Ante Bet Slots November 2026: Cost, Odds and the Max Bet
By Maeve CorcoranUpdated
The option to pay more for each spin gets you more bonus rounds. With the ante bet on Pragmatic Play slots, you pay 25% more per spin, but get double the chance of free spins. Cost, what games have it, and the top spin allowed at ten crypto casinos.
- Pragmatic ante
- +25%a spin, for twice the chance
- Sweet Bonanza 1000
- 1 in 225spins to free spins, from 450
- Gates at Thrill
- $500a spin with the ante
- Hacksaw BonusHunt
- 3xthe stake, 5x the chance
What an ante bet in slots is
An additional stake on every spin that increases the chances of the bonus round.
An ante bet is an optional extra stake on every spin that increases the chances of the bonus round. At Pragmatic Play, it is 25% more per spin to double the chance of free spins because more scatters land on the reels.
The game labels the switch "Double chance to win feature." At BetFury, Gates of Olympus shows a total bet of $240, which is 10 coins at $1.20 each, multiplied by a bet multiplier of 20. With the ante bet on, the total bet is $300.
Other studios have the same idea and implement it in different ways. Hacksaw Gaming's BonusHunt FeatureSpins, for example, requires a 3x stake per spin and makes the bonus 5x more likely to land.
EnlargeAnte bet slots and what each one charges
All this for a 25% increase in the bet on Pragmatic Play games or a 3x increase in the stake on Hacksaw Gaming games.
| Slot | Ante cost | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Gates of Olympus | +25% a spin | Double chance at free spins with €125 top spin |
| Gates of Olympus 1000 | +25% a spin | Double chance at free spins with €125 top spin |
| Sweet Bonanza | +25% a spin | More scatters, double chance at free spins |
| Sweet Bonanza 1000 | +25% a spin | Free spins on average once every 225 spins (previously every 450 spins) |
| Starlight Princess 1000 | +25% a spin | Twice the chance of free spins |
| Le Bandit | 3x the stake | BonusHunt FeatureSpins: 5x bonus chance, 96.28% RTP |
| RIP City | 3x the stake | BonusHunt FeatureSpins: 5x bonus chance, 96.44% RTP |
Pragmatic Play's ante is a small surcharge for double the chance. Hacksaw's BonusHunt is a bigger step: each spin costs three times as much for five times the chance, and the game publishes a separate return for it, 96.28% for BonusHunt versus 96.34% for the base game. At Le Bandit's €100 top stake, a BonusHunt spin costs €300.
What the ante bet does to the cost of free spins
The average play to land the free spins bonus in Sweet Bonanza 1000 at €100 a spin.
Averages: free spins start once in 450 spins without the ante, and once in 225 with it. One round can come early or very late.
The ante adds a quarter to each spin, and cuts the wait in half. That means the average play per round goes down by 37.5%. Most of the money is given back by wins, at the game's return to player.
The buy reaches the bonus round in one bet of 100 times the stake. How much a bonus buy costs changes game to game.
The top spin with the ante at ten crypto casinos
The top stake at each casino on two Pragmatic Play slots, and the same spin with the ante on.
| Casino | Gates | + ante | Sweet Bonanza | + ante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thrill | $400 | $500 | $94 | $117.50 |
| mBit | $240 | $300 | $240 | $300 |
| BetFury | $240 | $300 | $240 | $300 |
| Jack | $240 | $300 | $240 | $300 |
| Flush | $240 | $300 | $240 | $300 |
| Bets.io | €100 | €125 | €100 | €125 |
| Rakebit | €100 | €125 | €100 | €125 |
| MoonWin | €100 | €125 | €100 | €125 |
| Whale.io | €100 | €125 | €100 | €125 |
| Mega Dice | $70 | $87.50 | $16 | $20 |
Gates is Gates of Olympus. Rakebit, MoonWin and Whale.io show the games' standard range.
The top of the bet panel varies from casino to casino, and the ante always adds 25%. Crypto casinos with no max bet rank all 10 on how high you can really bet, and slots with the highest max bet show the standard ranges.
Ante bets and the bonus max bet rule
With a bonus running, the ante is counted as part of the bet. The top spin with the ante on, under each cap.
- $4Under a $5 capMega Dice, or 4 USDT at Bets.io
- €4Under a €5 capMoonWin and Rakebit
- $8Under a $10 capBetFury, in any game
- 0.0024 BTCUnder 0.003 BTCmBit, about $185
A $4 spin (25% ante) equals a $5 bet. So it is bet exactly on a $5 cap. The Bonus Max Bet rule lists the caps casino to casino, and High Roller casino bonuses rank the offers suitable for a big stake.
Is the ante bet worth it?
Four questions that settle it for your own play.
- Do you play for the bonus round?The ante changes how often Free Spins start. If the base game is what you enjoy, it adds 25% to every spin for little you want.
- Is your stake at the game's top?At €100 the ante is the only way to get past the cap on Gates of Olympus and Sweet Bonanza: €125 a spin.
- Is a bonus running?Count the ante in the stake. A $4 spin with it on is a $5 bet.
- Would a buy suit you better?On Sweet Bonanza 1000, a buy is 100 times the stake in one bet. With the ante, a round takes about 281 times the stake on average, spread over 225 spins.
Bitcoin high roller casinos rank the ten for big stakes.
Ante bet slots FAQ
What is an ante bet in slots?
An optional additional stake on each spin that increases the chance of triggering the bonus round. On certain Pragmatic Play slots, it increases the stake by 25% and doubles the chance of hitting the free spins round.
How much does the ante bet cost?
25% of the stake on Pragmatic Play slots means a €100 spin becomes a €125 spin. Hacksaw's BonusHunt FeatureSpins cost 3 times the stake, for a 5 times better chance at hitting the bonus feature.
Is the ante bet worth it?
It definitely helps cut down the wait time for the bonus round. On Pragmatic Play's Sweet Bonanza 1000, on average the free spins round comes once every 450 spins. With the ante bet in play, it comes once every 225 spins.
Can you bet more than the max bet with the ante?
Yes, by 25%. On Gates of Olympus and Sweet Bonanza the max bet is set at €100, and €125 with the ante bet in play.
Does the ante bet count towards a bonus max bet?
Yes, the whole stake is counted. Under the $5 cap, the max spin with the ante is $4, and with the $10 cap, it is $8.
Ante bet or bonus buy: which is better?
A buy reaches the round in one bet of 100 times the stake on Sweet Bonanza 1000. With the ante, the average play is around 281 times the stake. This is all spread across about 225 spins, with base game wins along the way.
Count the ante as part of the bet
Keep in mind, a quarter stake is added to each spin, and it really adds up. Budget accordingly.
- Full stakebudget with the ante included
- Off by defaultswitch it on only for a session you planned
- Deposit limitset in the account or through support
- Session timeran alarm on your phone
- Move wins outsend part of each big win to your wallet
- Free helpGambling Therapy, in any country
18+ only. If gambling stops being fun, Gambling Therapy offers free support worldwide and lists helplines by country. Responsible gambling on BlockSpins
Maeve CorcoranGalway
Maeve goes into detail about the limits that define a large session - the maximum bet a spin, withdrawal limits, and VIP terms.