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Sponsored by Swagbucks
Did you know you can play games in your downtime and make money at the same time? It sounds too good to be true – but we’re not fibbing. From playing games on the Swagbucks games platform to making cash as a game reviewer, we’ve got a fast round-up for ways to make money as a gamer.
Get Cash Playing Swagbucks Games
Become a Competitive Gamer (Esports)
Earn Playing Swagbucks
We already love Swagbucks as a great way to earn money for nothing thanks to cashback when you shop online (or almost nothing, thanks to online surveys). A few surveys each week quickly adds up to a payout in cash or gift cards, making it an ideal way to make some side cash on your tea breaks.
But did you know you can also make money playing games on Swagbucks? You don’t need to be a ‘serious’ gamer who knows their way around a games console, either. Play Monopoly and earn up to £17.60, or choose puzzles and other games to earn up to £66.40, as two fantastic examples of how to make money with Swagbucks games.
It’s really easy to play these games on your mobile, so you can play while you’re on the bus to work, stuck waiting for a train, or when you’re at a party you really want to leave (OK maybe that last one is just us). A few minutes each day while you wait for the kettle to boil quickly adds up – and you have fun, too!
More Ways to Earn with Swagbucks
We’re taking a little detour here to make sure you know why we love Swagbucks so much here at Magpie Towers, because it’s not just games that’ll help you earn money.
Swagbucks offers cashback with tons of online retailers – meaning you can claim back a small percentage of every purchase you make through their partner retailers. All you need to do is go to the retailer you want via the Swagbucks page (and allow all cookies so your purchase can be tracked to calculate cashback).
It’s not just online shopping, either. When it’s time to renew your home insurance or car insurance, or set up a new ISA or financial product like an Experian loan, you can also claim cashback. The same goes for your phone contract and broadband, too.
If you’re planning your travels for the summer, make sure you check out the Swagbucks travel section to earn cashback and find exclusive deals before you book. It’s not just international travel and hotels either – earn up to £8 when you use the Trainline via Swagbucks for the first time.
Write Games Reviews
If you’re into games in a major way, consider becoming a games reviewer. You can write for magazines and online publications to earn cash as a freelance writer – or, set up your own blog to put out your content. As you build an online audience as an influencer, you can make money in the form of paid subscriptions, adverts, and even sponsored posts.
Games reviewers are usually very handy with their skills – but you could create a niche along the lines of ‘reviewing games as a beginner’ if you’re not familiar with gaming yet. This will target an audience who can learn along with you!
You don’t need a gaming console to write reviews, either. Using mobile apps, you can test all kinds of games right from your phone. If you have a laptop, test out some of the more immersive games – no need to splash out on a PS5 or Xbox just yet. But, when you do well as a reviewer, it could be your aim to use your side hustle cash to save up for a console to move into the next leagues!
Stream on Twitch
Live stream your game playing with Twitch and make money at the same time. Your followers can donate to you as a one-off thing, or follow you on a subscription to make regular payments to access your live streams. Streamers also make money from adverts and affiliate links, as well.
This is a particularly popular option for experienced players who want to find a community and online audience that shares the same interests as them. It’s a great way to make money – and you never know, you could be the next Ninja! Reports – who reported in 2023 that their monthly earnings from Twitch streaming was $500,000. A MONTH.
Become a Competitive Gamer
If you want to make gaming your full-time job, and games design isn’t the career that’s drawing you in, try your hand at eSports. Competitive gaming is increasingly popular and already a HUGE industry in other parts of the world.
You need to be absolutely dedicated: the hours you put in every day are very long and you must become an expert. Luckily for you, we’ve got a whole article all about making a start as an eSports athlete.
Start Small and Work Your Way Up
If the idea of dedicating more than 16 hours a day to playing games as a competitive gamer strikes fear into your heart, don’t forget the first part of this article: spend a few minutes each day to earn Swagbucks. It’s easy and quick – and most of all, fun!
Sign up here to get your Swagbucks gaming side hustle started.
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Swagbucks. MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence. When investing your capital is at risk.