YouTube pays gaming channels a share of the ad money their videos earn, but only after the channel is accepted into the YouTube Partner Program. The full ad tier needs 1,000 subscribers plus watch hours or Shorts views (see the table below). After that, a common benchmark for gaming is an RPM of roughly $2 to $3.50 per 1,000 long-video views. RPM is what you keep after YouTube takes its share. So 100,000 views at that range works out to about $200 to $350. Most small channels earn little at first, and this page explains why.
The requirements, tier by tier
The Partner Program has two tiers. The first unlocks fan funding. The second unlocks ad revenue, which is what most people mean by "getting monetized".
| Program | What you need | What it unlocks |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube: Partner Program, first tier (fan funding) | 500 subscribers; 3 public uploads in the last 90 days; 3,000 watch hours in the last 12 months, or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days | Channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Thanks. No ad revenue yet. |
| YouTube: Partner Program, full tier (ad revenue) | 1,000 subscribers; 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months, or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days; Watch time from the Shorts feed does not count toward the 4,000 hours | A share of the ads shown on your videos and Shorts. |
As of October 2026. These numbers change, so check the platform's own page before you plan around them.
- Watch hours count only from public long videos in the last 12 months. Watch time in the Shorts feed does not count toward the hours.
- Meeting the numbers is not the end. You apply, YouTube reviews the channel, and it checks that your content follows its policies.
- Other rules apply too: you need to live in a country where the program is available, follow the community guidelines and link an AdSense account.
What RPM means (and how it differs from CPM)
- CPM is what advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions. It is a bigger number, but it is not what you get.
- RPM is what you earn per 1,000 views of your video, after YouTube's share, counting views that showed no ad at all. RPM is the number to plan with.
Gaming has lower RPM than topics like finance or software, because the advertisers pay less to reach gamers. A common benchmark range for gaming is about $2 to $3.50 per 1,000 long-video views. Your own RPM can sit above or below that range.
The arithmetic at a few view counts
The formula: views divided by 1,000, times RPM. Here is what that gives at both ends of the benchmark range.
| Long-video views | At $2 RPM | At $3.50 RPM |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $2 | $3.50 |
| 10,000 | $20 | $35 |
| 100,000 | $200 | $350 |
| 1,000,000 | $2,000 | $3,500 |
Why RPM moves
- Season. Advertisers spend more before the holidays and less in January.
- Where viewers live. Views from countries where advertisers pay more tend to earn more.
- Video length. Videos of eight minutes or longer can carry mid-roll ads.
- Content. Videos that are not fully advertiser-friendly get limited ads or none.
- Shorts vs long videos. Shorts earn from a shared pool and pay far less per view.
Why most small channels earn little at first
- Views before acceptance pay nothing. Until you are in the ad tier, your ad RPM is zero, and earlier views are not paid back later. A launch-week spike on a channel that is not yet accepted earns no ad money.
- Reaching the requirements takes time. Many channels need months, and some never get there.
- Reused content does not qualify. Raw gameplay, or clips without your own commentary or editing, can get a channel rejected or demonetized.
- Violent openings lose ads. Under YouTube's advertiser guidelines, graphic game violence in the thumbnail or the first seven seconds limits ads.
- Payment has a delay and a minimum. Earnings are paid monthly, and only after the balance passes a minimum payout amount.
What you can do now
- Make long videos with your own commentary, so they can count toward watch hours and qualify for ads later.
- Keep graphic moments out of the thumbnail and the first seven seconds.
- Turn the in-game radio down to avoid music claims.
- Plan with the low end of every range.
If you want the whole path in order, LaunchPlay's six-step guide goes further: which income sources to switch on at 0, 100 and 1,000 subscribers, how affiliate links and disclosure work, how sponsors pitch, and how to set up payouts as a US creator. It is an unofficial guide for beginner creators, a one-time US$19.90, and it does not promise income.
Questions
How many subscribers do you need to get paid on YouTube?
As of October 2026, the fan funding tier needs 500 subscribers and the ad revenue tier needs 1,000 subscribers, plus watch hours or Shorts views. Check YouTube's help page for the current numbers.
How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views for gaming?
A common benchmark for gaming RPM is roughly $2 to $3.50 per 1,000 long-video views, after YouTube's share. Your own RPM can be higher or lower, and Shorts pay far less per view.
How much does 1 million views pay on YouTube for gaming?
At a $2 to $3.50 RPM, the arithmetic gives about $2,000 to $3,500 for one million long-video views. That is a calculation on a benchmark range, not a forecast.
Do Shorts views count toward YouTube watch hours?
No. Watch time from the Shorts feed does not count toward the watch-hour requirement. Shorts have their own separate view-count route into the program.
Does YouTube pay for views before you are monetized?
No. Ad revenue starts only after you are accepted into the ad tier of the Partner Program. Earlier views are not paid back.
LaunchPlay teaches methods, not outcomes. We do not promise or imply that you will earn any amount. Most new channels earn little or nothing in their first months, and many never get paid. What you earn depends on your work, your content and things nobody controls.