GTA Online is the most recent addition to the Grand Theft Auto series and it has been a triumph of convenience over gameplay. As a former Rockstar employee put it, “GTA Online is to real life what speed dating is to real-life relationships… it’s a quick fix.” As the saying goes, there is more than one way to skin a cat, and in the case of video game relationships, it is definitely more convenient to virtualize one.
The Money-Making Opportunities In GTA Online
GTA Online doesn’t waste any time getting down to business. As soon as you log in, you’re treated to a cinematic that welcomes you to the game. Following the cinematic, you’re presented with a short tutorial on navigating GTA Online. After you’ve gone through the tutorial, you’re kicked out into the world of Grand Theft Auto. Your first task is to locate a helicopter and fly it to the bank, which is probably the least thrilling moment in a video game I’ve ever covered on a blog. But once you get the hang of things, the money-making opportunities in GTA Online are endless. Here are just a few of them.
Pickpocketing
While in the helicopter, you notice a couple of guys sneaking up next to you. You can either follow their lead or opt for a more passive approach and wait for them to come to you. If you decide to go with the first option, you’ll need to hold down the Ctrl key to keep an eye on both of them as they’re sneaking toward you. Once they’re next to you, you can perform a quick “pocket” — a fancy term for when you steal someone’s stuff — and take their wallet or phone. Just remember to be careful and don’t get caught.
Robbery
What if I told you there was a way to make quick cash in a totally stealthy manner? While on the surface, robbing another player might not sound like a viable way to make money, in GTA Online, it’s a popular way to make cash. When you rob a player, you’ll typically get a few hundred dollars. But if you play your cards right, you can make much more money. For example, you can ask the targets for tips on where to find hidden funds or you can simply wait for them to leave the safety of their home. Once you’ve gathered the money, it is best to avoid engaging with the target in any way. If you do happen to rob someone, your best bet is to simply delete your activity from the criminal database and move on with your life. You don’t want to be associated with the guys who are now hunting you down because you’ve robbed them before. Plus, robbing someone is not a cool thing to do.
Drugs And Alcohol
Alcohol and drugs are hot topics these days, so let’s discuss them together. First off, consider the harmful effects that alcohol and drugs have on your body. Although consuming alcohol and drugs is quite rare in Grand Theft Auto, given the option, most players probably wouldn’t choose to do so. But that doesn’t mean it’s not there. If you want to make some extra cash in GTA Online, you can either look for drugs or steal alcohol (usually from bars). Selling drugs and stealing alcohol is also a way to make money in the game. When you sell drugs or steal alcohol, you won’t get the full amount that the dealer or bar is asking for. But you can usually make enough money to get by. And if you choose to do so, you can’t really blame anyone but yourself if you’re arrested.
Escapades
So you’re driving around in the beautiful wilderness of San Andreas, looking for an open road to travel down. You might notice that the traffic is bad and you’re running late. You can either sit there and wait for the light to change or you can take the more scenic route and see how the traffic behaves there. You can use your own judgment as to whether or not it’s safe to take the scenic route. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn’t. But if you want to make extra cash in GTA Online, you can always take the scenic route. You never know when you might need an extra car or an empty garage to store your stuff in.
Black Market
The black market in GTA Online is a great way to make a quick buck. You can use online markets such as Ebay, Amazon, and Craigslist to buy and sell a variety of items for really good prices. The downside is that a lot of the time, the items you’ll find for sale on these online markets aren’t quality items. But given the choice, most players would probably avoid the black market in GTA Online. Still, if you want to make some quick cash, it’s a viable option. Just make sure you’re aware that you’re not getting what you paid for. And for the love of God, don’t use real money to purchase anything on the black market.
Racing
We’re not really done with the ways in which you can make money in GTA Online yet. You can also take a trip to the races, where you can bet on horses, car, and boat races. You’ll have to be careful when choosing which races you’ll bet on, as many of them are fraudulent schemes set up by the game developers to extract money from you. But if you do decide to bet on the races, you can make a substantial amount of money. Just make sure you’re aware of the risks. Many an unwary gambler has fallen victim to a rigged race.
Freelancing
Another way to make money in GTA Online is to freelance. You can take on small jobs for paying players. The jobs don’t have to be dangerous, but they do have to be legal. For example, you can get paid to walk dogs for customers, take out the trash, or mow their lawn. You get the idea. Freelancing is great because it allows you to move about the country and take on small tasks for different players, all while making money. The downside is that you won’t make much money and it’s not easy to find regular work. But if you’re looking for a way to make quick cash, it’s a viable option.
Casino
Last but not least, we have the casino. casinos are everywhere in GTA Online, and they’re great places to make money. But once again, be careful what kind of money you’re playing with. The nice people behind the casino counter, while being totally harmless, will ask you for money in exchange for food or beverage. You can also try your hand at blackjack or roulette, which is often times easier to win money at than trying to beat the dealers at craps. Still, if you want to make some quick cash, casinos are always a good option. Just make sure you’re aware of how many calories you’re consuming while there.
One more thing, many casinos have a minimum wager policy. This means that you have to wager a minumum of $5 before you can make a withdrawal. So if you want to make a quick $20, you’ll have to cough up $5 in minumum before you can pull out that $20. It’s just a little hiccup that adds an extra layer of security to your already safe and sound money-making endeavors.