Online Real Money Video Game Tournaments

Why are video game competitions so popular?

It’s generally recognized now – thanks in no short part to the arrival on the scene of eSports – that competitive videogaming is now seen as a sport.

Sports bring out our competitive nature. We have sporting idols we look up to and in some cases revere. There are teams to follow and watch to see how they progress. We’re able to watch others play at the highest level and maybe even pick up tips on how we might improve.

In eSports you’re able to follow those high performing individuals or teams. To cheer them on in those competitive duels. Watching – at least at sites like Youtube or Twitch – is free and easily accessible. 

Just as in ‘traditional’ sports, there are controversies to discuss, titles to win, new contestants to watch, and fierce rivalries.

In the more casual contests – you’re again looking at easy access, low cost of entry, and the fact that anyone can get involved.

You don’t need to be a champion gamer to play in contests at any of our listed websites or apps, though obviously you’ll need a good level of skill in your chosen title to be able to get your name on a leader-board, list of finalists, or maybe down as the ultimate winner.

You certainly don’t need to be a particular shape, age, or nationality. The barriers really are low to non existent, other than having enough cash for entry fees.

These types of contests can be played at home on any device you want. They can be played on mobile phones from pretty much anywhere, and at any time of day and night. 

Add all of this to the quality of the games themselves – fast, responsive, realistic – and you have the perfect recipe for long lasting interest. The fact that they are varied and socially acceptable is more icing on the cake! 

When can I play in video game tournaments?

Most types can be played at any time of day or night, and 365 days a year. That includes all types of tournaments.

However many of the most widely available contests are scheduled. Which of course means you can only take part in them within the scheduled times. 

Where can I play video game tournaments?

There are a number of international websites which concentrate solely on offering head to head and multiplayer contests where you can compete against opponents, often for a low entry fee of around a few dollars upwards.

This competition operators list is extensive and contains websites and apps such as Gamersaloon, ToornamentSeeker, and PlayersLounge among a number of others.

Where can I meet up with other tournament players? 

Meeting other players online is easy. Most of the online gaming tournament websites have a live chat feature where you can interact with other gaming fans. It’s a good way of meeting other video gamers.

For in person ‘real world’ meetings,  try the useful site Meetup.com where there is a section that helps you “Find out what’s happening in Video Game Tournaments Meetup groups around the world and start meeting up with the ones near you”.

Who can play real money tournaments?

This depends on where you live or from what region you are playing from, and of course what age you are.

Playing in any way for real money is a form of gambling, although there’s a reasonably firm line between playing games where skill is needed to do well and pure gambling such as you’d find in a casino. 

Different countries have different rules. As examples – in the US it depends on what State you live in, while for other countries like Australia, the Philippines, and India the regulations can be equally complicated. 

Assuming it’s in general legal where you live, then as long as you’re old enough and as long as you have internet access and a suitable device, then you should be good to go. I’d suggest you always check the term and conditions of any website you intend using to be sure – they normally clearly spell out who can and who can’t play.

How do you get into a gaming tournament? 

To get into a live eSports event you’ll need to either be a professional or at least semi-professional player, and highly likely part of a squad. You’ll either have been invited or won an entry in some way – perhaps by winning a league or another feeder-type satellite.

You’ll have needed some serious hours of practice to get there, almost certainly will have needed to focus on mastering a specific title, and will have networked with other gamers to build up a reputation.

Don’t underestimate the time needed to be skilled enough. Aside from direct practice itself, you’ll benefit both from studying strategy guides and some intensive research. Tactics and strategies make up a huge part, and there’s no better way than watching top gamers in action to pick up some tips. You can do this by watching streamed eSports or pros streaming on their channels.

To enter an online tournament it may be as simple as just applying (if it’s one run by the games publishers), or by paying the entry fee if you’re playing at a tournaments website.

For the types of contests run by skillgaming websites almost anyone can get in as long as you meet the entry criteria. You’ll normally find these in the terms and conditions of the operator you’ve chosen.

There are a huge amount of games that run for money and which you choose is entirely up to you (but you can find our top picks here). You should choose one that you are skilled at and that you enjoy. You’ll need constant motivation to get good enough to compete. To really make it, you will live and breathe your chosen game, so make sure you work to your strengths and make the right selection.

If you’re a spectator then entry will be as simple as either buying an advance ticket or perhaps paying on the door if there are still seats free.

How do I find a gaming tournament?

Finding one to play is easy. Just visit any of the listed operators here, identify an event which will suit your skills and experience, pay the entry fee, and be ready when it starts.

If it’s a live high profile event you’re looking for there are a number of sites that list the bigger examples. Esportcharts is a good example.

How much does it cost to enter a gaming tournament?  

Entry fees vary wildly. In general, the higher the prize or the more prestigious the contest, the higher the cost to get involved. Some contests will run for upwards of a few dollars entry, while the bigger ones can run into tens or hundreds.

How do pro gamers get paid?

Professional gamers might have a number of income streams. There will money from any contests they’ve won or done well in, advertising income from streaming services or videos and potentially sponsorships from major companies for the top performers.

How much do eSports players get paid?

If you can make it to the higher levels, you might expect to make an average of $3,000 to $5,000 per month. This can of course vary wildly based on a number of factors including how often you play, which teams you’re in, and which events you contest. As an example, those playing top titles can look forward to monthly income of around $15,000.

How many hours do pro gamers play a day?

Pro gamers will treat their profession like any successful sporting player will. To perform at the highest levels calls for dedication, commitment, a lot of experience to get there in the first place, and intensive effort to stay there.

All of this equals time. How much time will depend on the player, their innate ability, and their psychological, mental, and physical strength.

Certainly it would be surprising to hear of any pro player playing an average of less than 4 hours per day, and more likely 6 to 9. In the run up to a match or event this could increase to 12 to 16 hours a day.

How do video game tournaments work?  

Once you’ve decided on where to play it’s fairly straightforward to get to the stage of actually arranging and participating in contests.

There’s normally a simple registration process if you’re playing online. You will need to sign up using your account ID such as that you might have on PSN or Xbox. You’ll probably only hit problems with this if you’re not of legal age or live somewhere where playing for money is banned.

When registered there are always instructions on how to enter head to head battles or see whether there are multiplayer ones lined up. Most sites show player profiles which you can use to get a reasonable idea of the ability level of your opponents.  

How do video game tournaments make money?

In the larger examples the money will be made in a combination of participant entry fees, spectator fees, advertising and sponsorships. In the smaller ones the vast majority of cash income will come from player entry fees.

How long do video game tournaments last?

• How long a they last clearly depends on multiple variables. The main ones include :
• How many contestants are involved & how many rounds to navigate as a result
• The type being played
• The general rules
• The bigger ones can run over multiple days, while smaller head to heads could be over in as little as 10 minutes. Lesser value multiplayer events might run a few hours.

How do you hold a gaming tournament? – Hosting Video Game Tournaments

If you’re considering putting on a substantially sized live event this is probably better left to promotion experts. It’ll need a considerable level of experience to pull off.

There is a way though of running smaller contests which pretty much anyone can do. This page on Toornament.com takes you through the steps of setting up your first contest. It’s obviously specific in places for arranging Toornament events, but equally is a good guide for helping to appreciate the general steps involved.

How Do You Win a Gaming Tournament?

If all this reading about real money contests has got you interested, you’re probably going to want to jump in head first. Normally this might be a bad idea, and it certainly is if you’re not a skilled gamer. The right level of skill required to win cash contests is not a given, and you’ll need to work at it.

That said, if you are clued up on different titles and know you are at least proficient in some of them, there’s not a lot to stop you playing some low entry fee matches to get a feeling for the sort of competition you’ll be facing.

First, you’ll need to identify which eSports sites if any offer contests in your preferred game. Then you need to spend some time honing your skills.

Start out with small stakes to get a good feeling for how the software works and until you understand the different skill levels of your opponents.

The best part is that the likelihood of winning rests heavily on your ability (or the lack of skill in your opponents of course). It follows that the more you play the better you’ll get.

Is it illegal to play video games for money?

Competitive video gaming for money is considered legal in many jurisdictions since the games entail the use of skill and not of chance/ Essentially they’re not gambling games. This is great news for players from countries with stringent gambling laws – competitive internet gaming offers a way to wager and win money without having to deal with the anti-gambling initiative.

Still, it is very important to check your local government laws since there are a few places that would still consider this form of gaming illegal. It can sometimes fall into a grey area, both for participants and for tournament organizers. In the United States there are currently 6 states that prohibit gaming for money, for example.

Is it illegal to host video game tournaments?

I’m not aware of any regions of the world where it is specifically illegal to set up and run a gaming tournament. There are a number of websites that allow you to do just that.   Where it may be a problem is in any country where there are laws that make gambling illegal – and the local regulatory bodies include gaming tournaments in that category.

The best way to be sure would be to check regulations yourself with the appropriate government body, although there are many online web-pages which spell out current country regulations.

Are gaming tournaments legal?

Gaming tournaments are as legal as they would be if they were any sporting event from tennis to football to basketball. It’s the playing for money element that might throw up any question marks.

Competitive video gaming for money is considered legal in many jurisdictions since the games entail the use of skill. They’re not based on the level of chance you’ll encounter in gambling games such as you’ll find in a casino. What this means is that if you’re a resident of a country with strict  gambling laws, then skill gaming may be exempt from those laws even where it entails cash prizes.

In roughly 80% of the world you should expect to have no concerns.

To be certain it’s always wise to check your local government laws. There are a few places that would consider this form of gaming illegal.

We can take an example of the US, where there are currently 9 states that prohibit skill gaming for money ( Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Tennessee). Plus real prize game-play is not legal Maine and Indiana if playing cards are involved in the game. 

Are there Call of Duty : Warzone tournaments?

Are there Counter Strike Global Offensive tournaments? 

Are there League Of Legends tournaments?

Yes these can be played online at various gaming websites. As an example Checkmategaming run Call Of Duty contests regularly while there are also Warzone events on Gamebattles. You’ll find CSGO and LOL competitions at the same sites or at others in the list.

Which Video Games Can You Play For Cash Prizes?

Games cover many genres, such as action packed and “shoot ’em up” titles, adventure, strategy, role playing or second life style titles and of course those based on sports – FIFA, Madden, World Championships, Golf, and FormulaOne track action.

For that you need to be looking at titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 with its jaw dropping graphics and realistic backdrops of Los Angeles and Las Vegas. If you are good at GTA 5 then why wouldn’t you look at trying some contests to see if you can compete against others to win?

Choices extend well past just GTA, though. You could participate in a Halo, Grand Theft Auto or Defense of the Ancients tournament, or fighting or battle titles including Dota2, LOL, Street Fighter, Super Smash Bros, Mortal Combat, Starcraft, Black Ops, and Counterstrike.