To become a game booster, you need to be 18 or older, hold a top-tier rank in the games you apply for, pass a skill and conduct review, and verify your ID and tax details (a W-9 in the US or a W-8BEN outside it). Boosters work as independent contractors. Apply on the Become a Booster page.
What does a game booster actually do?
A game booster is a highly ranked player who is paid to help other players progress. At Boosting Games that covers several kinds of work:
- Piloted orders: playing on a customer's account to climb divisions, win games, or earn levels, badges or mastery.
- Duo and self-play: queuing with the customer on their own account, so they play every match with a stronger teammate.
- Carries: running raids, dungeons, Trials or Pit tiers with the customer in the group.
- Coaching and VOD review: watching gameplay and explaining what to fix.
It sounds like getting paid to play, and partly it is. But it is also customer service: clear messages, progress screenshots, meeting the time quoted, and treating someone else's account carefully. Skill gets you in. Reliability is what keeps you on the job board. If you want to see the customer side first, read what is rank boosting and how it works.
What are the requirements to become a booster?
These are the requirements to boost with Boosting Games as of October 2026:
| Requirement | What it means | Why it exists |
|---|---|---|
| 18 or older | You must be an adult to apply | Contractor agreements, tax forms and ID checks are for adults only |
| Top-tier rank | A high current or peak rank in each game you apply for | Customers pay for players well above their own rank |
| Pass review | Your skill and conduct are reviewed before you take orders | Rank alone doesn't show reliability, communication or behavior |
| ID verification | You confirm your identity | Customers are told every booster is vetted and ID-verified |
| Tax verification | A W-9 (US) or W-8BEN (outside the US) | Contractor payments have to be reported correctly |
| Independent contractor | You run your own schedule and are not an employee | How the work is set up, see below |
"Top-tier" is relative to the game. Customers buy climbs to ranks like Immortal in Valorant or Master in League of Legends, so boosters need to be comfortably above that. In PvE games like World of Warcraft or Destiny 2, proven endgame clears matter more than a ladder rank.
How to become a game booster: the application, step by step
- Check you qualify. You are 18+, hold a top-tier rank in at least one game we cover, and can commit regular hours.
- Apply on the Become a Booster page. Fill in the form on Become a Booster with your games and ranks.
- Pass the review. We review your skill and conduct. Applicants who don't meet the bar are not accepted.
- Verify ID and tax details. Confirm your identity and submit a W-9 if you are a US person or a W-8BEN if you are not.
- Agree to the rules and start. Accept the contractor terms, set up your profile and start taking orders for your games.
Only apply for games where you are actually top-tier now. Overstating your rank wastes your time and ours, because the review checks it.
Do game boosters pay taxes, and are they employees?
Boosters at Boosting Games are independent contractors, not employees. The IRS describes the difference in terms of control: an employer directs how and when an employee works, while an independent contractor controls how the work gets done. As a contractor you choose when you are available and which orders fit your games.
That freedom has a tax side. A business generally does not withhold tax from payments to independent contractors, so the contractor handles their own taxes. In the US that usually means self-employment tax and possibly quarterly estimated payments. US contractors may receive a 1099 form for the year. This is why we collect tax forms before you start:
- Form W-9 is for US persons. It gives the payer your correct taxpayer identification number for reporting.
- Form W-8BEN is for individuals who are not US persons. It certifies foreign status to a US payer.
This is general information, not tax advice. Tax rules depend on where you live, so check with a tax professional in your country.
Is being a game booster legal?
In most countries boosting is not a crime, but it is usually against the game's rules. Riot, Blizzard, EA, Activision, Ubisoft and others forbid account sharing, and several forbid paid boosting outright. Some places go further: South Korea passed a law against boosting for profit, which is why we discuss the legal side separately in is elo boosting legal?.
Honest note for applicants: piloted boosting puts the customer's account at real risk of suspension, and publishers can act against accounts linked to boosting. Boosters must never use cheats, scripts, macros or exploits, never sell or move a customer's items or currency, and never touch anything the customer has not asked for. Duo and coaching work avoid the account-sharing problem. Our customer-facing rules are on account safety.
What makes a good booster, beyond rank?
- Consistency. A booster who wins steadily every session is worth more than one who peaks once a season.
- Communication. Short, regular updates and screenshots on the order page. Customers want to know where their order is without asking.
- Discretion. Don't change settings, don't chat in the customer's name, and don't spend their currency or claim their reward choices.
- Teaching ability. Duo and coaching pay off when you can explain what you are doing, not just do it. See is game coaching worth it? for what customers expect.
- Honesty about time. If an order will run late, say so early. Customers stay signed out during piloted orders, so keep them updated on the order page and answer their messages quickly.
Boosters earn 70% of what the customer paid for every order they finish, and each job card shows the pay before you claim it. Earnings are paid out by PayPal. How much work you get depends on demand for your games and ranks, how many hours you can offer, and your track record; see Become a Booster for the full pay details.
Want to see what the work looks like day to day? Our booster hiring post shows the booster portal in screenshots and walks through a job from start to finish.
Ready to apply?
If you are 18+, top-tier in a game we cover and ready for ID and tax checks, start your application. Questions first? Ask Boost Up AI.
Apply to become a boosterAsk Boost Up AIWhich games can I boost for?
We cover 57 games, listed on all games. They range from ranked shooters and MOBAs (Valorant, League of Legends, Overwatch, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2) to battle royales (Apex Legends, Fortnite, Warzone) and PvE titles (World of Warcraft, Destiny 2, Diablo IV, Escape from Tarkov). PvE work like raid carries and leveling uses different skills from ranked climbing, so it is worth applying for both if you can. See raid and dungeon carries explained for how that work runs, and every game explained for a beginner overview of each game.
Want to see the kind of orders boosters take? Our full list of boosting services shows every job type, from Valorant and League of Legends rank work to raid carries and coaching.
Becoming a booster FAQ
How old do you have to be to become a game booster?
You must be 18 or older to boost with Boosting Games. Boosters sign a contractor agreement, verify their identity and submit tax forms, all of which are for adults only. Applications from anyone under 18 are not accepted.
What rank do you need to be a booster?
You need a top-tier rank in each game you apply for, well above the ranks customers buy. Customers buy climbs into high ranks like Immortal in Valorant or Master in League of Legends, so boosters must play comfortably above that. For PvE games, proven endgame clears count instead of a ladder rank.
Do I need to verify my identity to be a booster?
Yes. Every booster verifies their ID and submits tax details before taking orders: a W-9 if you are a US person or a W-8BEN if you are not. Customers are told that every booster is vetted and ID-verified, so this step is not optional.
Are game boosters employees?
No. Boosters at Boosting Games work as independent contractors. You control your schedule and which orders you take, and you are responsible for your own taxes. In the US, contractors may receive a 1099 form, and taxes are generally not withheld from contractor payments.
How much do game boosters make?
Boosters earn 70% of what the customer paid for each order they finish. Total earnings depend on your games, your rank, how many hours you offer and your track record. Every job card shows the pay before you claim it, and earnings are paid out by PayPal.
Can I boost on more than one game?
Yes. You can apply for every game where you hold a top-tier rank or proven endgame experience. Each game is reviewed separately, so you may be approved for some games and not others.
Sources: IRS: About Form W-9, IRS: About Form W-8BEN, IRS: Independent contractor or employee, Riot Games Terms of Service