In this article, Altenar, a sportsbook software provider, will be looking into the growing space of women in sports betting and technology as the world witnesses increased numbers of women in STEM education, roles in a broad range of industries, and a rise in women holding managerial positions.
Speaking with Altenar’s Head of Information Security and Technical Compliance and Head of Service Management in Technology Operations, it became clear the importance of destigmatized environments that promote the skills of an individual regardless of gender, why the role of ‘invitation’ or being ‘invited’ can be the first steps in bridging inclusivity gaps in education and working life, as well as the ins and outs of what it means to be a woman in sports betting and technology.
Two women whose work speaks for itself demonstrate the challenges, achievements, and brick walls they’ve run up against throughout their journey. This article was created to promote the idea that no wall is too high in the path to achieving your goals and being able to work inside your passions with a company (Altenar) that supports individual talent and determination.
Why do you think it’s important to have both men & women be a part of the betting/tech industry?
“The importance of women and men in this industry is to create diversity and different ideas to promote growth. Studies have shown that diverse teams perform better and make better business decisions, and women tend to focus on building good working relationships.” - Head of Information Security and Technical Compliance
“How I see it in the modern world, I don’t think it should even be discussed, this women-in-betting, women-in-technology rhetoric — it should be a natural thing and based on the skills of an individual.” - Head of Information Security and Technical Compliance
“The subject of diversity and inclusion can apply to any area. I see in this industry (betting) a very positive balance between women and men, and it’s a very good sign. I think it will help everyone achieve more and provide higher-quality products and services to our end users and customers.” - Head of Service Management in Technology Operations
“Mainly, this great proportion of genders will create a diversity that a one-gender point of view couldn’t.” - Head of Service Management in Technology Operations
How much has the industry changed since you began in this field?
“From a tech perspective, I think the number of women in the industry is increasing, as well as the opportunities for women — such as initiatives from the government (Malta) for free child care to help women participate more heavily and collaborate with their peers.” - Head of Information Security and Technical Compliance
“I’ve been with Altenar almost seven years and I’ve seen a trend where some leadership roles are more frequently assigned to women — not just for the sake of diversity but due to the productivity, skill, and passion of the individual. I believe we (Altenar) are free of stigma in this regard, as there is no hesitation around such decisions, and that’s how it should be everywhere.” - Head of Service Management in Technology Operations
Would you offer your younger self any advice on this industry?
“Be strong and ignore negative comments. For example, during my first year in Engineering, someone in my course told me ‘girls aren’t good at math and you should do something else.’ Of course, I didn’t listen.” - Head of Information Security and Technical Compliance
“I wish I could have been free from stigmas earlier. A few years ago, I carried these within myself — like not feeling confident enough to take on challenges. I had internalized the belief that I might be ‘too emotional,’ which is ridiculous. That’s a human trait, not a female one. I wish I could tell my younger self not to be boxed in by such stereotypes.” - Head of Service Management in Technology Operations
Do you think enough is being done to encourage women into the professional betting landscape?
“More opportunities are arising, and at Altenar, we support women just like we do men — without discrimination. That kind of equality encourages anyone wanting to enter the space.” - Head of Information Security and Technical Compliance
“There’s a tendency for ads to be male-oriented — most betting ads seem directed at men. I wish they were more woman-friendly. Right now, there’s little — if any — invitation for women to bet. Ads should be neutral.” - Head of Service Management in Technology Operations
What sparked your interest in working in this industry/your chosen field of study?
“I’ve always liked technology. I remember dismantling toys and exploring how things worked — which led me to choose engineering. I started my work experience in payments, but I always wanted to explore the gaming industry because it’s modern, fast-growing, regulated, and challenging — and I’m always up for a challenge.” - Head of Information Security and Technical Compliance
“I always had some background knowledge of this space as an end user. I was always curious how things worked behind the scenes — like how betting content is managed, who oversees it, and what tech supports it. That curiosity brought me to Altenar. The universe gave me a new perspective to experience it firsthand.” - Head of Service Management in Technology Operations
How do you think women can help bring more awareness of this sector to other women who may be interested or passionate about the industry?
“Participation in workshops and conferences is important, as well as supporting colleagues at work when they face issues.” - Head of Information Security and Technical Compliance
“Women have strong empathy and patience when communicating with colleagues, which helps with knowledge sharing. It’s often easy for us to structure and distribute information clearly, giving it the right place within a company’s knowledge base and reaching the intended audience. That’s our strength — making knowledge accessible and ensuring it circulates well.” - Head of Service Management in Technology Operations
How has the increase in women in STEM education improved since your time in education? Will we see greater numbers of women in this space in the future?
“Since I graduated in 2006, I’ve seen the number of women in engineering steadily increase. We’re seeing more women in leadership roles, even as CEOs, which is inspiring. I believe women can be just as successful as men. The more awareness and focus groups that are created, the more young girls and women will be encouraged to join STEM programs.” - Head of Information Security and Technical Compliance
“That was a brilliant answer. I don’t have anything to add.” - Head of Service Management in Technology Operations
You mentioned wage inequalities — how do you think this affects a woman’s drive to enter a workforce/industry/education stream when it appears through external media that goals, dreams and aims might not be achievable?
“You see a lot of articles about gender inequalities, but I believe this is improving over time. I’ve experienced this positive shift at Altenar, which fosters a great working environment.” - Head of Information Security and Technical Compliance
“Inclusion policies are becoming more widespread and should help reduce inequality and inconsistencies. It’s not a fast process, but we’re getting there.” - Head of Service Management in Technology Operations
Recently, the UK acted to prohibit the use of sexualized advertising at events like ICE. What are your opinions on this?
“I think more work needs to be done in this area. When women are dressed provocatively just for promotional purposes, it’s strange — why is it necessary? Do we want to reinforce the idea that betting is only for men?” - Head of Information Security and Technical Compliance
“There’s no easy answer — it’s relative. If we look for examples of gender-stereotyped ads, we’ll find many. But what’s important is avoiding the extreme ends of the spectrum. For example, there used to be ads where only mothers cared for children, excluding men. Including all genders in such portrayals is more accurate and fair.” - Head of Service Management in Technology Operations
“There should be more appropriate advertising for each topic. The idea of eliminating stereotypes is good, but more research is needed to define our goals and determine how to move forward while minimizing harm or offense.” - Head of Service Management in Technology Operations
Speaking with successful and educated women in any field can be a breath of fresh, empowering air. As the world grows into new spaces and deeper understandings of balance and opportunity, companies can embrace unbiased hiring, promotions, and limitless growth for female employees.
Both participants expressed that Altenar promotes and supports women in their aspirations and passions within the company and even into management across departments. Removing stigmatized thinking has helped Altenar achieve success — and will continue to support its growth for years to come.
