Gta online how to start casino heist

The Diamond Casino Heist is not only one of the coolest parts of GTA Online, but it is also one of the highest-paying jobs in the game.

To start the heist, players must first meet Lester at Mirror Park. Here, a cut-scene will play out and the player will be instructed to buy an Arcade.

After the player purchases an Arcade, they will be able to start the set-up for the heist. Depending on their prep work, they will be able to choose their approach.

The Diamond Casino Heist is an incredibly lucrative activity in GTA Online, but unlocking it can be a bit unintuitive. Most players should already know that they must buy the Arcade to access this heist. However, the property isn't available for purchase from the get-go.

Instead, players must meet Lester Crest at Mirror park first. Thus, a simple step-by-step guide on how to do The Diamond Casino Heist could boil down to the following:

  1. Meet Lester Crest at Mirror Park
  2. Purchase an Arcade
  3. Do the setup and preparation missions for the heist

The rest of this article will cover these details in more depth, particularly for those who wish to host this heist.

With all those lights and all that money, it was always going to be a target. GTA Online’s latest heist is ready and waiting, so here’s how to start the Diamond Casino Heist.

Gta online how to start casino heist

Billed as the most secure building in the entire city of Los Santos, the Diamond Casino won’t be an easy safe to crack. This Heist works differently to those which have come before, with tons of different preparation missions which give you a range of options once you’re on the job.

You’re working with the Cheng crime family to get one over on the current owners of the Diamond Casino, the Duggans. Your mission is to infiltrate the casino’s vault, slipping past the constantly adapting security systems and improvising solutions when you hit a dead end, to walk away with millions in cold, hard cash.

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The Diamond Casino Heist requires a massive amount of teamwork, a cool head, and more than a little patience.

If everything goes wrong - or the rando you get matched with doesn’t stick to the plan - you’ll still have the chance to go out all-guns-blazing with as much loot as you can carry.

All of this means that you’ll probably be playing through the Diamond Casino Heist multiple times, choosing different paths to success on each run.

How to start the Diamond Casino Heist in GTA Online - Retro Arcade Property Cost

It wouldn’t really be the biggest heist in history if you just walked up to the front door and started casing the joint. To start planning the Diamond Casino Heist you need to buy a Retro Arcade property.

All of the heist leaders have established one as a base of operations - a front business - nearby, and the retro arcade is where you can draw you the blueprint for your most audacious caper yet.

As well as starting your prep missions, you can also hone the skills you’ll need on the inside - including hacking keypads and blasting high-security vault doors. This is also where you choose your getaway vehicle, stockpile your equipment, and set up a Master Control Terminal.

The free retro arcade is called Pixel Pete's Arcade, and is found in Paleto Bay. If you're a Twitch Prime subscriber, then you'll be able to claim the new property from Maze Bank Foreclosures for free.

Otherwise, you need to speak to Lester at Mirror Park. After the cutscene, go to Maze Bank Foreclosures on EyeFind and filter by Arcades.

You can now see all of the arcades for sale.

GTA Online Arcade Property Prices

There are 6 arcades in total - 4 in the south of the map, and 2 in the north. They cost:

  • Pixel Pete's - Paleto Bay - $1,235,000
  • Wonderama - Grapeseed - $1,565,000
  • Videogeddon - La Mesa - $1,875,000
  • Insert Coin - Rockford Hills - $2,345,000
  • Warehouse - Davis - $2,135,000
  • Eight-Bit - Vinewood - $2,530,000

All of these prices are for the base specifications of the property. To buy the Eight-Bit arcade and fully upgrade it costs $3,901,000 - so an extra $1,371,000.

If that's too rich for your blood, take a look at our GTA Online guide for tips on how to make money.

Once you've bought an arcade, head over and go inside. A cutscene will play which opens up your base of operations.

Now use the laptop to start setting up the arcade. When you've grabbed some games for your business, another scene plays which starts the heist planning.

From there, you'll be able to play Setup missions from the drawing board.

GTA Online Arcade Upgrade Cost

Just because it's hiding something deeper doesn't mean you can't make a bit of money from gaming too. Here are all of the upgrades and games you can buy for your retro arcade. The Master Control Terminal allows you to launch missions for all of your businesses from the arcade. While the Drone Station lets you fly drones over the city, as well as access the Nano Drone in Freemode.

Upgrades

  • Master Control Terminal - $1,740,000
  • Drone Station - $1,460,000

Arcade Games

  • Monkey's Paradise - $90,000
  • Penetrator - $101,500
  • Defender of Faith - $152,500
  • Invade and Persuade 2 - $245,000
  • The Love Professor - $261,000
  • Shiny Wasabi Kitty Claw - $295,000
  • Madam Nazar - $315,000
  • Space Monkey 3: Bananas Gone Bad - $360,000
  • Badlands Revenge 2 - $362,500
  • Race and Chase: Get Truckin' - $369,500
  • Race and Chase: Crotch Rockets - $385,000
  • Race and Chase: Street Legal - $410,000
  • The Wizard's Ruin - $420,000

Also dropping with the Diamond Casino heist is a brand-new music station, iFruit Radio. Hosted by Detroid rapper Danny Brown, iFruit Radio features 27 tracks from the likes of grime star Skepta, Travis Scott, J Hus, and Young Thug.

There are also tons of new vehicles dropping with the Diamond Casino Heist - here are the prices of them all, along with some leaked future releases.

How much does it cost to start a diamond casino heist?

The Diamond Casino Heist The setup cost will always be $25,000, but there are four varying potential takes depending on the item stolen: Cash: $2,115,000 (normal) or $2,326,500 (hard) Artwork: $2,350,000 (normal) or $2,585,000 (hard) Gold: $2,585,000 (normal) or $2,843,500 (hard)

What do you need to set up the casino heist?

This Heist can only be played while being in a CEO or VIP Organization or being in a Motorcycle Club and the CEO/VIP/MC President must own an Arcade in order to start The Casino Heist.