If your spouse, significant other, insignificant other, mom and/or cat keep nagging you to put down the controller and get a job, you can tell them that you’re already earning money with your mad Madden skills. Yes, there are actual, legal ways to earn cash with your obsessive video game habit. Here’s what to say:

“I AM Working…”

Gaming is a $57 billion industry and growing, which means there are actual paying jobs out there, even if you don’t know the first thing about coding or animation. You can become a video game tester, which is perfect if you are one of those people who feel superior for finding gaffes and bugs. It can become extremely time consuming and monotonous, because you will have to play the same game and level over and over again to make sure that you catch every last detail, but you do that anyway, so why not get paid? Proceed with caution, however, because there are a lot of scams out there. But if you do land the real thing, game testers can make upwards of $35,000/year. Beats selling plasma…

“I’m in Training…”

You can win cash prizes by entering tournaments online, through sites like Gamersaloon and Bringit. Usually you have to put up your own money, and yet somehow it’s not gambling because it’s considered a skill as opposed to a game of chance (check local laws because not all states allow it). You can join teams, set up your own tournaments, and turn your trash talk into cash. Again, do your research and make sure the sites are legit. Read the fine print about rules, settling disputes and collecting your winnings.

“I’m going Pro…”

If you’re ready to graduate from the minors, check out Major League Gaming, where you can participate in Pro Circuit events and eventually compete to claim your title as the National Champion of CoD: Black Ops. There’s over $1 Million in prize money up for grabs this season, their biggest bounty to date, with a 6-city tour across the country. But this is the big league, friends – these pros train hard, developing thumb calluses, risking personal relationships and vitamin D deficiencies.

“I’m doing research…”

With the rise of digital distribution through online gaming, social gaming and smartphone gaming apps, suddenly people with great ideas (but not enough clout) can get their games out there for public consumption. Independent developers have begun to squeeze their way into the marketplace, and sites like Android Market and Facebook have made it easier to get noticed. And now that games can be downloaded directly onto consoles, there is less risk for those platforms to give new developers a shot. The Independent Games Festival shines a light on the best indie games out there, including student work, and they offer… wait for it… cash prizes! But you can’t create an original game without fully researching the playing field, right?

“I’m building my resume…”

There are other ways to share your love of gaming with the world, but it will require an occasional shower and an excursion outdoors. You can get into the retail side of things, which we at Best Buy know a little about. We’re always looking for great employees who are experts in all aspects of gaming and technology, and it can really pay off for truly passionate gamers… with an actual paycheck.