Online games are now having tournaments for cash and other prizes adding an extra layer to the competition. Since the internet and video games have merged, online gaming has become the new rage for gamers. And with so much at stake, gamers, spectators, and even sponsors are all getting in on the action.

Many leagues are now moving into the realm of professional and competitions are organized with cash prizes over $100,000. With such huge earnings that attract so many people, businesses are seeing it as an opportunity. Hardware manufacturers sponsor teams and see online gaming as a rich market for their products. High-stake competitions are where companies try to get their technology right into the gamer's hands.

Professional gaming is moving fast. LAN (local area network) competitions are now giving online gamers a venue to compete and earn cash prizes. A pro-gamer with a sponsorship can earn near $500,000 a year. Cyberathlete, Cyber Evolution, Gamecaster, Professional League, and Global Gaming League are a few of the organizations holding these competitions. The first league was established in 1997 and now competitions are televised by large publications. CNN, ESPN, MTV, USA Network, ABC News, FOX, and others telecasts the competitions live.

Gamers train hard for these competitions to become the champion, routinely putting in 10 hour days of gaming. Winning brings them fame and fortune. Since 2001, the World Cyber Games are held in in a different country each year. In 2004, the winners took home $400,000 total in cash prizes and gamers played games like FIFA Soccer 2004, Star-Craft, Need for Speed, Unreal Tournament 2004, and Halo 2.

It is taken very seriously; it is about fast thinking, dedicated practice, teamwork, and interaction among the other players in order to stay on top of the current technology. Gamers spread news throughout the community about new launches, patches, hardware, and more.

The fact that professional gaming is a serious business is an understatement. Many colleges are now even offering major and minor courses in game development, design, computer music, animation, game psychology and others. Many of these universities are now set to become the source for the professional gaming system that is now a multi-billion dollar a year industry.