A Night of Elegance and Purpose
Building on a legacy of comion and giving, the event brought together some 400 guests — leading figures in iGaming alongside stalwart of Malta’s local business community — to celebrate a shared mission.
The gala’s core purpose was to raise vital funds for DAR Bjorn’s forthcoming Respite centre, the charity’s third property designed specifically to provide care for those living with ALS and other neurological conditions.
Industry comes together
The event was co-organised by NEXT.io, BGaming and White Label Casinos, whose leaders have been inspired by the extraordinary work DAR Bjorn carries out for people living with neurological conditions in Malta.
This collaboration marked a unique new partnership in the gaming sector, as three companies across different verticals ed forces to achieve something far greater than they could manage alone.
for the mission was clear, as some 30 organisations came together to pledge sponsorships to the event.
Golden Sponsor Visit Malta was ed by Silver Sponsors from across the industry: Amusnet, 1spin4win, FocusGaming News, Mys, and industry executive Matthew Gera.
Raffle prizes were sponsored by iGP, Yolo Group and White Label Casinos, while others including Neriku, Cisk, Huskie, Stretta, Island 8, Cassar Camilleri, Molecular Fusion, Charles Grech and Delicata acted as On the Night Sponsors for the event’s catering.
Villa Bighi and GMR sponsored the event’s setup and venue, while Versatile Brass Band, Joseph Chetcuti, 360 Camera, Testatesmar provided entertainment, sponsored by Chili Partners and TaDa Gaming.
Merchandise was sponsored by Swag42, while ONE Media and Times of Malta acted as the event’s media partners.
Music, merriment and a bespoke whiskey
From the moment attendees stepped into the candlelit courtyard, the evening was alive with a sense of luxury and entertainment.
Guests were treated to the sounds of Malta’s celebrated Versatile Brass Band, whose spirited repertoire set a tone of both reverence and joy.
Meanwhile, a bespoke whiskey tasting station featuring Perkors, a custom‑crafted spirit created exclusively for DAR Bjorn, offered connoisseurs an intimate, sensory complement to the night’s elegance.Together, these elements helped deliver an extraordinary gathering of revellers united in comion, determination and action.
Record‑breaking auction highlights
At the heart of the night’s success lay its auction and raffle, which together ed for a significant share of the €200,000 raised.
Notably, a breathtaking canvas co‑created on behalf of BGaming by two Brazilian artists, Enivo and Lobot, ignited bidding wars and ultimately sold for €22,000 — the single highest bid of the evening.
Building on that momentum, famed digital artist L7Matrix contributed two pieces, each fetching €20,000, reinforcing the gala’s reputation as a nexus between high‑end art and high‑impact giving.
Collaborative fundraising efforts
Beyond the auction block, guests “bought” future rooms in the respite centre, secured sponsorship packages, and snapped up limited‑edition merchandise from the “Dream Big. Give Bigger.” collection — designed in collaboration with Swag42 — which all played vital roles in reaching the night’s target.
But it was the collective generosity, including ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, and on‑site raffles, that truly powered this achievement, demonstrating how every contribution, large or small, helped to advance DAR Bjorn’s mission.
Raffle excitement and winners
Meanwhile, the night’s exclusive raffle offered four exceptional prizes: a Norwegian fjords getaway provided by White Label Casinos; coveted Centre Court tickets for Wimbledon provided by iGP; VIP Chelsea FC match tickets donated by Yolo Group, and an Austrian Grand Prix 2025 experience donated anonymously.
When the winners were announced to rapturous applause, it became clear that this celebration of giving also fostered a sense of joyous anticipation among all those in attendance.
Building a sanctuary of hope
All of the funds raised will be dedicated in full to DAR Bjorn’s third facility: a purpose‑built respite centre designed as a sanctuary where individuals and their caregivers can rest, recharge and find hope.
Since its founding in 2017 by ALS sufferer Bjorn Formosa, DAR Bjorn has provided free, round‑the‑clock nursing care and specialised therapies including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech‑language pathology, to its residents.
Today, two homes in Qormi and Żebbuġ serve over 40 individuals; the respite centre will extend that life‑changing to many more families.
A unified vision for the future
As the last notes of the brass band faded into the night sky, guests departed carrying more than mementos: they took with them the conviction that even the gravest challenges can be met with collective generosity.
In raising €200,000, this gala reaffirmed Dar Bjorn’s guiding credo: “Inspiring Hope, Transforming Lives”, and cast a bright spotlight on the profound impact of unity, creativity and unwavering comion.
