Video gaming in Georgia had a $925 million economic impact in 2019, according to the Georgia Game Developers Association (GGDA), the video game development trade association of Georgia. Nationwide, the gaming industry has had a nearly 9 percent annual growth with Georgia growing faster than the national average.

“As of 2019, there were 136 Georgia-based companies. I continue to see a steady increase over the years,” said Dr. Jay O’Toole, lead researcher on the study. Industry details were revealed during the Southern Interactive Entertainment and Game Expo (SIEGE), an annual conference the GGDA organizes for video gaming industry professionals. 

“Georgia’s global impact on the economy consists of approximately 15,000 full- and part-time jobs, which includes the multiplier effect of those that work in the industry, those that benefit from the industry, money being generated by the industry, and money being spent throughout the economy,” said Dr. Jay O’Toole, co-director of the conference.

In 2019, Georgia’s 136 companies employed more than 4,000 people full-time In addition, 440 new gaming jobs in the state were created. Without fringe benefits, the average salary in 2019 was $70,000 for the gaming industry. 

“The industry is not just producing jobs but high quality jobs,” O’Toole said.

The economic contributions report is conducted annually through a census of Georgia-based companies.The statewide economic impact of having a gaming industry in Georgia is a sum of direct, indirect, and induced effects.