Betsson Internship Programme: Interns Talk of their Experiences

Enter the Betsson Internship Programme (formerly known as Betsson Academy), a hub of opportunity offering paid work placements to students hungry to learn and contribute. Last year’s success, with eight academy members transitioning to permanent roles, has fuelled Betsson’s commitment to refining our internship program even further. The Sportsbook team, at the forefront of this innovation, has pioneered a groundbreaking approach – forming a team of interns to work collaboratively on a dedicated project, providing a unique glimpse into the life of an organized development team.

Now, let’s delve into the experiences of three Betsson Internship Programme members – Nicole Bezzina, Steve Galea, and Sascha Miljanic – as they share their journey, insights, and perspectives on their internship experience.

Who they are

	Nicole Bezzina – I joined Betsson nearly five months ago, initially as an Intern Software Engineer for three months before joining permanently as a Graduate Software Engineer. Prior to joining Betsson, I was pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology with a specialisation in Software Development at the University of Malta.
	Steve Galea – I have been with Betsson since July 2023. I had just graduated from a Bachelor’s course in Software Development. Currently, I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Data Science at the University of Malta, alongside my job at Betsson.
	Sascha Miljanic – I’ve been with Betsson for almost 5 months now. Before that, I was working on my advanced diploma in Software at MCAST, Malta while also teaching myself to code. I had also been working on various personal projects, some of which are still ongoing.

How have you found your Betsson experience so far and what have you worked on?

Sascha – Although this is my first job as a developer, I already knew that real learning starts once you enter a professional environment. That said, I never expected to learn so much!

During my time as an intern, I was part of the Sportsbook Offering team working on the new early-payout system. On top of that, the team also took on extra tasks in other areas within the Offering department.
How does your experience at Betsson compare to other companies you have worked at in the past?

Nicole – For me, I must say I really enjoyed the concept of collaborative teamwork involving four interns on one. It was so different to my prior internship experiences where I sometimes found myself isolated amongst a team of experienced software engineers. This can be intimidating and can sometimes result in an internship where you just shadow someone or get assigned s less interesting tasks. In contrast, working as part of a group of interns with similar levels of knowledge has many advantages. You gain confidence by integrating more easily within the company, at the same time being involved on projects that are genuinely interesting and valuable to the company. I also found that at having really supportive team members is something that distinguishes Betsson from the others.
What made you decide to stay with Betsson after your internship ended?

Steve – Mainly my co-workers, tasks, and work environment. I found the tasks that I worked on to be of the right level of difficulty, not too complicated, but not too trivial either. And regarding the work environment, who does not like a fresh cup of juice and some breakfast in the morning, as well as a game of table football or billiards to unwind a bit?
Anything else you’d like to highlight from your experience?

Nicole – Working in Sportsbook has been an amazing new experience for me. It has always been my aspiration to be a part of the iGaming industry, and I am pleased to say that this desire has been fulfilled here.

I’d also like to give a special shout out to, Dale and Dennis. I couldn’t have asked for a more supportive manager and team lead. They were so helpful, kind and displayed remarkable patience, each time going above and beyond to ensure that we felt welcome and got the guidance we needed. In addition to this, I felt that I could express my authentic self within the company, also thanks to Dale and Dennis and their welcoming nature.

What are the 3 best things about working with Betsson for you?

Nicole

1. Opportunity to grow my knowledge and skills
2. The welcoming, generous and supportive atmosphere
3. Dale, my team lead, and Dennis, my manager, who really encouraged me to enjoy backend development!

Steve

1. Caring co-workers & work environment
2. Growth opportunities
3. Table soccer & billiards

Sascha

1. Office environment
2. Learning so much so quickly
3. Learning soft skills as well as technical ones

And what does one of the interns’ managers say about his experience with the Betsson Internship Programme?

“Betsson Internship Programme can be marketed as a stepping stone, between student and professional. It aims to smoothen out the learning curve, and hence reduce the pressure on students, allowing them to bring out their best” – Dennis Mifsud, Engineering Manager.
Click here to visit Betsson Internship Programme