Bloomberry targets online gaming launch in Q2 2025 amid push for recovery
Bloomberry Resorts Corporation, led by business tycoon Enrique Razon Jr., is preparing to launch a new online gaming platform by late May or early June. According to a local media report, InsiderPH, the initiative is part of a broader strategy to address falling earnings and diversify revenue streams amid a shifting gambling landscape in the Philippines. Razon said that the digital platform will complement the existing Solaire Online service and is aimed at reaching a broader local audience.
Razon confirmed during Bloomberry’s annual stockholders’ meeting that the platform is already undergoing extensive testing, with plans for a full launch in the coming weeks. The company’s move into the digital gaming space follows a 73 percent decline in net income for 2024, partly attributed to the high operating and development costs of Solaire North, Bloomberry’s second integrated resort, which opened in May last year.
Solaire North operations gradually improving
Solaire North, located in Quezon City, Metro Manila, has been in operation for nearly a year. Although it has yet to become profitable, Razon noted during the stockholders’ meeting that incremental improvements in performance each month. While no specific timeline for profitability was provided, the company expressed cautious optimism about its trajectory.
The resort is part of Bloomberry’s strategy to expand its footprint beyond its flagship Solaire Resort and Casino in Manila Bay. The group is also working to revitalise gaming activity at its Entertainment City property to ensure steady growth across both land-based and digital operations.
Online competition intensifies
Bloomberry’s move into iGaming places it in direct competition with DigiPlus Interactive Corporation, which holds a dominant position in the Philippine online gaming market through its BingoPlus platform. DigiPlus reportedly controls roughly half of all online gaming revenue in the country.
Projections indicate that the new digital platform could generate between PHP2.66 billion and PHP3.72 billion (€41.5 million to €58 million) in additional gross gaming revenue. However, this would account for only a fraction of Bloomberry’s total gaming income, highlighting the need for further expansion and innovation to match the performance of its traditional VIP, mass market, and slot segments.
Revenue prospects and regulatory hurdles
The company’s digital venture is expected to boost revenue over time, although short-term gains may be offset by increased marketing and promotional expenses needed to attract and retain players. Some analysts believe that the full financial impact of the online platform may not be evident until 2026.
Bloomberry also faces uncertainty from the regulatory front. Last month, Senate President Francis Escudero called for a detailed assessment of the Philippine Inland Gaming Operators (PIGOs) segment. The move follows concerns over the potential adverse effects on local gamblers, echoing previous regulatory action against offshore gaming operators.
