How the annual BGaming Charity Gala has become a permanent fixture on Malta’s iGaming calendar

What began as a one-off gesture of support for Malta’s DAR Bjorn has, in just a few years, grown into one of the most visible examples of corporate solidarity within Malta’s iGaming landscape. The Charity Gala by BGaming which was held in May at the Phoenicia Hotel, has now become an annual fixture, bringing together otherwise direct competitors, to back a single great cause.

According to BGaming CEO Marina Ostrovtsova, the first edition of the Gala was never conceived as the start of a long-running platform, yet its immense success proved that its future was guaranteed.

“When we organised BGaming’s first Charity Gala in 2025, our focus was to support DAR Bjorn and do something meaningful as an industry. We weren’t thinking years ahead or trying to build a long-term platform from day one,” Ms Ostrovtsova explains.

What changed that was the response. “The reaction from the industry, its partners, and the local community made it clear that there was genuine appetite for an initiative of this kind, turning a single event into what is developing into an annual tradition.”

This year’s Gala was notable for the breadth of companies involved, many of them rivals in the marketplace yet aligned for the evening. “We see this as a sign of where the industry now stands. Many of the companies that supported DAR Bjorn through Charity Gala by BGaming are competitors in their day-to-day business, yet they were willing to come together because they believed in the cause,” the CEO observes.

“For BGaming, this reflects a broader shift; an acknowledgement that businesses operating in Malta’s iGaming sector can contribute not only economically, but also to the social landscape of the country as well. With the industry having been established on the island for many years, BGaming views events such as the Gala as evidence that companies are prepared to give something back to the community that has supported their growth.”

Remarkably, BGaming covered all of the event’s operating costs itself, meaning every euro raised went directly to DAR Bjorn. “When people support a charitable initiative, they want to know exactly where their contribution is going. That is why we made sure that BGaming would be absorbing all the costs associated with organising the gala event, so each last euro raised was devolved directly to DAR Bjorn and the people who receive their services. This was certainly the most transparent and straightforward way to organise the event,” Ms Ostrovtsova notes.

Malta has become one of BGaming’s most important hubs, and its ties to the island extend well beyond business operations. As its presence has grown, so too has its sense of responsibility to contribute beyond commercial activity, with support for organisations such as DAR Bjorn cited as one expression of that.

“This is central to how we view corporate social responsibility, fitting into our long-term presence in Malta. If Malta is a place where we build our business, create jobs, and develop partnerships, then it is also a place where we should look for opportunities to make a positive contribution,” the CEO asserts.

Beyond the fundraising figures, BGaming points to a more personal dimension of its engagement with DAR Bjorn, which supports people living with ALS, MS, and other neurological conditions. Spending time with residents, the company says, brings home “how much resilience people can have despite very difficult circumstances.”

“It is also a reminder that support need not be purely financial. Awareness, attention, and simply taking the time to understand someone else’s experience are a valuable contribution in their own right.”

Asked what comes next, Ms Ostrovtsova reassured MaltaCEOs.mt that the fundraising event will remain part of BGaming’s CSR efforts in the future, but not only.

“We are interested in initiatives with practical benefits for local communities, including partnerships, awareness campaigns, and educational initiatives. I would like BGaming to be recognised not only as a successful company operating in Malta, but also as a business that contributes positively to the island and the people who live here. The Charity Gala is one example of that commitment, but hopefully not the last,” Ms Ostrovtsova concludes.