Is it legal to get paid for playing video games?
The short answer: generally yes, because skill gaming is built on ability rather than luck, unlike casino games. But the rules shift from country to country, and there are requirements like a minimum age. Here's the breakdown, no legal jargon — plus an important note about legal advice.
Disclaimer. This guide is informational and doesn't constitute legal or tax advice. Laws vary by country and change over time. Check official sources or consult a professional in your jurisdiction before making decisions.
The direct answer
Competing for money in video games through skill is, broadly speaking, legal across most of the Americas, because it isn't treated as a game of chance. What actually faces heavy regulation is gambling (casino games, roulette, slot machines), where the outcome is random.
The key question: skill vs. chance
Almost the entire legal debate boils down to one question: who decides the outcome? If luck decides it, it's usually treated as regulated gambling. If a player's skill decides it, it's a skill-based competition. Get the full breakdown in skill gaming vs. gambling.
The general framework by country
Broadly speaking, and without replacing professional advice:
- Mexico: skill-based competitions are treated differently from regulated gambling; prizes can carry tax implications.
- Peru: online gaming regulation is expanding, and skill gaming leans on the skill-based nature of the activity.
- Chile, Argentina, Uruguay: frameworks are still evolving; the skill-vs-chance distinction remains the core test.
Legal frameworks change over time. Check the current rules in your country before you participate.
Where 1V1 is available
An activity being legal in your country does not mean every platform operates there. These are two separate things: the legal framework is set by each jurisdiction, while availability is decided by each company based on the regulatory, tax and operational cost of entering.
1V1 operates across the entire American continent — North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America — with a short exclusion list. It is not a country-by-country allowlist: it is continental coverage minus the exceptions below.
| Country or category | Reason for exclusion | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia | Coljuegos regulation | Not available |
| Ecuador | Regulatory friction | Not available |
| Bolivia | Tax friction | Not available |
| Paraguay | Conajzar / DNIT | Not available |
| Nicaragua | Local restrictions | Not available |
| Cuba | OFAC sanctions | Not available |
| Venezuela | OFAC sanctions | Not available |
Exclusions based on regulatory or tax friction are not a judgement about whether skill gaming is legal in those countries. They mean that, today, the cost of operating there with proper compliance and payment guarantees outweighs what the market size justifies. It is an operational decision and it can be revisited.
The list can change in both directions. An excluded country can be enabled if its framework clarifies, and an available country can be suspended if its regulation shifts. The version that applies is the one in force when you register, and location verification happens at account creation.
If your country is covered, check your market in detail: Mexico with SPEI withdrawals, Peru with local transfers, or the general coverage across the Americas.
Common requirements
- Minimum age: 18+.
- Identity verification: typically required before you can withdraw.
- Taxes: your earnings may be taxable depending on your country.
How 1V1 operates within the skill-gaming framework
1V1 is a skill-gaming platform: no odds, no roulette, no chance involved. Every outcome is verified through the game's official API and the FISGO anti-cheat, and clear guidelines plus 18+ verification apply across the board. Get the full picture in the guide to cash tournaments and how to cash out with our payout methods.
Related guides
Common questions about legality
Transparent skill gaming for the Americas
Sign up for free on 1V1: official API verification, anti-cheat, and clear guidelines. Skill, not chance.
Save my spot ➜FREE · NO CARD REQUIRED · 18+ ONLY