tournaments.
- Events are often community-organized, not official Riot competitions.
- Some tournaments include special rules to balance random champion selection.
- Appeals to casual and semi-competitive players seeking a less intense experience.
Though not as prestigious as Summoner’s Rift 5 vs 5 tournaments, ARAM competitions emphasize adaptability, team fighting, and quick decision-making over macro strategy. These events can be found on Discord, gaming organizations, and video gaming platforms like Battlefy.
Do you have to pay tax on money you make from LOL?
Most ways of earning cash from LOL will involve some tax considerations.
When earning money as a League of Legends streamer or content creator, tax regulations will vary by country.
In the USA, streamers are categorized as self-employed, subject to a tax rate of 15.3%. In the European Union, the self-employed tax rate is income-dependent, ranging from 14% to 45%. For successful individuals, a significant portion of income may be taxed.
One strategy to potentially reduce tax liability, regardless of location, is to establish a business company and pay yourself a regular wage.
Tax payment schedules differ by country, with some requiring quarterly payments and others annually. Any player earning money from the game should familiarize themselves with local tax rules to avoid legal issues and penalties. In short, tax management is a key aspect of monetizing your League of Legends gameplay effectively.
How much money can you make from the different LOL money-making methods?
The amount of cash you can make varies wildly depending on the method used. The webpage at Runetarium does a good job with some illustrative tables that break down the cash amounts you could typically realize. But here’s a list that’ll give you some rough ideas:
- Playing online video game tournaments – From a few dollars up to hundreds of dollars.
- Betting on LOL esports matches – Most bookies have winnings limits of $100k upwards.
- Becoming a professional Esports team player – Potential earnings of millions of dollars.
- Selling upgraded game accounts – Tens to hundreds of dollars.
- Using skills for Eloboosting – As a paid career, this could give earnings of up to $100k per year.
- Streaming a personal game on Twitch.tv – tens to hundreds of dollars.
- Creating and maintaining a channel on YouTube.com with game guides and training videos – tens to hundreds of dollars.
- Offering professional coaching, mentoring and tutoring services – thousands of dollars per month.
- Creating and selling game items – From $5 up to hundreds.
- Writing LOL content – Potentially around $20 per article.
Is making money in LOL easier than in true virtual world games?
League of Legends features Runeterra, an interactive world, but it is not a full-fledged virtual world like an MMORPG. Players compete in a single battle arena rather than exploring an open world with diverse activities. So, earning some cash on the LOL battlefields is not quite the same as making money in real cash economy virtual world games.
LoL monetization relies on professional esports, content creation, and tournament winnings, requiring elite skill or entertainment value. Few players succeed at the highest level, but rewards can be substantial.
Virtual world games like EVE Online or Second Life offer opportunities through trading, item creation, resource farming, and real estate speculation. These methods have lower skill barriers but often yield modest returns unless paired with strong business strategies.
The main difference is that LoL demands standout performance, while virtual worlds provide broader, lower-yield opportunities. Both require time, dedication, and expertise in different areas.
How can I download League of Legends?
This video offers a good instruction for downloading LOL for PC:
Who are the highest paid LOL players?
The highest-paid players currently earning good money for playing League of Legends include both prize money earners and salaried professionals. Here are the key figures:
Global highest-paid players
- Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok – Faker remains the highest-paid League of Legends player globally, earning an estimated $6 million annually from salary, sponsorships, and endorsements. His total career earnings from prize money exceed $1.81 million as of January 2025.
- Duke (Lee Ho Seong) – Duke ranks second in lifetime prize earnings with $955,000.
- Bang (Bae Jun Sik) and Wolf (Lee Jae Wan) – These players follow closely with lifetime earnings of $916,000 and $913,000, respectively.
LEC (European League) highest-paid players
- Rasmus “Caps” Borregaard Winther – Caps is the highest-paid player in the LEC, earning an average salary of €240,000 annually.
Other top LEC players include:
- Steven “Hans Sama” Liv
- Marek “Humanoid” Brázda
- Emil “Larssen” Larsson
- Javier “Elyoya” Prades Batalla
Summary
The ten main ways to make money from LOL present a diverse range of opportunities. If you study them, you’ll see there is some crossover between several methods. Earning money encompasses several lucrative avenues aligned with the game’s vast appeal in esports and online entertainment.
At its competitive core, PvP tournaments stand as a prime source of income, offering players not only significant prize money but also avenues for sponsorships and opportunities to join professional esports teams. This path requires exceptional gaming skills and strategic gameplay, with success potentially leading to substantial financial rewards.
Digital content creation presents a flourishing opportunity for monetizing LoL expertise. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube are fertile grounds for players who can engage audiences with compelling content, including live LOL game streaming, strategic guides, and analytical commentary.
Successful content creators benefit from diverse revenue streams such as ad revenue, subscriber fees, and brand sponsorships, contingent on their ability to maintain an active and engaged viewer base.
Beyond gaming and streaming, writing about LoL offers a profitable path for those skilled in crafting engaging articles and in-depth game analyses.
Regardless of the chosen path – competitive gaming, streaming, or content writing – individuals must navigate the tax implications of their earnings, adhering to the varying tax laws specific to their regions.
The key to turning LoL into a revenue stream lies in leveraging one’s skills and passion for the game, combined with a strategic approach to tapping into its expansive fan base and opportunities. Making it a valuable addition to the list of real money games offering viable opportunities for additional income.