Conquering GTA’s Diamond Casino – the ultimate guide

GTA V is one of the most successful games of all time, and the online Diamond Casino is a big part of its charm. Find out how you can make the most of this fantastic part of the game here.
 

Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) is one of the most successful video games of all time. It’s made more money than any other video game in history, and far outstripped every movie ever made in terms of revenue. With over 170 million units sold, it’s also the third best-selling game of all time, being beaten only by Minecraft and Tetris.

A big part of the game’s success is how immersive its world is. Players of GTA Online - the game’s multiplayer mode - can do everything from driving tanks through the streets of Los Santos to simply taking a walk and enjoying the scenery. But one of the big selling points of GTA Online has to be the Diamond Casino.

This massive casino lets players play blackjack, bet on horses, try their luck at the slot machines and more. It's a fantastic place to make big in-game bucks, and plenty of players try their luck at the tables every day.

Whether you’re new to the game or still learning after hours of play, here’s your ultimate guide to the Diamond Casino and what it has in store for you.

Finding the casino

There’s no marker on the map for the Diamond Casino, so you’ll need to put a custom marker down. Finding it is fairly easy: look for Vinewood in the North-East of Los Santos, and you should see a long oval road that looks like a racetrack. Slightly to the left of this are three grey blocks; the casino is located in the middle block. Place your marker at head straight there!

Before you enter, you should know that it costs $500 to become a member of the casino. However, this comes with 1,000 free chips, so it’s more than worth it!

What to do in the Diamond Casino

There are tons of activities on offer in the Diamond. The standard GTA experience of completing missions is available, with Agatha Baker offering single-player missions and the casino’s owner Tao Cheng giving out tasks that can only be completed in co-op. You’ll need another player to complete the latter, but the rewards are better and they have their own storyline.

Beyond this, there are a whole range of casino games you can play. Exchange some of your money for chips and you can get going with roulette, blackjack, three-card poker and slot machines. You can also bet on virtual horses with Inside Track.

These are very close to the real thing. For example, if you’re a fan of blackjack you’ll find that GTA V’s version gives you a very similar experience, with the rules of the game being the same as in real life. Obviously, you’re limited to betting your in-game money in GTA, but beyond that it’s like you’re at a real casino!

Last but not least, there’s the Lucky Wheel. Every 24 hours, players get the chance to spin this wheel and win a prize. The rewards on offer range from discounts at certain stores to in-game money, clothing and even vehicles.

Winning at the Diamond Casino

So, you want to make some money. The casino is a quick and safe way to do this, but it’s also a good way to lose money if you don’t know what you’re doing. While any of the games can lead to you getting rich, our pick for the safest option would be blackjack. By making smart decisions you can increase your odds of winning.

The aim of the game is to get as close to the number 21 by adding up the values on your cards, without going over. Players start with two cards and can get more from the dealer. All players are playing against the dealer, so you don’t need to worry about anyone else at the table. Your aim is to get a higher number on your cards than the dealer without going over 21.

On your turn you can “hit” to get an extra card, “stand” to hold onto the card you have, or “double” to receive one more card and double your bet. If you have two identical cards you can also “split”, which divides your hand into two and lets you play each one separately. If you are ever dealt a picture card and an ace, that’s blackjack and pays out 2-1.

Here are some strategies for winning at blackjack in GTA:

• The dealer has to stand once they reach 17 or over, but you can stand whenever. You only get to see one of the dealer’s cards, but if it is low (e.g. a six or lower) it can be a good idea to stand if you have anything higher than a 12.
• If the total of your two cards is 11, it is always a good idea to double. The most common value of a card is ten, as there are four tens and four of each picture card in each deck. This means you have a good chance of getting 21.
• If you ever get two aces, it’s always a good idea to split. That gives you two extra chances of getting blackjack.