An ante bet is an optional extra stake added to each spin, in return for a higher chance of triggering the bonus round or a special feature. Ante bets are not offered on GB-licensed sites.
What an ante bet is
In markets where it is allowed, an ante bet appears as a switch or toggle beside the stake. Turning it on raises the cost of every spin by a set proportion, and in return the game changes its reels or symbol weights so that scatters or other trigger symbols land more often. As an illustration only, an ante bet might add a quarter to the stake: a £1 spin would cost £1.25.
Some games call it a "double chance" or "bet boost". The principle is the same: pay more per spin for a better chance of the feature.
How it works, step by step
Where the option exists:
- You set your base stake.
- You switch the ante bet on, and the displayed cost per spin rises.
- Each spin now takes the higher amount.
- The reels use a different configuration, typically with more trigger symbols, raising the chance of free spins.
- Wins are usually paid on the base stake, not the higher amount.
Common variations
- Fixed percentage ante: a set extra amount per spin.
- Multiple levels: several ante settings, each raising the cost and the feature chance further.
- Feature-specific antes: extra stake for more mystery symbols or more coins in a hold and win game.
- Bonus buy: the same idea taken further, paying a large sum to skip straight to the bonus. See bonus buy, which is not offered on GB-licensed sites.
What it does to the maths and the feel
An ante bet does not remove the house edge. The game is designed so the extra stake pays for the extra chance of a bonus, and the overall RTP with the ante switched on is still below 100%. What changes is how much you stake. Since expected loss is total staked × (1 − RTP), raising the stake per spin raises the expected loss per hour by the same proportion, even if the RTP stays the same.
It also changes the shape of results. More of the return comes through bonus rounds, which tend to be more variable than base-game wins, so volatility usually rises.
Rules in Great Britain
Unlike a bonus buy, an ante bet can appear in GB versions of games: when we checked Pragmatic Play's UK game builds in October 2026, several still offered it (for example Gates of Olympus 1000 and Sweet Bonanza 1000), while their bonus buy was removed. Whether a particular GB game has one depends on the game. Where it is offered, the extra stake is part of your total bet, and stake limits apply per game cycle: £5 per spin for players 25 and over and £2 for 18 to 24 year olds, and the ante is counted inside that limit, as is any extra stake paid inside a feature. The wider UK slot rules page explains how Gambling Commission rules apply to online slots in Great Britain.
Questions people ask
Can I use an ante bet on a GB-licensed site?
Sometimes. Some GB versions of games keep the ante bet option (bonus buy is the one removed), and where it is offered the extra stake counts towards the £5 per spin limit (£2 if you are 18 to 24).
Does an ante bet improve the odds?
It raises the chance of triggering the bonus on each spin, but you pay more for every spin. It does not remove the house edge, and it increases how much you stake.
Is an ante bet the same as a bonus buy?
They are related. A bonus buy pays a large sum for the bonus straight away; an ante bet pays a smaller extra amount on every spin for a better chance of triggering it.