Arcade Business Guide
Summary
- Best Arcade Location: La Mesa
- Best Arcade Upgrades: Honestly, none at the start. Focus on the heist.
- Worth it? With a crew of 2 - 4 that can play, then yes. Solo or wanting to use it for money making, no until you have disposable cash.
Introduction
Introduced in The Diamond Casino Heist update, players can buy an Arcade to decorate and play a range of arcade games with friends or by themselves. Through purchasing and displaying arcade games, the business will accumulate passive income - up to $5,000 a day. But this is all a front for the real business, players will once again collaborate with Lester Crest to organise a high stake robbery of the Diamond Casino. All the setup missions will be organised from the basement of the Arcade, plus all gear will be stored here until you begin the heist. In addition, the Master Control Terminal can be bought and this allows players to manage their other business - Special Cargo, Vehicle Cargo, Motorcycle businesses, Air Freight and Nightclub.
Location and Upgrades
La Mesa is the best location due to its close location to the Diamond Casino, and has quick access to highways, the drains and adjacent mountains. Of course, any location will work and it really comes down to personal preference. So, La Mesa for optimal Casino grinding or whatever locations fits your build.
| Customization | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Free - $470,000 | There are three styles to choose from and all are cosmetic. |
| Mural | Free - $107,000 | Nine murals can be purchased for the arcade, with the default mural 'Naked', changing depending on which Style is selected. |
| Floor | $165,000 | Nine floors are available for purchase and similarly to Murals, the default mural, 'Naked' will change depending on which Style is selected. |
| Neon Art | Free - $320,000 | Neon Art has nine styles that are applied to the back wall of the Arcade. Naked is free with Arcade, and $50,000 when repurchased. |
| Extras: Personal Quarters | $150,000 | The Personal Quarters allows the Arcade to set as a spawn point, and includes the usual bed, gun locker and wardrobe. |
| Extras: High Score Screens | $295,000 | The High Score Screens allow selected games to display the high score of players. |
| Garage | $215,000 | Adds a ten vehicle garage for use at the Arcade. |
When it comes to upgrades, none of them stand out as a must have to begin with. The sleeping quarters will be convenient for conducting business, but otherwise, wait till you have spare cash.
The Diamond Casino Heist
One of the most popular heists in Grand Theft Auto Online, this heist offers a grand scale heist with multiple approaches. All setups can be completed solo but the heist itself will require 2 - 4 people to complete. Below is a short summary of what to expect.
- Scope the Casino: Head to the Diamond Casino & Resort and take photos of access points, entry doors, and security cameras.
- Scope Vault Contents: Hack the casino's security cameras to find out what the main take will be (Cash, Artwork, Gold, or Diamonds)
Choose an Approach
Once you have scoped the casino, you can choose from one of three approaches. Note, the previously completed approach can’t be completed twice in a row. For example, if you did the Big Con, you will only be able to choose from the Aggressive or Silent and Sneaky approaches. Each approach has unique setups to complete.
- The Big Con: The most popular and easiest method. You use disguises (such as the recommended Gruppe Sechs outfits) to walk straight into the vault undetected.
- Silent & Sneaky: A stealth approach utilising tactical gear, silenced weapons, and EMPs to sneak past guards and cameras.
- Aggressive: A straightforward, loud approach with heavy weapons. You fight your way in and out of the vault, expect heavy resistance.
Heist Prep
Once your approach is selected, you must complete mandatory setups, these include: Securing the gunman, driver, and hacker. You must also steal a hacking device and the vault equipment/drills. There are also some additional setups that are optional but highly recommended.
- Level 2 Security Passes: Highly recommended as they allow you to bypass almost all electronic key locks.
- Duggan Shipments: Destroys enemy armour, making guards easier to kill in the finale heist.
The Finale
Whatever approach you decide to do, the scenario is always quite straight forward. Enter the casino, eliminate/evade the security, get to and open the vault, secure the loot and escape. There are some good guides on how to approach the heist, with that said, have fun with it and don't be afraid to run it back to back.
Collectables
If you decide to invest in arcade machines, you will have the chance to unlock some trophies for your cabinet adjacent to the Neon Art. Reddit user u/Ciller93 has covered the trophies in detail and I would recommend checking their guide out.
Arcade Trophy Case Guide
by u/Ciller93 in gtaonline
Is the Arcade worth it in 2026?
If you have a reliable friend or crew to play with, then yes the Arcade is worth it. You will be able to rotate the heist with friends, meaning when one of you is on cooldown, the other can set up and run the heist. If you are a solo player, this is a low priority purchase as the heist requires a minimum of two people. The Arcade itself is a money sink at best, arcade games are expensive and with only a maximum of $5,000 for the daily safe income, it is hardly worth it. Wait until you have disposable income before investing.
