Popular iGaming content provider BGaming announced the success of its second annual Charity Gala, held at The Phoenicia Malta on 29 May 2026, which raised over €200,000 for DAR Bjorn, Malta’s neurological home for people living with ALS, MS and other severe neurological conditions. The invitation-only evening brought together more than 400 guests from across the iGaming industry, the local business community and Maltese society, underscoring how the sector continues to mobilise around meaningful social causes. Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ian Borg, was also in attendance, highlighting the importance of the Gala’s mission and DAR Bjorn’s contribution to the wider Maltese community.
Founded in 2017 by former iGaming professional Bjorn Formosa following his ALS diagnosis at the age of 28, DAR Bjorn now provides 24/7 nursing care and specialised therapies for 60 residents while supporting more than 800 people across the country. Funds raised by this year’s event will go directly towards equipping the organisation’s new Respite Centre with essential medical and care equipment, including ventilators, motorised beds, air mattresses, hoist lifters and oxygen concentrators, as well as funding four resident rooms to support new admissions. In line with its ongoing commitment, BGaming covered all operating costs for the event so that 100% of the money raised could be dedicated to DAR Bjorn.
The 2026 Gala matched the €200,000 total achieved at the inaugural event in 2025, when proceeds were allocated to the construction of the Respite Centre. This year’s focus shifted to outfitting the facility to directly improve residents’ quality of life. A particularly meaningful element of the 2026 initiative was a special merchandise collection co-created by Portuguese street artist Gonçalo MAR and residents of DAR Bjorn. Inspired by their stories and creative contributions, the collection allowed residents to become active participants in the project. The merchandise was first unveiled at NEXT Summit Valletta and later made available online in exchange for donations, raising an additional €5,000 and extending the Gala’s impact beyond a single evening.
Marina Ostrovtsova, Chief Executive Officer at BGaming, said the event showed what is possible when the industry comes together around a shared purpose, noting that the donations are the difference between comfort and hardship for people living with serious neurological conditions. BGaming thanked its partners, including official media partner http://NEXT.io, as well as Flutter, Alea, SiGMA, MyAffiliates, Amusnet Gaming, 1spin4win and Finteq Hub, whose generosity helped make the evening possible. The Gala has now become a fixture in Malta’s charitable calendar, reinforcing the iGaming sector’s role in driving tangible, local impact through collective philanthropy.
