Sticky and non-sticky are terms used to describe how casino bonuses with wagering requirements treat deposited money, winnings, and withdrawals. However, casinos and gambling guides do not always use these terms in the same way.
In this guide, sticky and non-sticky primarily refer to what happens if you cancel a bonus before completing its wagering requirement. With a non-sticky structure, winnings generated from deposited funds can be withdrawn when the bonus is cancelled. With a sticky structure, those winnings remain tied to the bonus and are forfeited if you cancel it.
Some casinos instead use “sticky” to describe a bonus amount that can be wagered but never withdrawn itself. Because the terminology varies, the cancellation and withdrawal rules in the bonus terms are more important than whether the casino labels an offer sticky or non-sticky.
Key Takeaways
- Casinos do not use “sticky” and “non-sticky” consistently, so the underlying bonus terms matter more than the label.
- With a non-sticky bonus as defined in this guide, you can generally cancel a bonus and withdraw deposited funds together with winnings generated from those funds.
- With a sticky bonus, winnings generated from deposited funds remain tied to the promotion, meaning cancelling the bonus may also forfeit those winnings.
- The distinction is most relevant when a bonus has wagering requirements and deposited funds are played before bonus funds, because it determines whether you can cancel the promotion and withdraw after winning from your own money instead of needing to complete the wagering.
- A separate use of the term “sticky” describes bonuses where the promotional amount itself cannot ultimately be withdrawn, even after wagering has been completed. However, we simply refer to this as a non-cashable bonus.
- Sticky or non-sticky status should be considered alongside wagering requirements, maximum bets, game restrictions, cashout limits, and the other terms of the promotion.
How Deposited and Bonus Funds Are Used
Sticky and non-sticky bonus structures are easiest to understand when deposited funds and bonus funds are tracked separately.
A common setup among online casinos is for deposited money to be used first. If that balance reaches zero, play then continues with the bonus funds. Winnings generated while deposited money is being used are credited to the real-money balance, while winnings generated from bonus funds remain subject to the bonus terms.
Other balance structures also exist. Depending on the promotion, a casino may:
- Use bonus funds before deposited funds.
- Use deposited and bonus funds at the same time, sometimes in a fixed proportion such as 50/50.
- Apply different balance rules depending on the promotion.
When both balances are used simultaneously, winnings can also be divided between the real-money and bonus balances. For example, if a wager is funded 50% from deposited money and 50% from bonus funds, the resulting winnings may be split between the two balances in the same proportions.
The sticky or non-sticky distinction determines what happens to the real-money portion if you cancel the promotion before completing the wagering requirement. That is why the underlying balance rules are important when interpreting a bonus’s cancellation terms.
How Do Sticky Bonuses Work?
With a sticky bonus, winnings generated from deposited funds remain tied to the promotion while its wagering requirement is active.
If you cancel the bonus before completing the wagering, winnings generated from your deposited funds can be forfeited along with the bonus balance. The original deposited amount itself is normally treated separately from those winnings.
This removes the option of simply abandoning the bonus after winning with your own money. To retain those winnings, you generally need to complete the wagering requirement and satisfy the other applicable bonus terms.
Example: cancelling a sticky bonus.
- You deposit $100 and receive a $100 sticky bonus.
- The casino uses your deposited funds first, so the initial wagers come from your $100 real-money balance.
- You generate $500 in net winnings while still playing with deposited funds, increasing your real-money balance to $600.
- You then decide to cancel the bonus before completing its wagering requirement.
- Under this sticky structure, the $500 in deposit-derived winnings are forfeited together with the $100 bonus. Your original $100 deposit remains.
The practical disadvantage is therefore not simply that the bonus itself is lost when cancelled. It is that winnings produced from your own deposited money can also depend on completing the promotion’s wagering requirements.
Some sticky bonuses apply an even stricter cancellation rule. Caesars Palace Online Casino states that cancelling before wagering is completed forfeits the bonus, associated winnings, and any portion of the original deposit that has already been wagered.
Only the unwagered portion of the original deposit remains available in this case. This goes beyond the example above, where the original deposited amount is retained.
How Do Non-Sticky Bonuses Work?
With a non-sticky bonus, winnings generated from deposited funds remain separate from the bonus balance and can generally be retained if the promotion is cancelled before wagering is complete.
If you decide not to continue with the bonus, the bonus balance is forfeited, but deposited funds and winnings generated from those funds can remain withdrawable.
This gives you more flexibility when deposited funds are used first. If you win before reaching the bonus balance, you may be able to cancel the promotion and withdraw rather than continue playing solely to complete the bonus wagering requirement.
Example: cancelling a non-sticky bonus.
- You deposit $100 and receive a $100 non-sticky bonus.
- The casino uses your deposited funds first, so the initial wagers come from your $100 real-money balance.
- You generate $500 in net winnings while still playing with deposited funds, increasing your real-money balance to $600.
- You then decide to cancel the bonus before completing its wagering requirement.
- Under this non-sticky structure, the $100 bonus is forfeited, but your $600 real-money balance remains available subject to the casino’s normal withdrawal rules.
The main advantage of a non-sticky structure is therefore the ability to separate winnings generated from your own money from the requirement to complete bonus wagering.
Is a Non-Sticky Bonus Always Better?
All other terms being equal, a non-sticky bonus is generally more favorable to the player because it provides an additional option. If you win using deposited funds, you may be able to cancel the bonus and withdraw those winnings instead of continuing to meet the wagering requirement.
That does not necessarily make every non-sticky bonus more valuable than every sticky one. A sticky bonus could have substantially lower wagering requirements, a larger bonus amount, game contributions that are more favorable to your playstyle, a higher maximum bet allowance, or no maximum cashout limit.
For example, a non-sticky bonus with very high wagering and a restrictive cashout limit may be less attractive overall than a sticky bonus with considerably easier wagering and more favorable withdrawal terms. In the latter case, the additional wagering needed to retain the deposit-derived winnings may be relatively small, while completing it can also make the bonus funds withdrawable.
Sticky or non-sticky status should therefore be treated as one part of the comparison rather than a deciding factor on its own. Our selection of casino bonuses that stand out in different ways evaluates promotions across different factors, including wagering, cashout limits, maximum bets, bonus caps, and other conditions that can affect their practical value.
How to Tell if a Bonus Is Sticky or Non-Sticky
Do not rely only on whether a casino describes a promotion as “sticky” or “non-sticky.” Many operators do not use either term, while others use “sticky” to describe a different bonus feature altogether.
In some cases, casinos use “sticky” to describe a non-cashable bonus. In others, they use the term even when the bonus can ultimately be withdrawn and deposit-derived winnings remain withdrawable if the promotion is cancelled.
The best approach is to look for the rules that explain what happens if you cancel the bonus before completing its wagering requirement. Relevant wording may appear in the promotion-specific terms, the casino’s general bonus policy, or its main terms and conditions.
In particular, check whether cancelling the promotion causes you to lose:
- Only the remaining bonus funds.
- Bonus funds and winnings generated from them.
- Winnings generated from deposited funds as well.
If deposited funds and winnings generated from them remain withdrawable after cancelling the bonus, the promotion follows the non-sticky structure described in this guide. If deposit-derived winnings are also forfeited, it follows the sticky structure.
The terms may describe this without using either label. Phrases referring to cancelling or forfeiting a bonus, withdrawing while a bonus is active, or removing bonus-related winnings are often more informative than individual terms used.
If the cancellation rules are unclear, contact customer support before claiming the bonus and ask specifically how deposited funds and deposit-derived winnings are treated if the promotion is cancelled. Saving a screenshot or transcript of the response can also provide a useful record if a withdrawal dispute arises later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sticky casino bonus?
As defined in this guide, a sticky bonus ties winnings generated from deposited funds to the promotion while its wagering requirement is active. Cancelling the bonus can therefore also cause those deposit-derived winnings to be forfeited.
What is a non-sticky casino bonus?
A non-sticky bonus generally allows deposited funds and winnings generated from them to remain withdrawable if the promotion is cancelled. The bonus balance itself is forfeited when you cancel it.
Are non-sticky bonuses always better than sticky bonuses?
Not necessarily. A non-sticky structure provides more withdrawal flexibility, but the overall value of a bonus also depends on wagering requirements, cashout limits, maximum bet restrictions, game eligibility, and other terms.
Why do some casinos use “sticky” differently?
There is no universally consistent use of the term across the casino industry. Some operators use “sticky” for a non-cashable bonus amount, while others use it for different balance or withdrawal structures. The actual cancellation and withdrawal rules are therefore more reliable than the label.
Gambling involves financial risk. Bonuses and promotions can encourage extended play, and players should understand the associated terms before participating. If gambling stops being enjoyable or begins affecting finances or wellbeing, consider reviewing our responsible gambling guide for advice, tools, and support resources.