Sticky and Non-Sticky (Forfeitable) Casino Bonuses

What are Sticky Bonuses?

Sticky bonuses are few and far between, and most new casinos prefer to give non-sticky bonuses. However, you can still find them, and they give you more cash to gamble with in most instances.

But what is a sticky bonus?

In short, a sticky bonus includes some type of non-withdrawable bonus funds.

A Sticky Bonus Example

This seems relatively straightforward, right? Indeed it is, and we have given a theoretical example below:

• 200% deposit bonus matched up to $500
• The minimum deposit amount is $20
• Bonus funds are non-withdrawable

In this example, if you deposited $200, you would receive $400 as a bonus cash balance, giving you $600 in total to play many games with – fantastic!

However, the downside is that the additional $400 you get to play with can NEVER be withdrawn. It has no associated wagering requirements and will always remain in your account until you have spent it all. Usually, you have to spend your original deposit, too, before tapping into the bonus cash.

Therefore, a sticky bonus could be seen as a life line bonus. This is because, in the above example, you would have to spend your $200 deposit. Let’s say you place bets, play games, and eventually lose all that money. Only then can you use the non-withdrawable bonus funds.

Because you can never withdraw this money, you are essentially using it to build back up your initial $200 deposit to no gain! To that end, non-sticky bonus offers are preferable because, as you will see below, the bonus funds are withdrawable.

Non-Sticky Bonuses Explained

As discussed above, most platforms now offer non-sticky bonuses. This is because they allow customers to play responsibly and generally offer US players more flexibility without spending as much compared to sticky bonuses.

But what is a non-sticky bonus?

In short, a non-sticky bonus includes some type of withdrawable bonus funds.

This contrasts directly with sticky promotions as with those bonuses; you can never withdraw the bonus funds as your own money.

A non-sticky bonus example

So that you have a clearer idea, let’s look at a theoretical example. An online casino has the following offer:

• 100% matched deposit bonus for new customers up to $100
• The minimum deposit amount is $10
• There is a 20x wagering requirement on the bonus funds
• The wagering requirements must be met within 30 days

Here we have a straightforward non-sticky bonus – you can see many variants of this, including the percentage and monetary value on various casinos for US customers.

Why is it non-sticky? It is non-sticky because once you have met the wagering requirements for the bonus funds, you can withdraw the bonus money as real cash.

Usually, you can use the bonus money on live casino games, slots, table games, and poker. In most instances, there will be a varying contribution factor for the wagering for these different games. Typically, games with a higher RTP will have a lower wager contribution.

Key Features of Non-Sticky Promotions

There are several things to look out for when checking non-sticky bonuses, including:

• The wagering terms for the bonus money
• Time limits to use the bonus funds and meet the wagering requirements
• Contributions to the different online casino games
• Withdrawal times for the bonus money

Firstly, virtually all non-sticky bonuses have wagering requirements. This is how the online casino remains profitable and gets you to spend more money. Imagine if there were no wagering requirements and you could simply play with the no deposit bonus money and keep what you win immediately – online websites would be bankrupt in days!

The wagering requirements are usually listed as a multiplier based on the bonus balance. For example, if there is a 10x playthrough requirement on a bonus balance of $50, you must spend $500 (10x $50) before withdrawing that $50 bonus balance. The simple thing to remember is that lower multiplication values for wagering requirements are better.

Next, these non-sticky bonuses typically have time constraints. Often this includes:

• A set period that you must spend the welcome bonus.
• A time period that you have to meet the wagering requirements.

Make sure you know these constraints! If you do not fulfill the terms and conditions within the specified time limit, any lifeline bonus or bonus spins you have are void, and you will lose them.

Usually, the wagering requirements will have different contributing factors for different types of casino games too. For example, your favorite games with a higher RTP percentage, like Blackjack, usually have a lower contribution percentage, whereas slots and keno often have a 100% contribution factor. Always be aware of this, as you can alter your profitability by meeting wagering requirements using particular games.

Lastly, we advise looking at the casino’s banking options and withdrawal terms. It’s important to understand which payment methods you can use. You also want to know how quickly you can expect to get your winnings and if there are any minimum and maximum withdrawal limits. Ideally, you want a casino that offers fast payouts with flexible withdrawal terms.

Types of Non-Sticky Casino Offers

When choosing an online casino, there are usually a variety of different non-sticky bonus offers. It’s a great idea to understand each one, so you can select a platform that matches your preferences, spending habits, and bankroll. We have listed the common types of non-sticky bonuses below.

Matched deposit bonus

The most common type of cashable bonus is the matched deposit bonus. This essentially gives you a cash balance equal to the amount of your own deposit (It’s often referred to as a 100% matched deposit bonus).

Example

For a practical example, an online casino offers a 100% matched deposit bonus of up to 100$ with a 15x wagering requirement on the bonus funds. You make an initial deposit of $50 and get $50 in bonus money. Once you have fulfilled the 15x wagering requirements, you can then withdraw that $50 into your bank account – fantastic!

Percentage deposit bonus

Another common type of offer that non-sticky bonus casinos provide is a percentage deposit bonus. These bonus offers are essentially the same as the above-matched deposit bonus. However, instead of receiving the same amount as your initial deposit in bonus funds, you receive a reduced percentage.

Example

A casino has a promotion of a 50% matched deposit bonus of up to $200 with a 20x wagering requirement on the bonus amount. You register an account and make an initial deposit of $150 and receive a bonus of $75. After fulfilling the 20x wagering requirements, you can withdraw that $75.

Oftentimes online casinos will combine this bonus type with the above-matched deposit. Usually, your first deposit has a 100% bonus, and then subsequent deposits (often your 2nd and 3rd) will have a reduced percentage bonus of 75%, 50%, or 25%.

Lump sum cash bonus

Some online casinos like to keep it simple and simply give you a set lump-sum cash bonus. Usually, all you have to do here is make a min deposit amount to be eligible for the promotion. For example, a casino may give a $50 withdrawable cash bonus providing you make a min deposit of $100.

Bonus Spins

Bonus spins are incredibly popular for USA online casinos, and many platforms offer these as a type of non-sticky bonus. Sometimes bonus spins for video slots are combined with matched deposit bonuses as an additional incentive. They can serve as standalone promotions too.

Example

A casino gives 120 bonus spins on the Cleopatra video slot if you make a min deposit of $50. There is a 25x wagering requirement on any winnings you make from the bonus spins, and they have a set value of $0.25 each.

These bonus requirements are incredibly similar to payment bonuses; the difference is that the withdrawable amount is any winnings you make from the spins – not bonus funds. Let’s say that you won $100 with your bonus spins. For wagering purposes, you would need to wager that amount 15x, and then you could withdrawa it as real cash – simple!

When looking at these promotions, it is important to check which of your favorite games the spins can be used on. Also, look at the RTP percentage of online casino games, as this gives you an idea of how likely you are to win.

Insured Wagers

There are online casinos that offer something different – insurance bets. These promotions can still be considered non-sticky as you can effectively withdraw your initial funds, and nothing is truly locked.

Example

An online casino protects your first deposit up to a value of $500 and refunds any losses up to 90% of that value. You make a deposit of $100 and spend it, unfortunately losing all of it. As per the promotion, the casino refunds you the expected value of $90. You can then choose to start wagering that money again or withdraw it into your bank account.

Sticky Vs. Non-Sticky Casino Bonus Codes

To give more insight, let’s take a look at the main differences between sticky and non-sticky bonuses and their pros and cons. You can then decide which type of promotion is suitable for your playstyle and bankroll.

How to Know if a Bonus is Sticky?

It’s important to be able to spot sticky and non-sticky offers so that you are fully aware of the bonuses listed and how you can use the funds. There are several ways you can do this that we have listed below.

By looking at the welcome bonus value

The underlying bonus amount is usually a key indicator of whether a promotion is sticky or non-sticky.

In most instances, non-sticky casino bonuses have a much smaller overall value. This is so that the casino doesn’t potentially lose too much money on such bonuses. It is common for non-sticky bonuses to have a maximum matched deposit bonus of up to $200. This is accompanied by wagering requirements ranging from 10x up to 50x.

Sticky bonuses usually give a much larger initial bonus sum of $400 or greater. Some even go as far as to give bonuses of up to $1000. This is because the initial deposit required to get that bonus offer has to be comparatively larger.

Most online casinos can afford to give a good bonus because the customer cannot withdraw it anyway – they have to spend their own money, which ultimately gives the online casino more chance of making a profit.

By thoroughly reading the terms and conditions

We always recommend reading the terms and conditions of casino bonuses fully – regardless of the type of promotion. You must be aware of how they work, the limitations, and important things like expiration periods and eligibility.

By reading the terms and conditions, you can also usually discern if the bonus money is sticky or non-sticky. A key phrase to look for is “for wagering only” or something similar. When you see terms like this, it is usually a sticky bonus, and the funds are non-withdrawable.

If you are unsure, contact customer support

Lastly, if you have any doubts, just contact the customer support team. We only recommend online casinos that have a readily available support team. Ideally, you should be able to contact them via several methods, including live chat, telephone, and email. They should also be available 24/7, or most hours of both weekdays and weekends.

If the customer service reps are trained and knowledgeable, they should immediately be able to clear up any questions you have about the welcome bonus.

Summary

You should now have an excellent understanding of these bonus terms and what both mean. Remember that a sticky bonus basically means that you cannot withdraw it – it is only to be wagered. On the flip side, non-sticky casino bonuses are completely withdrawable (including your initial deposit and deposit bonus), providing you have met the wagering requirements.