It sounds like the best offer of all: you sit in front
of your computer, playing addictive computer games that you really enjoy and you're also
making money from this time online.

Is it possible? After all, it sounds too good to be true – right?
It's time to better understand how the legal, mainstream online gaming industry makes money and how you can get a piece of the pie.

Many game sites live on advertising.
If they have no advertisers, they'll go broke and close their business.

The single most important factor for Internet advertisers is traffic: the number of web visitors that a gaming site gets.
The more traffic it has – the more it appeals to advertisers and sponsors.

In order to pull as much traffic as possible, game sites are willing to share their ad revenue with their audience: the online gamers.

It's a win-win situation: the sites get more traffic and the gamers get a chance to make money, while playing their favorite video games.
 

Different sites work in different ways. However, with most sites, you first need to register yourself and go through a signup process, in order to be able to play.
After all, they need to know where to send the check, in case you win (or notify you by email).

Some sites give you free credits to start your participation in multiplayer tournaments and competitions.
After finishing your credits and your free trial period, you need to deposit money if you wish to continue competing against other players for cash prizes.
Other websites are totally free and do not require any payment at any stage.

These sites include any type of game you can imagine: card games, puzzles, shooters, word games, trivia quizzes, strategy games, Scrabble, Solitaire, Big Money, pool, Chess and so many others.

Almost anybody can find a game that he likes and in which he can achieve good results.
 

It depends on a few factors:

Poor players will probably not make more than $0 - $50 per month.
High quality gamers can make a lot of money (the best players can even make thousands, but they're in the minority).
 

Usually, you're getting paid either by check or through Paypal
 

Here are a few large, reputable gaming sites that offer you to get paid for playing online.

IWON

King

World Winner

Gamevance
 

The following game sites are just for fun.
You will not be paid for playing

Net Games

Miniclip

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