Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544871
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MAY 2026 OPINION BGaming announces return of annual charity gala in Malta POPULAR iGaming content provider BGaming has an- nounced the return of its an- nual Charity Gala, set to take place on 29 May 2026 at The Phoenicia Hotel in Malta. Now in its second year, the event continues BGaming's commitment to supporting DAR Bjorn, Malta's neurolog- ical home, providing care and vital therapies for people liv- ing with ALS, MS, and other severe neurological condi- tions. Following the success of the inaugural Gala, which raised €200,000 and helped fund the construction of DAR Bjorn's new Respite Centre, the 2026 edition aims to build on this momentum and achieve an even greater impact. This year, funds raised will go directly towards equip- ping the new Respite Centre with specific medical and care items, including venti- lators, motorized beds, air mattresses, hoist lifters, and oxygen concentrators, as well as funding four resident rooms to support new admis- sions. Every euro raised will be allocated directly to DAR Bjorn, with all event produc- tion costs covered separately by BGaming. Founded by Bjorn Formo- sa – who worked in iGaming before being diagnosed with ALS at just 28 – DAR Bjorn currently provides care to approximately 60 residents across two centres, while supporting nearly 800 more people in the community. As demand for its services con- tinues to grow, the new Res- pite Centre represents a crit- ical expansion of its capacity to provide dignified, compas- sionate care. The evening will take place at the Bastion Pool area of The Phoenicia Hotel in Malta and will bring together iGam- ing leaders, local business fig- ures, and philanthropists for an invitation-only night of en- tertainment and giving. Held in partnership with Next.io as the official media partner, and hosted by Joseph Chet- cuti, the event will feature live music by Versatile, an art performance and auction by internationally renowned artists L7Matrix and Gonçalo MAR, an exclusive charity raf- fle, and much more. BGaming thanks the com- panies that have committed their support to the 2026 edition. Supporting partners include Flutter, Alea, and SiGMA, with MyAffiliates as a Silver Partner, and Amus- net Gaming, 1spin4win, and Finteq Hub as Bronze Part- ners. Marina Ostrovtsova, Chief Executive Officer at BGam- ing, said: "Last year's Gala showed us what is possible when our industry comes to- gether around a shared pur- pose. Raising €200,000 in a single evening was a remark- able achievement and pro- vided real, tangible support to the people at DAR Bjorn who need it most. "Returning for a second year with an even greater ambi- tion is something we are in- credibly proud of. The funds we raise this year will go to- ward equipment that directly improves residents' quality of life. These donations are the difference between comfort and hardship for people liv- ing with serious neurologi- cal conditions, and we hope both the iGaming community and the wider Maltese com- munity will once again stand with us." Those wishing to attend or become a sponsor can submit an inquiry on the website. THIS IS A PAID COLLABORATION ELECTION 2026 Labour pledges succession tax reform to favour family inheritance A new Labour government will overhaul Malta's succession tax laws, Robert Abela said on Sat- urday without abolishing the principle of inheritance tax alto- gether. THE reform, he said, will intro- duce a series of exemptions and payment deferrals designed to prevent families from being forced to sell inherited property to cover tax bills. Speaking on Labour's Isma' Dean podcast, Abela said the reforms were grounded in social justice rather than electoral popularity. "I am not going to sell the prin- ciple of the Labour movement just to please and, in reality, do a dis- service to our people," he said. Under the current system, when both parents die and leave their matrimonial home to a child, the child pays no succession tax on that property. Abela confirmed this exemption will remain un- touched. The same would apply where a child inherits the family home, and the parents had been living in a care home before their death, Abela said, adding Labour would fix the current anomaly. Another aspect of the reform would introduce a new exemption for children who inherit a second- ary property as well but choose to live in it as their ordinary resi- dence. In this case, they would pay no succession tax and if they sell the property after three years, no capital gains tax will be due. Ab- ela said this exemption would be equivalent to the one already in place for the parental matrimonial home. If the children decide not to move into the secondary prop- erty but opt to rent it instead, a new Labour government would not abolish the tax obligation but defer it, interest-free and without penalties, either until the proper- ty is sold or until seven years have passed from the parents' death. The 5% rate would be locked in at the declared value at the time of inheritance. Abela said a further anomaly would be corrected. Under cur- rent law, if the husband dies first and the wife inherits his 50% share of the matrimonial home, she pays nothing. But if she also inherits a share of non-matrimonial prop- erty, she has to pay succession tax on that share. If she dies, the children inheriting the property will pay another layer of tax. La- bour would ensure, Abela said, the surviving spouse's inheritance of such a property is exempt from succession tax, removing the dou- ble burden. For parents who wish to give property to their children during their lifetime, Labour pro- poses raising the stamp duty ex- emption threshold from €250,000 to €1,000,000. Where the donated property will serve as the child's ordinary residence, there is no tax, regardless of the property's value. And where parents are demol- ishing their own home and re- building it with separate units for their children, Labour would offer a 50% VAT refund on construc- tion costs. Abela criticised the Nationalist Party's proposal to abolish suc- cession taxes altogether, insisting this would mean that any subse- quent sale of an inherited proper- ty would fall under the default 8% duty on documents and transfers. Reporting by Juliana Zammit Prime Minister Robert Abela speaking on Labour's Isma' Dean podcast on Saturday afternoon