25% of gamers in Ireland earned money through gaming last year, new figures show.
The survey carried out by PayPal reveals that taking surveys, ads and time playing or Mistplay are the top ways of making money through gaming.
Over 30% of gamers surveyed plan to spend more money on games over the next 12 month, with an expected average spend of €451.
Using gaming to generate additional income through streaming was a driving factor for increased budgets among 22% of respondents.
The survey found that entertainment was the top motivation for gamers, cited by 53% of respondents.
Meanwhile, among those planning to spend more on games, 37% said it is their favourite hobby and 28% said it's a way for them to make friends.
Safety remains a priority for 64% of gamers when buying or playing games, with over two thirds giving more consideration to safety when it comes to choosing a gaming platform and a similar proportion saying safety increases their loyalty towards a game.
"Our research highlights that there is a dynamic gaming community in Ireland, where gaming means more than just entertainment," said Jonas Breding, General Manager for PayPal Northern Europe.
