How “Sticky” vs “Non-Sticky” Bonuses Work: Real Examples for 2026

“Sticky” and “non-sticky” bonuses sound like minor wording, but they change what happens to your balance when you try to withdraw. In 2026, most casinos still use these two mechanics to control how bonus money, real money, and winnings move through your account. The safest approach is to treat every offer as a set of accounting rules: which funds are withdrawable, what gets locked, and what disappears if you cash out early.

Sticky vs non-sticky: the simplest definition (and why it matters)

A sticky bonus means the bonus funds stay attached to your balance until you complete the wagering requirement (or meet the promotion’s full conditions). If you withdraw before finishing, the bonus portion is usually removed, and in many terms the bonus-related winnings are reduced or removed as well, depending on how the casino defines “bonus funds” and “bonus winnings.”

A non-sticky bonus (often called “cashable” in some terms) means your winnings can become withdrawable once you meet the requirements, and in some setups you can withdraw your deposited money earlier (though the bonus itself may be forfeited if you do). This model is generally more flexible, but it still comes with conditions like maximum cash-out caps or game contribution limits.

The practical difference shows up at the withdrawal button. With a sticky bonus, a withdrawal attempt often triggers a “forfeit bonus” action that changes your balance. With a non-sticky bonus, you’re more likely to keep at least your real-money deposit and sometimes part of the winnings—provided you follow the rules for wagering, eligible games, and verification.

A realistic balance example: same promo, different outcome

Imagine you deposit £50 and receive a 100% bonus of £50. Your starting balance is £100. The wagering requirement is 35x the bonus amount, so you must wager £1,750 (35 × £50) before the bonus is fully cleared.

Sticky version: after playing, your balance becomes £180. You try to withdraw £80 before finishing wagering. In a typical sticky setup, the bonus £50 is forfeited immediately. Many casinos then recalculate the balance as “real funds + winnings attributable to real funds,” and if the terms treat the whole session as bonus-funded, the withdrawal request can reduce the balance far more than players expect.

Non-sticky version: after playing, your balance is also £180. If you withdraw early, you will usually forfeit the bonus £50, but the remaining funds are more likely to be treated as real-money winnings (subject to terms). You might withdraw part of the balance, but you still need to check whether the promotion has a cash-out cap (for example, “max win 5x bonus”) or whether withdrawals are blocked until wagering is complete.

How wagering is counted in 2026: what operators usually track

In 2026, most bonus systems track wagering as a running total that increases with each eligible bet. The key word is “eligible”: slots often contribute 100%, while table games may contribute 0–20% or be excluded entirely. This matters because two players with the same bet sizes can progress through wagering at very different speeds depending on game choice.

Another common rule is the maximum bet limit while a bonus is active (for example, a fixed amount per spin/hand). Breaching it can void the bonus and sometimes the winnings. This is one of the easiest ways to lose value from an otherwise decent promotion, and it’s often buried in the bonus terms rather than the headline offer.

Finally, many offers apply different wallets or “bonus balance” logic. Even when the casino shows a single number on the screen, the back end may separate real funds, bonus funds, and winnings. That’s why a withdrawal can trigger a recalculation that feels unpredictable unless you already know whether the bonus is sticky or non-sticky.

Three common wagering traps (with plain-English checks)

Trap 1: low contribution games. If a game contributes 10% and you bet £10, only £1 counts towards wagering. If you assume all betting counts fully, you can massively underestimate how long the bonus will take to clear.

Trap 2: mixed sessions. Some terms treat winnings as “bonus winnings” until wagering is complete, even if you later top up with real funds. If the offer is sticky, a later withdrawal can still cause forfeits that affect the whole active bonus balance.

Trap 3: cash-out caps. A non-sticky offer can still limit what you withdraw (for example, “maximum withdrawal from bonus winnings”). If you finish wagering and expect to cash out the full balance, the cap can cut the withdrawal amount and leave the rest voided.

Practical examples you can use before opting in

Example A: matched deposit bonus. Deposit £40, get £40 bonus, wagering 30x bonus (£1,200). If you mostly play slots with 100% contribution at £1 spins, you need 1,200 spins to clear wagering. If you play a mix where some bets count only partially, the true number can be much higher.

Example B: free spins bonus. You receive 50 free spins with “winnings as bonus” and 40x wagering. If your free spins win £12, you must wager £480 (40 × £12). In a sticky setup, that £12 is typically locked until wagering is complete; in a non-sticky setup, it may still be withdrawable only after the wagering is done, and it may still be capped.

Example C: reload offer with time limit. Deposit £25 on Friday, get £25 bonus, wagering 35x, but you have 3 days to complete it. Even if the maths is fine, the clock can make the offer poor value if your usual session length won’t realistically reach the requirement.

What to check in the terms in under two minutes

1) Is the bonus sticky or non-sticky? If the terms don’t use the words, look for behaviour: “bonus funds are removed on withdrawal” (sticky) versus “bonus funds are forfeited, deposit may be withdrawn” (often non-sticky).

2) What is the wagering base? Some casinos use “bonus only,” others use “bonus + deposit.” A 35x requirement becomes far more expensive if it applies to both. Always confirm what amount the multiplier is applied to.

3) Are there caps, limits, or exclusions? Check maximum bet, maximum withdrawal, eligible games, and time limits. If any single rule clashes with how you actually play, the “headline” bonus value becomes theoretical rather than practical. Also, treat gambling as paid entertainment: set limits, avoid chasing losses, and take breaks when play stops feeling controlled.