Organised by BGaming at The Phoenicia Malta, the event will help equip new rooms at the neurological home’s Respite Centre.
Malta’s iGaming community raises €200,000 for DAR Bjorn
Organised by BGaming at The Phoenicia Malta, the event will help equip new rooms at the neurological home’s Respite Centre.
BGaming’s second annual Charity Gala raised more than €200,000 in support of DAR Bjorn, Malta’s neurological home for people living with ALS, MS, and other severe neurological conditions.
The event was held at The Phoenicia Malta and brought together more than 400 guests from the iGaming industry, Malta’s business community, and wider civil society.
The funds raised will go towards equipping DAR Bjorn’s new Respite Centre with medical equipment and care facilities. BGaming covered the operating costs of the event, allowing the money raised to be directed to DAR Bjorn.
Founded by former iGaming professional Bjorn Formosa following his ALS diagnosis at the age of 28, DAR Bjorn now cares for 60 residents and supports more than 800 people across Malta.
This year’s fundraising also included a merchandise collection co-created by Portuguese street artist Gonçalo MAR and residents of DAR Bjorn. The collection, inspired by residents’ stories and creative contributions, was first presented at NEXT Summit Valletta and later made available online in exchange for donations. It raised an additional €5,000 for the organisation.
BGaming thanked the partners who supported this year’s gala, including NEXT.io as official media partner. MyAffiliates was Golden Partner, while 1spin4win, Finteq Hub, Amusnet Gaming, and TaDa Gaming were Bronze Partners. Supporting Partners included Flutter International, Alea, SiGMA, Focus Gaming News, The Phoenicia Malta, Booming Games, Internet Vikings, Behind the Gloves, EGT Digital, and SWAG42.
Marina Ostrovtsova, CEO at BGaming, said the event had grown beyond its original aim.
“When we organised the first Charity Gala last year, we simply wanted to help DAR Bjorn and do something meaningful together as an industry. We never imagined it would grow into such a powerful annual initiative.
“What inspires me most is not only the amount raised, but the people behind it. Seeing companies that normally compete come together for one shared purpose says a lot about our industry and the kind of community BGaming has built around it.
“The impact of this evening goes far beyond fundraising. It helps improve the lives of people at DAR Bjorn, but it also reminds all of us that we have the ability to create meaningful change when we work together.”
Maria Formosa, executive secretary of ALS Malta and wife of ALS activist Bjorn Formosa, said the funds would support the development of the respite home.
“Charity Gala by BGaming showed the extraordinary impact that can be achieved when the gaming industry unites behind a meaningful cause. The generosity shown throughout the evening will directly help us equip new rooms in our respite home and improve the lives of people living with neurological conditions.
“We are profoundly grateful to BGaming, to Madame Lubov for her hard and meticulous work once again, to Next.io, and to every supporter who helped turn compassion into action.”
