A sticky bonus (also called a phantom bonus) is credited to your account but cannot itself be withdrawn — only the winnings generated from playing with it can be cashed out, once wagering is complete. A non-sticky bonus is added on top of your deposit as a separate balance; both your deposit and bonus are available, and your deposit can be withdrawn independently of the bonus. The key difference: with a sticky bonus, withdrawing before clearing wagering cancels the bonus entirely.
What Is a Sticky Bonus?
A sticky bonus stays in your account for wagering purposes but can never be withdrawn directly. You play with it, generate winnings, clear the wagering requirement, and then withdraw the resulting real money balance. The bonus amount itself is deducted when you make your first withdrawal — only the profit above and beyond the bonus amount is yours to keep.
Example: You deposit 100, receive a sticky 100 bonus. You wager, clear the requirement, and end up with 250 in your account. On withdrawal, the 100 bonus is deducted — you receive 150 (100 deposit + 50 profit).
What Is a Non-Sticky Bonus?
A non-sticky bonus (sometimes called a "deposit protection bonus") operates as a separate balance from your deposit. Your real money is ring-fenced — you can withdraw it at any time without affecting or forfeiting the bonus. The bonus is played through independently.
Example: You deposit 100, receive a non-sticky 100 bonus. Your account shows 100 real money + 100 bonus. You can withdraw the 100 real money at any time. The bonus continues to sit in your account with its own wagering requirement, playable separately.
Sticky vs Non-Sticky: Direct Comparison
| Feature | Sticky bonus | Non-sticky bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Can the bonus be withdrawn? | No — deducted on cashout | Yes — after wagering cleared |
| Can you withdraw your deposit mid-wagering? | No — forfeits the bonus | Yes — deposit is separate |
| What do you keep on clearing wagering? | Profit above the bonus amount | Full balance including bonus |
| Risk to your own money | Higher — deposit locked in during wagering | Lower — deposit can be withdrawn anytime |
| Common at which casino types? | Widespread (most welcome bonuses) | Less common; often labelled "deposit protection" |
| Which is better value? | Depends on wagering and play outcome | More player-friendly in risk terms |
How Sticky Bonus Withdrawal Works (Worked Example)
| Scenario | Deposit | Sticky bonus | Balance after wagering | Withdrawal received |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profitable session | 100 | 100 | 300 | 200 (300 − 100 bonus) |
| Break-even session | 100 | 100 | 200 | 100 (200 − 100 bonus) |
| Losses on wagering | 100 | 100 | 80 | 0 (80 < 100 bonus — no profit to withdraw) |
| Early withdrawal (pre-clearing) | 100 | 100 | 170 (mid-wagering) | 70 (real money only; bonus + 100 winnings forfeited) |
The "losses on wagering" row shows the core risk of sticky bonuses: if variance works against you during wagering, you can lose both the bonus and wager down your original deposit. The bonus provides playing credit, but it doesn't protect your deposited funds from being lost.
When Sticky Bonuses Have Positive Expected Value
Sticky bonuses can have positive theoretical value in a specific scenario: when you lose the bonus entirely before clearing wagering. In that case, you have lost only the bonus (not your deposit) — the bonus absorbed the losses. This is the "insurance" framing some players use for sticky bonuses.
In practice:
- If you lose the bonus mid-wagering, you still have your original deposit to play with or withdraw
- If you run up a large balance from the bonus before clearing, only the profit (above bonus amount) is yours — the bonus amplified your gains but not proportionally to risk
- Expected value still depends primarily on the wagering requirement — a 40× sticky bonus has negative EV at most RTP levels
How to Identify a Sticky Bonus
Casinos rarely use the term "sticky bonus" in their marketing. Look for these T&C phrases:
- "Bonus funds are not withdrawable" or "bonus amount will be deducted on withdrawal"
- "Only winnings from bonus play are eligible for withdrawal"
- "Withdrawing before completing wagering will result in forfeiture of the bonus"
- "Bonus is for wagering purposes only"
A non-sticky bonus will typically say: "bonus and deposit are held as separate balances" or "real money balance is always withdrawable" — or will be explicitly marketed as a "deposit protection" offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sticky bonus?
A sticky bonus is casino promotional credit that cannot be withdrawn — only the winnings generated by playing with it can be cashed out. The bonus amount is deducted from your balance on your first withdrawal. Withdrawing before clearing wagering forfeits the bonus entirely.
What is a non-sticky bonus?
A non-sticky bonus is credited separately from your deposit. Your deposited funds remain independently withdrawable at any time, and the bonus has its own wagering requirement. Also called a "deposit protection" bonus — your real money is never locked in by the bonus terms.
Which is better: sticky or non-sticky?
Non-sticky is more player-friendly — your deposit is never at risk of being locked in. Sticky bonuses can theoretically act as loss insurance (the bonus absorbs early losses before your deposit is touched), but the risk of losing both bonus and deposit on a bad run is real. If flexibility matters to you, prefer non-sticky or no-wagering offers.
What happens if I withdraw with a sticky bonus active?
The bonus and any associated bonus winnings are forfeited. You receive only your real money balance at the time of withdrawal — typically your original deposit minus any losses incurred during play. The amount you withdraw will be less than if you had cleared wagering first.
Are most casino bonuses sticky?
Yes — the majority of welcome bonuses and deposit match offers at mainstream casinos are sticky bonuses, even if the term isn't used. Non-sticky offers are rarer and usually marketed explicitly as deposit protection or separate-balance bonuses. Always check whether "bonus is withdrawable" before accepting any offer.
FAQ
- What is the difference between a sticky and non-sticky casino bonus?
- A sticky (non-cashable) bonus stays in your account as wagering fuel and cannot be withdrawn — only winnings generated from it can be cashed out after meeting the playthrough requirement. A non-sticky bonus is added to your real-money balance immediately, so both the bonus and its winnings are withdrawable (subject to wagering).
- Which type of bonus has better expected value?
- Non-sticky bonuses generally offer better expected value because the bonus itself is real money. With a sticky bonus, the maximum you can withdraw is your winnings minus losses; the bonus principal is never paid out. However, sticky bonuses often come with fewer restrictions and some strategies can extract more value from them in specific bet-sizing scenarios.
- Can I withdraw a sticky bonus?
- No. By definition, a sticky bonus cannot be withdrawn. When you request a withdrawal while holding a sticky bonus, the casino removes the bonus amount from your balance and pays out only your real-money winnings. This is clearly stated in the T&Cs as "bonus not withdrawable" or "bonus forfeited on withdrawal request".
- What happens to a sticky bonus when I withdraw?
- The sticky bonus is forfeited automatically. If your balance is 150 (50 real money + 100 sticky bonus) and you request a 50 withdrawal, you receive 50 and the 100 bonus disappears. It is not carried over to future deposits.
- Are no-deposit bonuses usually sticky or non-sticky?
- No-deposit bonuses are almost always sticky (non-cashable). Because the casino is giving you money without a matching deposit, they protect themselves by making the bonus itself unwithdrawable. The standard structure is: meet the wagering requirement and only the profits above your bonus balance can be cashed out.