The platform is now in soft launch and “looks like it’s performing very well” after ironing out previous glitches, tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. said during the annual stockholders meeting of Bloomberry on Thursday.
“We will push hard and market this new platform, which is more attractive for users [and more] user-friendly,” he said, adding the new platform could deliver “positive” financial returns by 2027 if momentum holds.
What happened?
Bloomberry launched MegaFUNalo in mid-2025, aiming to tap the fast-growing digital gambling sector just before the government imposed curbs, including the delinking of mobile wallets.
Internally, the platform was also facing technical issues from its European-based provider, leading to glitches affecting the experience of players.
“We shifted to an Asian-based one…and it appears to be more attuned and dependable,” an insider said.
It was also during this time the company decided to change the name to the similar-sounding FUNaloMAX to signal a fresh start, the insider explained.
Based on Bloomberry’s 2025 report, the company spent about P1.9 billion during the startup phase of MegaFUNalo.
Casino outlook stays soft
Meanwhile, Razon said the US war on Iran and higher prices will continue to weigh on their land-based gaming business led by Solaire Resort.
“The outlook for 2026 will be another challenging year for the on-premise gaming situation in the Philippines and specifically in Metro Manila with the soft visitation of tourists for VIP gaming, which is the main area of softness,” Razon said.
“However, our focus for the year will be on cost-cutting, becoming more efficient,” he added.
Company sees 2027 turnaround
But Razon also noted they aim to capitalize on pockets of opportunity in on-premise casino business.
“We hope that by 2027, we’ll see the fruits of our labor in this area,” he said.
Bloomberry swung to a net loss of P2.6 billion in 2025 from a P2.6 billion profit a year earlier as gaming revenues slipped and costs surged. This was also due to weaker VIP play and higher expenses.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
