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How Much Money do Twitch Streamers Make?

Published

6 years ago

April 24, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

If you had told someone back in the early 2000s that you were going to play games for a living, they would have probably laughed in your face. Today, things have changed greatly in this regard as there are many different ways in which one can play video games and make serious money from doing it.

Professional e-Sports players are just some of the people who make good money from playing games, but a whole new breed of gamers has also emerged in recent years, and they often make even more money than e-Sports players.

Video game streaming has picked up massive pace recently, with hundreds of streamers on platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming making this their primary occupation. The top 10 biggest Twitch streamers now make tens of thousands of dollars per month according to Ken Johnson from Evolutionofsports.com and this is just one of the ways they monetize their online presence.

We tried to find out just how Twitch streamers make their money, how much they can possibly make and whether or not this is a sustainable way to make a living in 2020.

How Do They Make Money?

If you are a novice to the concept of streaming, you may be wondering how exactly someone who is streaming video games would be making money. After all, they are just sitting there and playing a video game, so why exactly would anyone pay them to do this.

The fact is that there are two major income streams for streamers. A part of their income comes from satisfied customers who enjoy watching the stream. Some of these will pay a fixed subscription per month, which may give them access to additional streams or even just fun things like exclusive stickers to use in the chat box. Subscriptions exist mostly as a way for viewers to support their favorite streamers. The other way viewers can support streamers is through donations, which are done in the bit currency, which has a value similar to a cent. A 500 bit donation will give the streamer a $5 donation.

Regardless of whether people want to subscribe or donate, streamers with a high viewership will always have an income stream, as they will be earning from advertisements. Streamers are usually paid per 1.000 ad views, with ads usually showing up before or after a stream, and options also existing to play a 30 second ad at any random time.

Can Serious Money be made?

Most skeptics would expect Twitch streamers to be making a small income from their massive viewership, as they are “not really doing anything”. However, this could not be further from the truth and to be completely realistic, Twitch streaming is as much of a job as any other form of entertainment.

Going into actual numbers, we found that there are many different streamers who are making tens of thousands of dollars every month from their subscriptions alone. Every subscription costs the user $4.99 and at least half of that goes to the actual streamer. This may seem as a small amount, but considering that streamers like DisguisedToast have thousands of subscribers who pay this fee monthly, you can easily do the math and figure out that he is making some serious cash.

Of course, subscriptions are not the only way streamers make money and there is usually more cash in donations and ad money than subscriptions themselves. If you add these numbers to the tens of thousands that are already made from subscriptions, you could be talking a million dollars a year for some of the top streamers.

In fact, according to a Reuters report from 2019, Tyler “Ninja” Belvins actually got paid $1.000.000 in cold hard cash by EA Sports simply to play their game Apex Legends on his stream. That a million dollars in direct advertisement fee, with anything extra he made just being a cherry on the top.

Of course, streamers are not at liberty to discuss their actual numbers, but we don’t need to know them to understand that some of these guys could be living a millionaire lifestyle provided by nothing else than playing the games they enjoy and doing some fun commentary along the way.

ad formats 2026

PropellerAds Unveils Multi-Format Advertising Suite for Scalable User Acquisition (January 2026)

Published

1 hour ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

propellerads-unveils-multi-format-advertising-suite-for-scalable-user-acquisition-(january-2026)

PropellerAds, a leading multi-source performance advertising platform, today launched a deeply integrated multi-format traffic strategy designed to deliver predictable conversions and scalable growth as acquisition costs climb and user attention fragments across devices and platforms.

Since 2011 PropellerAds has expanded beyond its Popunder roots into a full-service adtech platform that now includes Push, In-Page Push (IPP), Native/Display, Survey Traffic, and Telegram Mini Apps (TMA). This move positions the company as one of the few global providers offering integrated reach across traditional web placements and growing social/in-app ecosystems.

Why this matters for advertisers

Rising acquisition costs and cross-device fragmentation make single-format campaigns unreliable. PropellerAds’ multi-format suite lets brands, agencies and affiliates:

Mix high-volume formats for rapid testing (Popunder) with high-intent formats (Survey Traffic).
Reach audiences across Android, iOS and desktop with native-style creatives (IPP and Push).
Tap emerging social channels via in-app experiences (Telegram Mini Apps) for engaged, low-disruption traffic.
The result: more stable scaling, flexible reach, and higher conversion predictability.

Key formats powering the platform

Popunder Ads — volume and scale
Popunder remains a workhorse for large-scale acquisition, offering massive coverage, direct-click placements and cost control. It’s ideal for fast market tests and high-volume conversion funnels.
Telegram Mini Apps (TMA) — social traffic growth
TMA brings in-app interstitials, banners and task-based units inside Telegram’s Mini Apps. Advertisers gain access to highly engaged social users with performance optimization that preserves user experience.
In-Page Push (IPP) — native, cross-device reach
IPP delivers notification-style creatives embedded within webpages without opt-in, covering Android, iOS and macOS. Its native look and wide device support increase engagement and CTR while filling gaps left by traditional push.
Push Format — persistent outreach
PropellerAds’ Push ads reach users outside browsing sessions via browser notifications. As an early mover in push ads, PropellerAds now delivers billions of daily impressions to support remarketing and time-sensitive campaigns.
Survey Traffic — high-intent audiences
Survey Traffic funnels users who actively participate in surveys to advertiser landing pages, producing audiences with elevated intent—especially effective for finance, subscriptions, rewards, and lead generation verticals.

PropellerAds’ strategic edge

By combining multiple traffic types and automated optimization, PropellerAds aims to protect campaigns from volatility in any single channel. The platform’s cross-format approach helps advertisers adapt to shifting traffic patterns while maintaining ROI targets.

“With user behavior shifting across screens and contexts, PropellerAds’ multi-format synergy is now essential for scalable growth,” says Julia Larionova, Head of Marketing at PropellerAds. “Platforms with integrated formats and automated optimization will gain a competitive advantage as traffic continues to diversify.”

Bottom line

PropellerAds’ multi-format expansion reflects the adtech industry’s shift toward integrated, cross-device acquisition. For marketers facing rising traffic costs and fragmented attention, the platform offers diversified ad formats and performance tools to scale more reliably in 2026 and beyond.

The post PropellerAds Unveils Multi-Format Advertising Suite for Scalable User Acquisition (January 2026) appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Age of Empires competitive

Team Vitality Enters Age of Empires II Esports with Star-Studded Roster

Published

1 hour ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

team-vitality-enters-age-of-empires-ii-esports-with-star-studded-roster

Team Vitality, one of the most influential names in modern esports, has officially announced its entry into the Age of Empires II competitive scene. This marks a major milestone: the merging of a contemporary esports powerhouse with one of the most iconic real-time strategy franchises in history.

Aiming for the Throne: Star-Studded Roster

Team Vitality isn’t just entering for exposure — they are targeting dominance. The team has assembled a roster featuring three of the most decorated players in Age of Empires II history:

Hamzah “Hera” El-Baher – The Golden Boy
Known for his unmatched consistency and strategic mastery, Hera defines the modern AoE era. In 2023, he achieved a historic 14-tournament winning streak in S-Tier events. Fresh off his Red Bull Wololo: El Reinado 2024 victory, the current Player of the Year is set to continue his reign under the Vitality banner.
Kai “Liereyy” Kallinger – The Archer God
Renowned for exceptional micro-management and aggressive play, Liereyy brings mechanical perfection and explosive strategies to the squad. A multi-time Red Bull Wololo Champion (II & IV), the Austrian star is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular talents in the game’s history.
Hernán “Hearttt” Pizarro – The Veteran Strategist
With a professional career dating back to 2012 and 80+ tournament appearances, Hearttt is the rock of the team. Named Comeback Player of the Year 2023, the Peruvian strategist provides depth, resilience, and unparalleled tactical insight.

First Major Appearance: Red Bull Wololo 2026

Team Vitality’s AoE II roster will make its competitive debut at Red Bull Wololo 2026: Londinium, one of the most prestigious events on the global RTS calendar. Fans can expect high-level strategic gameplay and the start of Vitality’s quest for world championship titles in the genre.

“At Team Vitality, our expansion is always driven by a certain ambition: to compete for and win World Championships in the world’s most iconic games. Age of Empires and our new superstar lineup align perfectly with that vision… We are honored to be part of this history and can’t wait to welcome AoE fans into the Vitality Hive.” — Danny Engels, Corporate Director, Global Operations, Team Vitality

Why This Matters

Team Vitality’s entry into Age of Empires II is a significant moment for the RTS esports ecosystem:

It bridges legacy RTS titles and modern esports organizations.
Brings global visibility to Age of Empires II tournaments.
Sets the stage for strategic showdowns at major international events.

With Hera, Liereyy, and Hearttt, Team Vitality is positioned to challenge for the top spots in competitive AoE II and potentially reshape the RTS landscape for years to come.

The post Team Vitality Enters Age of Empires II Esports with Star-Studded Roster appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AFCON 2025

AFCON’s month of football did not lift iGaming demand — Blask data analysis

Published

1 hour ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

afcon’s-month-of-football-did-not-lift-igaming-demand-—-blask-data-analysis

AFCON 2025 ran from 21 December to 18 January, packing 52 matches across 19 matchdays. Given that schedule and the heavy interest in favourites such as Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria and Egypt, many expected a measurable boost in online gambling activity. However, Blask data shows the tournament produced only occasional deviations from normal patterns — even in the nations with teams that reached the final stages.

Key findings from Blask data

No broad uplift: Overall iGaming demand did not climb consistently across markets during AFCON.
Weekly rhythm dominated: The Blask Index largely followed pre-existing weekly patterns; matchday timings rarely overrode those cycles.
Host-country anomaly: Morocco — with more viewer-friendly kick-offs (five of seven on Sundays or Friday evenings) — recorded the largest single day-to-day Blask Index move (26 December, Morocco vs Mali at 21:00 local).
Vertical competition mattered: Live-match excitement often drew attention away from casino play rather than increasing it. Hourly Blask Index figures frequently fell or stayed flat during national-team matches.
Market-share stability: Dominant brands (usually 1–4 operators) retained their daily shares; AFCON did not reshuffle leaders in most markets.

Why AFCON didn’t create a sustained iGaming spike

Calendar beats event noise. Daily and weekly user habits — workweek rhythms, prime-time viewing slots and local schedules — remained the strongest determinants of iGaming demand.
Attention is finite. While live betting benefits from matchday attention, casino verticals compete for the same user time. In practice, watching matches often reduced casino activity.
Operator strategy limits volatility. In markets controlled by a few large operators, firms manage audience attention by shifting promotions across verticals rather than expanding overall demand. That keeps market shares relatively steady.

Notable exception: Nigeria’s operator flip-flop

Nigeria bucked the broader trend: two brands controlling 70%+ of audience attention exchanged top positions frequently. Bet9ja was the 2025 leader overall, but SportyBet overtook it on most AFCON days, including all Nigeria team matchdays — showing how high-profile tournaments can temporarily reorder leaderboards where competition is extremely concentrated.

What this means for operators and marketers

Promotions should be tactical, not assuming scale. Expect matchday windows to deliver spikes in live-bet engagement but not necessarily a net rise across iGaming.
Vertical-specific offers perform better. Tailor live-betting promos during matches and protect casino revenues with off-peak incentives.
Local kick-off times matter. Host nations or markets with viewer-friendly schedules can see stronger short-term lifts — use that to time campaigns.

Conclusion

AFCON 2025 drew continent-wide interest, but Blask’s daily and hourly data indicate no broad, sustained iGaming uplift. Instead, the tournament rearranged attention — boosting live-bet engagement at times while leaving overall demand on its usual calendar-driven trajectory. For operators, the insight is clear: the calendar is king, and major sporting events tend to redistribute, not expand, iGaming activity.

The post AFCON’s month of football did not lift iGaming demand — Blask data analysis appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.