At a recent panel at SiGMA Europe, Quantum Gaming CEO Oliver Debono introduced industry veterans Joe Pisano, Founder & CEO at Jade Entertainment and Gaming Technologies, and Daniel Gunba Founder & CEO at Trion Gaming to delve into a classic question: the relationship between online and land-based gaming. Their conversation explored how the rise of iGaming in the late 90s and early 2000s sparked concerns among traditional casino operators, who feared online gaming would undermine their market. Yet, as Debono highlighted, recent trends and studies tell a different story—one of synergy, not competition.
One of the most notable findings shared was a study by Caesars in Las Vegas, which showed that offering online experiences to their land-based customers actually boosted on-site visits by 20%. For operators like Caesars, Debono explained, online platforms are effective marketing tools that increase brand visibility and engagement, driving traffic back to physical locations. In the Philippines, for instance, Debono noted that Quantum Gaming saw the benefits of online gaming as a business continuity measure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rather than viewing online and land-based as separate realms, they prefer to call it “remote gaming”—an extension of the casino floor into the digital space, explained Pisano.
“The online offering is a fabulous marketing tool for the land based property. By extending the casino floor up to the um, online player, we were able to get the casino brands out to the players. And during COVID, when the property was closed, operations could continue.”
The conversation turned to emerging technologies, particularly VR. While VR hasn’t yet achieved mainstream adoption in the casino world, Daniel expressed optimism about its potential. Unlike traditional online gaming, VR could provide an immersive experience that mimics the excitement of being on a physical casino floor, with real-time interaction and community engagement. However, he acknowledged challenges, such as technological limitations and the unique, irreplaceable atmosphere of physical casinos that appeals to traditional gamblers.
“For those who are willing to use VR, they’re looking not just for the game experience itself, but for a more emotional experience. This is why they’re going to land based casinos as well,to not just play slots, but be part of this community. There is a new generation who love to play games, they are discovering slots and crash games,” Gunba said.
Pisano pointed out that while integrated resorts are increasingly venturing online, regulatory hurdles and the high costs of running a land-based operation still deter many casinos from expanding digitally. Nonetheless, some casinos, particularly in Asia, are pioneering “live slot” experiences. Players can remotely operate real machines on the casino floor via streaming services. This setup brings the physical slot experience into the online realm, maintaining the same game and payout structure.
“One machine, one player, same RTP, exactly the same product that you’re playing on the floor. We’re also setting up a studio in Sri Lanka – with a thousand machines, which will be live slot machines streamed to online, the same way live tables are streamed. There´s a trust factor from virtual, ” explained Pisano.
Looking ahead, Debono predicted that as regulations evolve, the integration of land-based and online casinos will deepen, building both local engagement and international tourism. Though current laws often restrict access, particularly for international audiences, the gradual expansion of domestic-focused online services lays the foundation for a more interconnected future. By enhancing convenience and brand loyalty, online gaming may indeed become a bridge that reinforces rather than replaces traditional casinos, enriching the gaming industry as a whole.
