Answering A Critical Question: Are eSports Pros Underpaid?

Asking: “Are eSports pros underpaid?” may seem redundant, considering the industry’s global popularity. Nowadays, there’s big business wherever there is viral content, and video games certainly qualify. Indeed, most individuals dream of playing video games such as LoL professionally and for a living. However, a lot about this industry isn’t evident (like the best way to understand LoL bets and odds). The question of salaries and income is another such “mystery.”

There are numerous examples of eSports professionals that seemingly make a more-than-decent living. But, like in traditional sports, for every successful and famous player, countless others didn’t make the cut. Additionally, one of the most persistent myths surrounding these careers is that it’s easy to earn a living pursuing it. Audiences see groups of players competing in major tournaments, but few realize the level of skill required. Join us as we tackle this issue to determine the financial sustainability of this career.

Are eSports Pros Underpaid? Understanding The Big Picture

Competition is fierce in this industry, as evidenced by the continuously rising number of newcomers entering the field. Some estimates indicate that $60,000 per year is the amount that an average professional gamer typically earns. However, if your skills and other factors (such as luck) allow it, you can also climb to the top of the eSports food chain. Consequently, tournament prizes, sponsorships, travel arrangements, and other perks can see you earning well over $1 million yearly.

However, remember that being the best at anything in life takes dedication, hard work, and sacrifices. In other words, mere determination and a passion for video gaming aren’t enough to turn this activity into a career. Individuals must also possess top-level skills, scarily quick reflexes, instant decision-making abilities, and tons of training to put everything together. Therefore, to understand the potential monetary compensation that such fanatical devotion can result in, let’s observe how most professionals earn money.

How Professional eSports Gamers Earn Money

Most professional gamers combine two or more income sources. Consequently, you’ll see numerous pro-level gamers that have amassed enormous fortunes while at the top. These revenue streams typically include:

• Tournament/competition prizes
• Team salaries
• Bonus money
• Sponsorships
• Streaming income.

Tournament/Competition Prizes

When looking to answer the question of are eSports pros underpaid, keep in mind the following. In terms of a single win cash reward, US tournament top prizes easily go over $200,000. For the sake of comparison, international tournament winners regularly receive more than a million dollars. The winning team (which usually includes between five and six members) divides the prizes equally.

One of the most famous examples of whopping large tournament prizes is a 2017 Dota 2 International tournament. The prize pool exceeded $24 million, and the winners eventually landed $10 million in prize money. However, for the community to recognize an individual as a fully-fledged professional gamer, they must win at least one major tournament. If successful, the player will also immediately become a recognizable gamer among peers and fans alike.

Team Salaries

More and more companies provide monthly salaries to professional gaming teams, though this rule doesn’t apply uniformly. Experienced gamers can earn between $1,000 and $5,000 a month, according to a survey conducted by Esportsearnings.com. However, besides additional revenue streams, the highest-paid professional eSports gamers easily raise more than $15,000 per month.

Different factors influence monthly gaming salaries. For example, there must be a victorious track record for every player. The player’s value increases with the number of tournaments they win, and ideally, such individuals should also have a significant social following. In the eyes of the company they represent, players serve as brand ambassadors. Consequently, a high social following means tons of potential marketing prospects.

Bonus Money

When answering the “are eSports pros underpaid” question, most people neglect to note the lucrative player bonuses. Pro gamers frequently receive some form of compensation, and these bonuses are most common after a significant victory.

A team amasses prominence across digital channels and in different gaming communities when it wins. Therefore, the company that owns the team receives vital media mileage. There are examples of bonuses going as high as $20,000 per tournament win.

Sponsorships

Sponsoring professional players has always been a clever marketing strategy, even in traditional sports. The types of companies willing to pay big bucks usually produce computer accessories and energy drinks products. The only requirement for players is to use those products during public appearances and whenever they play.

If you’ve ever noticed players in their colorful jackets riddled with sponsor logos, you’ve witnessed a sponsorship deal. Sponsoring companies demand visibility, which is why they give players various freebies, pay for tournament expenses, and provide cash bonuses.

Streaming Income

Professional gamers also frequently stream on various platforms. When discussing whether eSports pros are underpaid, remember that some players make an additional $5,000 just from streaming. Some players create tutorials for aspiring gamers, while others give detailed accounts of how they play.

Streaming regularly often leads to thousands of followers, which translates into significant amounts of money. Additionally, since more people can see how pros play, this activity also improves their reputation.

Final Thoughts

Considering everything mentioned above, reaching a definitive conclusion on whether pro gamers are under or overpaid is challenging. Interpreting one’s income to determine whether one can live comfortably requires defining the other side of the coin – their expenses and overall lifestyle. Therefore, the answer is relative.

Overall, one thing is sure: professional gamers do not make chunk change and rake in decent amounts of money. What they do with that money is beside the point. If individuals in the industry aren’t making enough, they’re probably a part of freelance gamers unassociated with any professional team.

So, are eSports pros underpaid? In a nutshell, not really. At least, many of them aren’t. If anything, these individuals make more than most other people considering the sacrifices and lifestyle their professional obligations require. We recommend keeping this trade-off in mind if you’re looking to become a professional gamer.