Guide - GTA Heist Info

It is my first time composing a guide like this for GTA Online. So any criticism or suggestion is welcome! I really wish this can be helpful. There is a ton of wiki about it but I am just going to refine them into my own words.
Btw, this guide is not for people who is already a veteran. Casino heist is the easiest way to make a quick fortune so far because you can join a finale through your phone (although there is a cool down time between each). And you probably won't find any extreme method to maximize payout such as glitch. The main purpose of this article is help people have fun.
Scope Out
This is something you do once and for all. So there is no reason why you don't scope out all access points and P.O.I.. You can launch this mission every time when you are hosting the heist, but can only be done before selecting approach. There is plenty of Youtube videos about where to find them such as this.
Vault Content
Just to to the observatory and find 2 guys chatting. Sometimes they are at the front door but most of the time they are on the left side of building. One guy with a baseball cap and the other "bigger" guy with a cowboy hat. Start hacking through securoserv app while walk along with the guard while he takes a phone call. Don't run into or kill him cuz that will get cops on you. Hacking into security camera is easy so let's skip that (sometimes the Wi-Fi spot is in the restroom).
Casino Model & Door Security & Vault Door
All of them are complete waste of money. Casino model is purely decorative. If you want to practice hacking, just ask teammates or friends nicely to give you a shot in the vault or watch Youtube. And there is no need to practice drilling vault door because you are not on a time limit.
Before we jump into approaches, there is a prep mission called "Security Intel". It gives you all the camera vision without having to getting close to a camera. You will need to complete all Diamond Casino & Resort story missions as the host in order to unlock this mission. Once it's done, you don't have to do it again. The camera intel stays with you. JUST DO IT FOR VINCENT'S SAKE.
Prep Board
Next, I'm gonna tell you what each prep mission means and which optional missions are actually worth doing imo.

• Silent & Sneaky

1. Gunner: Hire the cheapest guy because you are not supposed to exchange fire anyway. There are two loadouts to choose from and both works great.
2. Driver: Hire the cheapest guy because you don't need his help at all. This role is a fucking free rider and you will see why later. I always source Übermacht Sentinel Classic because it goes fast and handles the best. It matters in setup mission.
3. Hacker: Hire Paige because she gives you more time in the vault. It's worth the investment. If you have Avi unlocked you can try him to. He takes 1% more cut but gives you 5 seconds more time in the vault when exposed and 3 more seconds when undetected. It's up to you whether he is worth it. To unlock Avi as hacker, you need to destroy all 50 signal jammers around the map in free mode. Youtube video guide is here.
4. Patrol routes: It makes more enemies visible on mini map. I always do it but if you feel comfortable to skip it, I respect that.
5. Duggan shipments: MUST DO! Because you are supposed to get head shot and without Duggan shipments gone, guards will wear bullet proof helmet. You want to have some kind of flying vehicle because targets are all over the map.
6. Power drills: You wanna get it if you think there is enough time to hit deposit boxes AFTER grabbing all the main stuff.
7. Security pass: ALWAYS GET LEVEL 2 SECURITY PASS! This saves you a ton of time from hacking key pads. You can cycle through this option to a picture with a valet and a dealer.
8. Acquire masks: A complete waste of time.
9. EMP device and infiltrate suits: The former cuts power out and the latter gives you nigh vision in dark as well as the ability to rappel down the elevator well when entering casino if you choose some doors near helipad as entrance. If you want to sneaky in or out more easily, go ahead and do both. I think it's not worth it. Gun is your best friend.

Planning Board
I usually chose staff lobby or waste disposal as entrance. But you must choose staff lobby as exit and select high level buyer. Staff lobby door is close to both sewer and nearby police station, and high level buyer gives you most pay. And DO NOT ever buy decoy or clean vehicle. They are total waste of money.
Finale
The general rule is DO NOT kill guards if they are not in your way, or patrolling to a dead body. Also watch out for cameras. You can only shoot down 1 camera. So just stun them. It can be difficult if teammates are not on mic cuz you might need to take down some guards in pairs. What I usually do is typing "Can someone please aim with me? You aim at right guy and I aim at left guy, then I fire right after you." in chat box. I found it works well as long as teammates read English. Probably many of you already knew this but you can hit daily vault twice both on your way in and out. The gate control is in security room. Another important note is that the guards will be able to see you though glass on doors, but they will not be able to see you through bullet proof glass around security room. As far as after getting into the vault, just make sure get your ass outta there before times counts down to 0. And also, elevator is for suicide only. TAKE THE STAIRS.
Then it's much easier. At this time you have not alerted anyone yet so turn to your right after getting out of casino. Check out the map below where I drew a route to a safe spot to jack a ride from NPC. You just need to make sure to knock out the first NOOSE on the left side of van, and knock out the second one patrolling the Lost club house. Don't shoot because that will alert them. After jacking a ride now you have 2 option. First is to go down the sewer where I marked with black circle, or steal a chopper on the helipad of nearby police station where I marked with red H. You can practice both in free mode in terms of where to go in the sewer and how to get to the helipad, but please bear in mind that sometimes the helicopter doesn't spawn. And ALWAYS turn left onto the highway from sewer exit because turning right will take you near to casino and that will get heat back on you.
Escape Route

• Big Con

From easy to hard: Gruppe Sechs, Bug Star, LS Water & Power, Young Ancestor.
Prep Board

1. Gunner: Hire the cheapest guy because you can't fire a bullet in casino. That will attract attention no matter where you are. The only way to kill anyone inside is knocking him out.
2. Driver: Hire the cheapest guy, period.
3. Hacker: Hire Paige or Avi.
4. Entry disguise: Gruppe Sechs gives you a clean run without alerting anyone until you get back to stair well. But I personally find other disguise more exciting. You just need to watch some Youtube videos before try them out. Young Ancestor takes longest time and most challenging imo.
5. Exit disguise: JUST DO IT. Without it, you will be hunted right after getting out of casino. Go get NOOSE or firefighter outfits. Firefighter mission is easier because you can call Lester to clear wanted level.
6. Patrol routes: I would say this is not necessary if you are playing Gruppe Sechs, but highly recommended if you are using other entry disguise because you are dealing with more enemies.
7. Duggan shipments: Not necessary at all! Since no shots will be fired, their protective gear doesn't do any use against knocking out.
8. Power drills: Same as other approaches.
9. Security passes: LEVEL 2!
10. Masks: Nobody cares.

Planning Board
This is the same as silent and sneaky approach.
Finale
There is nothing complicated about big con especially Gruppe Sechs. Just check your map for guards that are hostile. Guards and cameras marked in red circles are hostile while white color indicates "friendly". After making up to the ground level, you will want to circle to the back area and knock 1 guy out. Then make your way to laundry room and change your outfit. After that you can walk outta there like a boss.
Once you are out of casino, it's the same deal as silent & sneaky.

• Aggressive

Unarguably the only approach to play with randoms lmao. But you do get less time in vault and will lose take from getting shot at.
Prep Board

1. Gunner: This can be flexible depending on your shooting skill. The cheapest guy already have automatic weapon so that's good enough for me. Go for better gunners if you enjoy shootout.
2. Driver: Do I need to say that again?
3. Hacker: Yeah one of those two.
4. Patrol routes: Nobody cares because it will be loud.
5. Duggan shipments: Let me say this, if you don't do it, it will take a full clip of mags with headshot to take down 1 guard. GET IT DONE!
6. Power drills: There is less time in vault so I usually skip this unless it's a crew of 4.
7. Security passes: If you don't get a level 2 pass then you are out of your mind.
8. Acquire masks: Literally no one cares.
9. Reinforced armor: It works like heavy heist suits in OG heists. It gives you more health but makes you run slower. If you have Duggan shipments wiped out then this is totally unnecessary. If there are rookie in your team then you might wanna get it.
10. Boring machine: This is a super effective prep mission as it allows you to enter vault level through sewer directly. But you have to have this particular access point scouted first.

Planning Board
To get in and out faster, you would still want to choose staff lobby. But entering through main entrance is more dramatic and funny. And for the last time I have to say, DON'T WASTE MONEY ON DECOY OR CLEAN VEHICLE!.
Finale
There is really no need to explain anything here. But some people do take a different route after getting out of casino, which is around the inside of race track. You can still stick the the route I provided earlier but you might encounter 2 or 3 more cops on your way to jacking an NPC ride.
Ok guys, go watch some Youtube videos and read some other guides if you have not done this before. I really wish you have fun out there and not waste other players' time by reading my beginner friendly guide. Casino heist is definitely worth playing because R* created this based on all the lessons learned from previous guides. It will be likely to be the template of next generation of GTA Online, which is just 20 years away!