The one way I could see this working is in a (semi-)socialist situation, with heavily roboticized production in a largely post-needs society. Say that for instance inflation is high, but school is cheap, food is cheap or free, etc. because it's all heavily government subsidized or distributed, and the game is relatively cheap, and maybe many jobs don't pay much because getting paid is basically to get "fun money" for luxury items, and you only get a job if you want to. I could see this working then.
But I suspect it's just the author being wishful about the future of pro-gaming without putting that much thought into it XD