GTA Online: Winning Big at Diamond Casino & Resort

Time certainly races by in Grand Theft Auto Online, the multiplayer element of GTA V that will celebrate its tenth anniversary in October 2023. But largely thanks to Rockstar providing regular content updates over the years, the virtual world of San Andreas still has plenty to ensure that players remain engaged and entertained.

In total there have been 41 free title updates for Grand Theft Auto V Online, which is certainly lots of additional content for players to explore, once they are familiar with the core game itself via story mode. Although easily one of the most popular content updates came when the Diamond Casino & Resort was released on 23 July 2019, packed with mini-games and new activities, including an exciting series of co-op heists and various missions.

Subsequently, the Diamond Casino & Resort has become one of the most popular places to visit on the whole map. In public lobbies, the car lot outside the casino is often the location for car meets, where players roll up in their sweetest modified rides. Nevertheless, inside the casino itself is where the best action can be found, as we explore the wide variety of games, many of which offer us the chance to boost our in-game bankroll with a little fortune.

Welcome to the Casino

The first time you visit the Diamond Casino & Resort, entering the building will usually trigger a lengthy cutscene, during which Tom Connors, the executive director of guest services, will guide our character around the facility. As we head to the casino floor, he also highlights all the games available. These include blackjack, roulette, three card poker, slot machines, and inside track virtual horse racing.

Keen to help our players part with their in-game cash, Tom will also suggest the purchase of one of their luxurious penthouse condos, which also unlocks the VIP experience within the casino. Essentially, these are designated high-roller gaming tables that only VIP members can access, usually offering the biggest payouts. 

However, you don’t actually need to buy an expensive condo, which can sometimes cost more than $5 million of our hard-earned in-game currency, as there’s another way to play at the high-roller tables. If one of your co-op friends already has a condo, they can invite you to their business or motorcycle club crew, unlocking instant access to all the VIP areas inside the casino. Now, get some chips from the cashier and let’s take a look at the games we can play.

Three Card Poker

While there are numerous variants of the popular card game, the only one available in GTA Online is three card poker. The in-game experiences are detailed and realistic, akin to those featured at leading US casino websites, where playing online poker for real money is available. This underlines the depth of research that went into producing this particular segment of the game.

Getting reliable reviews for poker sites is always important, just as understanding the game in GTA helps to quickly boost our virtual bankroll at the Diamond, so it’s always worth reading up on some basic strategies. Most people recommend betting ante and pair plus every time, along with raising on any Queen-6-4 or better hands, which a quick Google search will explain. Players can quickly earn $1 million or more in around 30 minutes, at VIP tables.

Blackjack

Also known as Twenty-One and Pontoon in some countries around the world, the blackjack card game is really simple and easy to understand. The aim of the game is to get hands as close to 21 as possible, without going bust. The dealer and player each start with two cards, and the player is given the option to hit and receive more cards, double the bet and get another card, or stand and receive no further cards.

Providing your hand is higher than that of the dealer, who must stand on 17 in GTA Online, you’ll win the round. Ideally, the best hand for anyone to bet on is blackjack itself, whenever you have 21 from the first two cards dealt, which is Ace plus 10 or any Jack, Queen, or King picture card. 

Roulette

While the two card games already discussed mix chance with skill and good judgement, roulette is entirely a game of luck and chance, along with being really simple to understand. The player places their bets on any of the individual numbers, red or black squares, column and row cover squares. The croupier spins the roulette wheel and wherever the ball finally lands, the winnings are paid to anyone who placed a winning bet.

Slots

Reminiscent of the casino floors you would find at any Las Vegas venue, the Diamond Casino & Resort features a wide variety of slot machines. Just like roulette, winning at slots is entirely down to luck and good fortune, whenever the spinning reels align with matching icons. While there are many slots to try, the biggest jackpots offered are from the Deity of the Sun and the Diamond Miner gaming machines, both paying up to $2.5 million.

Lucky Wheel

As the name of this game implies, the Lucky Wheel is based entirely upon random chance, although players only get one chance to win per day, and they will always win something. Prizes range from Reputation Points (RP) and smaller awards like casino chips or cash, right up to the podium vehicle available during any given week.

Good Luck

Whichever games you enjoy playing the most at the Diamond Casino & Resort, have fun and good luck winning some of the biggest prizes, as they can make a huge difference to the overall experience in GTA Online.