Is a professional gamer in South Africa entitled to a salary?

A former South African Protea team competing in IESF's championship in South Korea.

Only if a professional gamer in South Africa is legally classified as an employee is a professional gamer in South Africa entitled to a salary. Professional gamers in South Africa are not automatically entitled to a salary merely because they are “professional gamers”.

Here is the precise legal position under South African law.

---

1. Salary entitlement depends on employment status

Under South African labour law, a right to a salary arises only if a person is an “employee” as defined in the:

• Labour Relations Act (LRA)

• Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA)

If a professional gamer is not an employee, there is no statutory right to a salary.

---

2. When a professional gamer is entitled to a salary

A gamer is entitled to a salary if the relationship with the esports organisation/team meets the legal tests for employment, regardless of what the contract is called.

Key indicators of employee status include (Section 200A LRA):

• The organisation controls training schedules, match participation, conduct, or availability

• The gamer is economically dependent on the organisation

• The gamer is integrated into the organisation (branding, mandatory appearances, exclusivity)

• The gamer must personally render services

• The organisation supplies equipment, facilities, or infrastructure

• The gamer works set hours or under direction

If these factors are present, the gamer is legally an employee, and then:

✔ The organisation must pay remuneration (salary/wages)
✔ The BCEA applies (leave, notice, working hours, etc.)
✔ Minimum wage laws may apply, depending on circumstances

Calling the contract a “player agreement” or “independent contractor agreement” does not override reality.

---

3. When a professional gamer is not entitled to a salary

A gamer is not entitled to a salary if they are genuinely an independent contractor, for example:

• They operate as a self-employed individual

• They invoice the organisation for services

• They can compete for or work with other teams

• They control their own training time

• They bear their own business risk

• Payment is per event, prize share, sponsorship split, or appearance fee

In this case:

✖ No BCEA protection
✖ No statutory salary requirement
✔ Payment is governed only by the contract

---

4. Important distinction: salary vs prize money

• Prize money is not a salary

• Sponsorship revenue sharing is not a salary

• Appearance fees are not a salary

Only remuneration paid in an employment relationship qualifies as a salary under labour law.

---

5. Practical conclusion

Professional gamers in South Africa are entitled to a salary only if:

• They are legally employees under the LRA/BCEA

They are not entitled to a salary if:

• They are independent contractors or competitors earning prize-based or commercial income

Misclassification carries serious risk:

• CCMA disputes

• Back-pay claims

• PAYE and SARS penalties

Additional reading:

• 2026 Calendar of events
• AEC24 - Champions of all of Africa - Protea Female Counter Strike 2 Esports Team wins AEC24
• AEC24 - Forged in battle - a Counter Strike story...
• AEC24 - Thato Maredi outperforms Bafana Bafana!
• Affiliation: Private Clubs
• Affiliation - Procedure to be followed by school clubs affiliating for the 2026 season.
• ACES - Avenging Bafana
• ACES - Thato advances to the knock-out stages!
• Events - Northern Cape Online Esports Provincial Championships - 24 January 2026.
• GEF - Clash Royale esports athletes may win a trip to Mumbai....
  
• National Team Trials - Who qualifies for MSSA National Team Trials?
  
• Results - Northern Cape Online Esports Provincial Championships - 24 January 2026.
• Sportsmanship Award - Sportsmanship Award - Northern Cape Online Esports Provincial Championships
• Streaming - Streaming of MSSA's Northern Cape Online Championships for the MLBB esports title.

Athlete's rights:

• Is a professional gamer in South Africa entitled to a salary?