Guide To Online Ante-Post Betting

When it comes to online betting, there are many different types of bets that can be placed on each event. With online horseracing betting, ante-post betting is extremely popular as it offers better odds than those posted on race day. Ante-post betting is also referred to as future betting. While mainly used with horseracing or Greyhound racing, it can be offered on any major racing or sports event where the initial odds are posted some days before the event takes place.

Why Place an Ante-Post Bet?

As with any type of online bet, ante-post betting has its pros and cons. The main reason to place an ante-post bet is because of the price of the odds. With all forms of future betting, the odds offered before the event will generally be better than those offered just before the event takes place. For example, if you are backing a specific horse, the odds offered with ante-post betting might be around 5.40. Once the final field has been announced, the odds might drop to around 4.70 as some of the horses have pulled out of the race.

When the barrier draw takes place, the odds will shift again as certain barriers carry an advantage depending on the track itself. You might find that the same horse now carries odds of 3.80. Having placed a bet at odds of 5.40, you stand to win $1.60 more on each dollar you bet. This is a significant amount if you are betting a few hundred or thousand dollars.

The Disadvantages of Ante-Post Betting

There is of course a significant disadvantage associated with ante-post betting. With regular fixed odds bets, if a horse pulls out of the race, the bet is classed as a non-runner and you will be refunded the initial stake. With ante-post betting, if the horse you back does not race for any reason, you simply lose your bet. This is a risky strategy, which can pay off, big, but can also see you loosing large sums of money before the race has even begun.

The Exclusion of Rule 4

There is one consolation though in that ante-post betting is not subject to Rule 4 deductions. With online horseracing betting, rule 4 basically states that if a horse is declared a non-runner after the final declaration on race day, then all the odds will shift accordingly. Even if you placed a fixed odds bet on race day, your odds will drop as the field has become smaller. With ante-post betting, the odds placed at the time of the bet stays fixed even if rule 4 is put into effect.

What it all comes down to is that ante-post betting carries a slightly higher level of risk than regular fixed odds betting. For this reason, online betting sites offer better odds to entice punters to grab the bets days before the event kicks off. If you are lucky, this can work in your favour, however, the betting sites generally make their money back as the final field is always smaller than the original set of horses posted for the event.