allowed to see their cards. Thus, everyone has an equal stake in the current hand, and folding is less 💹 common in early betting rounds. (It's the "I already paid so I might as well stick around for another card" 💹 mentality.) Antes have the benefit of allowing players to sit out any hand (say, to go to the restroom or 💹 take a phone call) or even quite the game without any sense of unfairness.
