Solaire Resort North shows positive EBITDA in first month of operation but VIP weakness drags Bloomberry Q2 results

Bloomberry Resorts Corp reported a 4% year-on-year decrease in consolidated gross gaming revenues to Php14.5 billion (US$255 million) in the three months to 30 June 2024, with the first contribution from recently opened Solaire Resort North in Quezon City not enough to counter a substantial decline in VIP volumes at the company’s original Entertainment City property.

According to information released Wednesday, Solaire Resort North booked 37 operating days post-opening in 2Q24, in which time it generated total GGR of Php1.1 billion (US$19.3 million) from its mass table games and electronic table games businesses. The property was also EBITDA positive, posting Php250.1 million (US$4.4 million) despite a variety of gaming and non-gaming facilities having not yet launched during the period.

Despite this, consolidated results were subdued, with Bloomberry reporting a 33% decline in group-wide EBITDA to Php3.6 billion (US$63.2 million) while net income fell to Php1.3 billion (US$22.8 million) from Php3.4 billion (US$59.7 million) a year earlier.

The company pointed specifically to continued weakness in VIP, where rolling chip volume at Solaire Resort Entertainment City fell by 32% to Php117.9 billion (US$2.07 billion) and GGR by 21% to Php3.74 billion (US$65.7 million).

“In the second quarter and first half of 2024, our mass gaming revenues across two properties increased year-over-year despite the very high base set in the first half of 2023,” said Bloomberry Chairman and CEO, Enrique K Razon Jr.

“However, continued weakness in the VIP segment as well as pre-operating and operating expenses at Solaire Resort North resulted in a decline in consolidated EBITDA and net income.

“Despite our weaker consolidated year-over-year performance, I am pleased to report that Solaire Resort North recorded positive EBITDA of Php250 million in its first 37 days of operations. We are in the early stages of the property’s ramp-up and are happy with the pace, especially as we compare it to the ramp of Solaire in Entertainment City over 11 years ago.

“As revenues at our second property grow, we anticipate further synergies and positive operating leverage to contribute to our group’s profitability in the coming quarters.”

Solaire Resort North’s GGR result included mass table GGR of Php508 million (US$8.9 million) and EGM GGR of Php629 million (US$11.0 million), while hotel occupancy was 20.1% due to a soft opening phase.

For the first six months of 2024 combined, Bloomberry reported consolidated GGR of Php29.2 billion (US$513 million), down 6% year-on-year, with consolidated EBITDA of Php8.6 billion (US$151 million), down 23%, and net income of Php4.0 billion (US$70.2 million), down 38%.