Understand the difference between sticky and non-sticky casino bonuses, how each affects withdrawal rights, and how to calculate the true value of each type before you claim.
Non-Sticky Bonuses (Cashable Bonuses)
A non-sticky bonus (also called a cashable or detachable bonus) adds to your balance alongside your real money. When you complete the wagering requirement, both your winnings AND the original bonus amount are withdrawable.
Example: You deposit 100 and receive a 100 non-sticky bonus. Balance: 200. Wagering requirement: 35x the bonus = 3,500 in bets. After clearing: you can withdraw your full balance including the 100 bonus.
Non-sticky bonuses are more valuable but less common. They represent a genuine cash transfer from the casino if you complete wagering. The casino bears real cost, so the wagering requirements tend to be higher or the bonus percentage lower to compensate.
Sticky Bonuses (Non-Cashable Bonuses)
A sticky bonus (also called non-cashable, phantom, or ghost bonus) is used only for wagering — it can never itself be withdrawn. When you complete wagering and make a withdrawal, the casino removes the bonus amount and you keep only the winnings above it.
Example: You deposit 100 and receive a 100 sticky bonus. Balance: 200. After wagering and reaching a balance of 350, you withdraw. The casino removes the 100 sticky bonus. You receive: 250 (your 100 deposit + 150 net winnings).
If your balance after wagering is less than the sticky bonus amount, you withdraw 0 from the bonus component — just your remaining real-money funds.
Example of losing with sticky: Balance grows to 180 during wagering, then drops to 80 before you complete. At withdrawal: casino removes the 100 sticky bonus, leaving 0 from the bonus portion. You get back only real-money funds (minus losses).
How to Tell Which Type You Have
The terms and conditions should state one of the following:
- "Bonus funds are non-withdrawable" or "bonus is non-cashable" = sticky
- "Bonus funds are withdrawable after wagering" or "cashable bonus" = non-sticky
- "Bonus will be removed on withdrawal" = sticky
- "Bonus included in withdrawal amount" = non-sticky
If neither is explicit, check whether the bonus is added to your "bonus balance" separate from your "real money balance" (usually sticky) or directly to a combined wallet (often non-sticky, though not always). When in doubt, contact support before wagering.
Optimal Strategy: Sticky Bonuses
With a sticky bonus, the optimal strategy is higher-variance play. Since you can't withdraw the bonus itself, the goal is to convert it into real-money winnings above the bonus amount. Playing cautious, low-variance slots keeps your balance stable but gives the house more opportunities to erode it during the long wagering grind.
A higher-variance slot offers a better chance of spiking above the bonus amount and locking in net profit, at the cost of also increasing bust risk. The optimal risk level depends on the wagering requirement: higher requirements favour more aggressive play since survival becomes statistically unlikely anyway.
Optimal Strategy: Non-Sticky Bonuses
With a non-sticky bonus, the bonus funds themselves are real value if you survive wagering. Lower variance is preferable — you want to minimise the chance of losing both your deposit and the bonus during the wagering period. High-RTP, low-volatility games reduce the expected clearing cost.
The bonus value is maximised by clearing with the lowest possible house edge at the highest allowed contribution rate (see the game weighting guide).
Which Is Better?
Non-sticky bonuses have higher theoretical value if you can complete wagering, because the bonus amount itself is withdrawable. But sticky bonuses often come with lower wagering requirements or higher percentage matches, partly because the casino knows most players won't convert the full value.
Mathematically: a 100% non-sticky bonus at 40x wagering is roughly equivalent to a 100% sticky bonus at 25x wagering for average players. The exact crossover depends on game selection, RTP, and variance preferences.
For most casual players: non-sticky with reasonable wagering (35x or less) is better. For players who prefer high-variance bonus play: sticky bonuses can be used as a free shot at a large win, with lower risk of feeling like you "lost" a bonus you thought you'd earned.
FAQ
- Is a sticky bonus always worse than a non-sticky bonus?
- Not always. A sticky bonus with lower wagering requirements can be worth more in expected value than a non-sticky bonus with very high wagering. Compare the full terms: percentage match, wagering multiple, game restrictions, and whether the bonus is sticky before deciding which offers better value.
- What happens to my deposit if I lose the sticky bonus?
- Your real-money funds and the sticky bonus funds are tracked separately. If you lose the sticky bonus portion, your deposit balance is unaffected (assuming you haven't wagered it too). You can still withdraw your remaining real-money funds at any time.
- Can a casino change a non-sticky bonus to sticky after I've claimed it?
- No. The type of bonus is fixed at the time you claim it, as specified in the offer's terms. If a casino attempts to change this retroactively, contact the gambling regulator (UKGC, MGA, etc.) for your jurisdiction.
- Are free spins sticky or non-sticky?
- Free spin winnings are almost always treated as sticky bonus funds — the winnings are added to a bonus balance that must be wagered through before withdrawal, and the bonus amount itself is not withdrawable. This is why free spins wagering requirements matter even when the wagering multiple looks low.