When online casino gaming went live in the late 90s, it opened up a divide.

Despite being an extension of the live casino sector, online sites were treated as separate entities.

Although the two mediums were far from rivals, there was a level of disconnect that often pushed players towards one or the other.

Today, things are different. As the industry has consolidated, online and offline casinos have found some common ground.

These connections have become a way for players to get more value and, importantly, more entertainment.

Live dealer tables take players to the heart of the action

The most obvious connection between online and offline casinos in recent years is live dealer games.

When the technology first launched, developers recreated real action inside TV studios.

As the games have evolved, broadcasts from brick-and-mortar venues have become common.

By integrating webcams with virtual overlays, online players can now bet in unison with those on the casino floor. From a gaming perspective, this has given consumers more choice.

However, the wider benefit of this innovation is the sense of familiarity it breeds. The prospect of visiting a live casino can be daunting for a novice.

Even if you’ve played online casino games, the atmosphere inside a physical venue is different.

Live dealer games help bridge this gap. If a player can participate from afar and get a feel for the dynamics, the chances are they’ll be more confident in the future.

This, in turn, makes them more likely to play online and offline.

Universal loyalty schemes create more value

Another recent development is universal loyalty schemes. Although live venues can’t match online bonus systems, they’re trying.

Interestingly, they’re trying by joining forces with their virtual counterparts to offer linked promotions.

By playing online and earning loyalty points, customers can use them in the real world.

Conversely, you can now play in a live casino and bank online rewards. This system is also being applied to payments.

At linked casinos, you can make live deposits to online accounts and online withdrawals to real cashiers’ desks.

If you’re a player, these provisions are use and potentially lucrative, which is another benefit of the ever-decreasing online/offline divide.

Crossover games give players more reasons to bet

Like live games, virtual games are starting to cross the divide.

With slots forming the backbone of the online industry, developers have looked to capitalise by making them available offline.

Mega Moolah is one of the leading examples of an online jackpot slot that’s now popular in live venues in Las Vegas and beyond.

The ability to play the same game in two different settings is clearly beneficial to both parties.

For players, familiarity makes the game more entertaining. For casinos, offering an identical gaming experience is a great way to attract punters from both realms.

When you take these games and put them with live dealer tables and universal loyalty schemes, the online/offline divide looks smaller than ever.

What’s more, it’s a gap that’s still closing. With the advent of virtual reality, things are set to become even more interactive.

As connectivity increases, so too will participation. When this happens, there’s more value for everyone, which is why this trend will continue.

If you’re a casino gaming fan, this can only be a positive.