Ireland has emerged as a strong contender in the global gaming industry, drawing the attention of enthusiasts and game developers. To dig deeper, PayPal commissioned a study conducted by Censuswide in November 2023 that polled 1,000 consumers who play online games to unveil latest behaviour and trends. PayPal’s gaming insights revealed that a quarter (25%) of gamers surveyed in Ireland started or continued earning money via gaming in 2023, with a further 22 per cent of those who will spend more money on games in 2024 considering it as an additional way to generate income.
Turning play into pay
The most popular ways of making money through gaming for respondents who started/ continued to earn money via gaming in the past 12 months were revealed as taking surveys (38%), ads (26%), and time playing or Mistplay (24%).
Going forward, some 31 per cent of gamers plan to increase their spend on games over the next 12 months – with the expected average spend expected to be €451 for respondents who spend money on online games. Using gaming to generate additional income through streaming was a driving factor for increased budgets among 22 per cent of respondents.
Gaming can form connections
As an industry, gaming has witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, and has become a leading form of entertainment in Ireland especially those in the age group of 25-34 years of age. Entertainment was the top motivation cited by 53 per cent of respondents followed by stress relief (47%) and escaping reality (37%).
A significant proportion of respondents who will spend more on games in 2024 revealed that gaming is their favourite hobby (37%) and a way for them to make friends (28%) and are some of the reasons why they plan to spend more on gaming in 2024. Over half (56%) of gamers in Ireland say playing games brings them closer to other people.
Gaming can also be beneficial for mental wellbeing with 34 per cent of those who will spend more on games in 2024 identifying it as their source of motivation. Twenty-one per cent turned to gaming to alleviate loneliness, while 25 per cent use games to socialise and connect with others. More than a quarter of gamers who will spend more on games in 2024 (28%) have fostered online friendships through gaming, and 27 per cent view it as a means to connect with friends and family.
Speaking about the findings, Jonas Breding, General Manager for PayPal Northern Europe, commented: “Our research highlights that there is a dynamic gaming community in Ireland, where gaming means more than just entertainment. For some, it serves as a tool for relieving stress and making connections. For others, they are transforming their passion for gaming into an income stream. We understand that safety is always a concern and provide gamers a more secure way to pay with PayPal for games and accessories.”
Cost and safety concerns
The research found that certain factors would stop respondents gaming or spending money on it. More than two thirds (69%) identified high living costs and inflation as a potential deterrent, while concerns about fraud (34%) and the unavailability of payment options (29%) were also noted as being game-changers in this regard. PayPal was the most popular payment method used by 35 per cent of gamers surveyed in Ireland who spend money on online games.
Safety is a priority for 64 per cent when buying or playing games. Furthermore, 67 per cent per cent are giving more consideration to safety when it comes to choosing a gaming platform and a similar proportion (69%) said safety increases their loyalty towards a game.
This is understandable given that 30 per cent of gamers have encountered safety concerns while gaming during the past year and more than a third (36%) have previously felt unsafe when completing a game purchase.
The most prominent safety concerns respondents have encountered while gaming in the last 12 months were revealed as abuse on gaming platforms (31%), loss of money or gaming funds (29%), bullying (28%), hacked gaming accounts (26%), and falling victim to fraud (22%).
Nearly 7 in 10 (69%) of respondents say that their loyalty towards a game increases when they experience safety. This is also the case for selecting a gaming platform.