What Is an Ante Post Bet? A Beginner’s Guide

Finding a value bet is the holy grail of betting, and we spend hours browsing through the offering in search of favourable odds. Ante post betting can be a viable wagering option as long as you know what you are doing. To help our fellow punters answer “What is an ante post bet?”, our extensive guide provides the explanation. Of course, we went above and beyond to cover every aspect of ante post betting on the best UK betting sites and create a comprehensive overview.

Therefore, let’s see how ante post bets can boost your bankroll.

Six Quick Facts About Ante Post Bets

• Ante post bets are long-term wagers placed days or months before the event.
• The alternative name for ante post betting is futures betting.
• Punters need to place ante post bets at least 24 hours before the event.
• Ante post bets do not include place bets or forecast betting.
• Typically, bookies will not return your stake in case of a non-runner with ante post bets.
• Ante post betting is available with horse racing, greyhounds, football, and other sports.

Arguably, ante post betting rules might seem confusing to novice punters, but the concept is relatively straightforward. Of course, it’s best to build your knowledge from the ground up, and that’s why we’ll start with the basics. Once you learn more about the fundamentals of ante post betting, you’ll understand that these wagers can provide hefty returns if used properly.

Let’s first explain the meaning of ante post bets for those unfamiliar with the terminology.

What Does Ante Post Mean?

The name of ante post betting is pretty self-explanatory, given that you know a bit of Latin and the basics of horse racing history. The ante means ‘before’, and it perfectly suits the nature of these wagering options we will explain soon.

The other part, the word ‘post’, derives its meaning from 19th-century betting practices at horse racing meetings. Namely, a betting post was a stake placed in the middle of the race ground, signalling the beginning of betting. Thus, ante post means that the market is available before the standard opening and racing declarations.

What Is Ante Post Betting?

Now that we know more about the phrase’s origins, we can dive deeper into the mechanics of ante post betting. Also known as futures betting, ante post wagering deals with long-term bets.

In other words, this system will allow you to wager on events days, months, or even years in advance; hence the term ante in the name of the betting concept. With ante post betting, punters will place bets way before a race or a match.

The essential ante post betting meaning is that wagering happens before runners are declared, or the market is opened. That’s why the name “futures betting” fits perfectly, even though every form of betting requires predicting events that are yet to happen.

Ante post betting involves using early prices and betting on a long-term possibility. For that reason, ante post bets are more of a gamble than the traditional betting markets.

What Is an Ante Post Price?

Speaking of prices, we should say that both old and new betting sites provide odds for events that are months or years down the line. For example, the next World Cup is on the menu under the football tab on most betting platforms. During the summer months, you’ll regularly see ante post prices for the next FA Cup and similar competitions.

In essence, an ante post price allows placing a long-term bet. Since we already have the basics of ante post betting explained, you know that these markets let punters wager far before the match starts.

For instance, the best horse racing betting sites will display ante post prices early in the week for the upcoming racing weekend. As a rule of thumb, those early odds come with a higher value than the starting prices. As the race approaches and new info about the runners rise to the surface, the odds drift and fluctuate. In most cases, the value will drop shortly before the race, and that’s why ante post betting attracts many punters.

What Are the Rules of Ante Post Betting?

In a way, ante post bets come with an expiration date, i.e., punters must claim the prices before a specific period. These rules vary from one sport to another and from one bookmaker to another. Typically, ante post betting for flat races is available up to 48 hours before the event, while National Hunt races offer ante post bets 24 hours before the meeting.

Aside from the timing, one of the critical rules of ante post betting would be the famous no refund policy. In translation, this means that bookmakers will not return your stake on a losing bet.

If your selected horse does not run the race (for whatever reason), you will also lose the stake. That’s why ante post betting bears a considerable risk because horses and greyhounds often suffer injuries that prevent them from running at an event.

However, ante post bet rules will also let you grab an insurance policy in the form of the NRRB (non-runner no bet) option. As the name implies, you’ll receive your money back if the selection doesn’t run. By offering this option, betting sites are doing you a favour and helping the unlucky punter, but bear in mind that the NRRB option slightly lowers the odds.

We should also add that UK betting sites do not accept place bets on ante post betting. Likewise, Rule 4 deductions do not affect the prices offered on ante post markets.

What Is the Ante Post Betting Strategy?

Betting on an event, months or years in advance, might seem foolish, but ante post betting can offer plenty of value to a patient punter. Of course, the primary reason lies in high-value odds. We already said that early prices often provide considerably higher value than the SPs. Plus, the Best Odds Guaranteed promotions do not cover ante post bets.

Thus, it is essential to create a working ante post betting strategy to maximise the returns. For instance, the Cheltenham Festival or the Grand National can provide exciting ante post markets for horse racing betting enthusiasts. Nonetheless, early indications provide little guarantee about the outcome of an event.

That’s why low-value stakes on ante post bets are often the best course of action. Remember, predicting the top goalscorer for the upcoming Premier League season is a highly risky wager if you place it during the summer. Therefore, a viable strategy would be to bet only with the amounts you can afford to lose.

On the other hand, punters who master ante post betting rules should focus on recognising the value in long-term markets. As challenging as it seems, careful observation of transfer periods in football can point you in the right direction to predict the winner of a year-long season. The same goes for betting on horses, greyhounds, or rugby on the best betting websites out there.

Final Thoughts

Enhanced odds on the one hand and increased risk on the other can put many punters in a dilemma. Therefore, ante post betting might not be everyone’s cup of tea.

However, ante post markets can be both exciting and profitable, albeit closely related to traditional gambling. After reading our answer to the big question of “What is an ante post bet?”, consider placing one or two of these wagers on your chosen betting site.