Early Payouts is a feature not offered by all sportsbooks, but for those that do, it allows bettors to be paid out as a winning bet if specific conditions are met—regardless of the final outcome.
For example, an Early Payout might be triggered in a soccer match if the team you’ve bet on leads by two goals at any point during the game. Once that condition is met, the bet is immediately settled as a win. Bettors then receive their winnings instantly, even though the game is still ongoing.
We take a deeper look at the advantages of including Early Payouts as part of your sportsbook and why this feature helps make Altenar one of the leading providers worldwide.
How Early Payouts Work
Altenar sets up the relevant configuration in agreement with the operator, who can choose the sport, category, parameter, and type where Early Payout should be enabled.
The Early Payout indicator then appears on the championship view, on the sport menu next to the selected leagues, on the event view, and also on the betslip and bet history.
The criteria can be applied to pre-live singles as well as multiples. The selection will be marked as a winner if included as part of an accumulator, with the remaining selections continuing as usual.
This promotion should not be confused with Cash Out, which involves the player choosing to lock in a winning return or minimize losses while the event is taking place. Early Payout, by contrast, is automatically triggered when the conditions are met, and the player receives their full winnings and stake.
While soccer is the most common sport for Early Payouts, the promotion can also be offered across a range of other events, including:
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American Football: 17 points ahead
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Basketball: 20 points (NBA) or 18 points (other leagues) ahead
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Tennis: Two sets ahead (five-set match)
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Baseball: Five runs ahead
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Ice Hockey: Three goals ahead
Front-end labels can be used to indicate which events and markets offer the Early Payout promotion, allowing operators to highlight it during high-profile events for their player base.
Problems Early Payout Solves
The Early Payout feature is rapidly becoming a standard across leading sportsbooks. Without it, your platform may appear outdated to experienced bettors.
Without Early Payouts, players may feel a lack of reassurance or risk management—and without faster returns, they may hesitate to place additional bets.
Benefits of Early Payout for Users
From the operator’s perspective, implementing Early Payouts provides numerous benefits.
Increased customer satisfaction leads to greater loyalty. Additionally, Early Payouts can attract new customers and give your sportsbook a competitive edge. Instant payouts also boost engagement and incentivize players to place more bets—especially high-value ones.
Let’s take a look at the benefits for both bettors and sportsbook operators:
Immediate Gratification: Offering Early Payouts can significantly enhance the customer experience by providing instant wins. This builds positive brand perception and encourages repeat visits.
Risk Mitigation for Bettors: Early Payouts provide a safety net, allowing players to secure winnings before the final result. This is especially useful when bettors are unsure how a match will end.
Attracting New Customers: This feature helps differentiate your sportsbook from the competition. Promoting Early Payouts can attract new players who value convenience and transparency.
Brand Reputation: A sportsbook that prioritizes customer satisfaction by offering Early Payouts builds a strong reputation, generating more word-of-mouth traffic and market visibility.
Enhanced Engagement: Bettors are more likely to reinvest their early winnings, increasing overall activity and boosting revenue.
Comparison with Competitive Solutions
Altenar’s Early Payout feature is available across multiple sports—not just soccer. By offering this promotion in basketball, tennis, hockey, baseball, and NFL, you appeal to a wider player base across diverse markets.
Some operators hesitate to adopt this feature due to the financial risk of paying out early. However, the advantages far outweigh the downsides, especially as players frequently reinvest winnings into new bets.
Conclusion
In summary, lacking Early Payout functionality may put your sportsbook behind competitors. The benefits—greater loyalty, more frequent bets, higher engagement, and improved player satisfaction—make it a must-have for forward-thinking operators.
Speak to your account manager to learn how this feature can be tailored to your region, or get in touch with our sales team to explore how Altenar’s sportsbook technology can drive your brand forward.
