What Does ‘Ante-Post’ Mean in Sports Betting?
“Ante-Post” is the European and UK name for what we in the US call a “Futures bet“.
It means you are placing a bet well in advance of an event, often weeks or months before it’s scheduled to start.
Key Examples
- Betting in August on who will win the Super Bowl in February.
- Betting in January on a horse to win the Kentucky Derby in May.
- Betting on a golfer to win The Masters a month before the tournament.
The Big Trade-Off
There is one critical rule that defines an “ante-post” bet, and it’s a major risk-vs-reward trade-off.
- The Reward – You almost always get much better odds. You’re betting before anyone knows who’s in form, who might be injured, or even who will definitely be competing. You get a bigger payout for being right so early.
- The Risk – This is the most important rule. In a traditional ante-post bet, if your selection does not participate, your bet is a loser. You do not get your money back.
Here’s the classic example: You bet $100 on your favorite horse in January to win the Kentucky Derby. If that horse gets injured in April and does not run in the race, your $100 bet is gone.
This is different from betting on the “day of” the race, where you would get a refund if your horse was a “non-runner.”
So, an “ante-post” or “futures” bet is a way to get great value, but you’re taking on the extra risk that your pick might not even make it to the starting line.