Online casinos use promotions to attract new customers and to keep those who have already signed up, engaged with their platform. Welcome bonuses are the big eye-catching introductory offers that are seen at UK gambling sites, but there are differences between them.
One in particular is whether the bonus is “sticky” or “non-sticky” which are not common terms for players, but are important ones to understand. This “stickiness” of an offer determines the ability to withdraw winnings as well as how bonus funds and deposits are handled. Let’s take a look at the key differences between the two formats.
The Appeal of Welcome Bonuses
Online casinos in the UK are always on the lookout for ways to build their customer base. Offering rewards like a casino non-sticky bonus is a good way to do that, and for a player, a big bonus is certainly enticing. But what a lot of players miss is that bonuses always come with terms and conditions attached.
Those T&Cs need close attention because they are the guidelines that a player needs to successfully follow to fulfil the bonus. For casino welcome bonuses, there are two main elements – the deposit amount and the bonus amount, which is what the “stickiness” applies to.
What is a “Non-Sticky” Casino Bonus?
For non-sticky offers, the bonus and deposit amounts are kept separate. A withdrawal of the initial deposit amount along with any winnings from it can be done without wagering requirements. You usually play with your real money first, then use the bonus as a backup to extend your playtime with less pressure on your deposit. You can also withdraw your deposit or winnings from it, and the bonus won’t be voided.
If you do dip into the bonus balance of a non-sticky offer, wagering requirements will be applied. If those wagering requirements are fulfilled, the bonus can be cashed out.
Non-Sticky Bonus Example
Player A deposits £100 on a non-sticky 100% matched deposit bonus and now has a balance of £200 (£100 deposit + £100 bonus). As the deposit and bonus are not stuck together, any winnings when playing with the initial £100 deposit can be withdrawn at any time, without voiding the bonus.
But Player A keeps playing and loses their £100 deposit amount, so now they have to use the £100 bonus amount. As soon as that happens, the wagering requirement T&Cs attached to the bonus become active.
What is a “Sticky” Casino Bonus?
With a “sticky” casino bonus, the initial deposit amount and the bonus amount get stuck together as one balance. This means that no winnings can be withdrawn until the wagering requirements have been fulfilled.
Because the player can’t get their hands on the deposit or winnings, it gives online casinos room to offer big matched deposits, sometimes up to as much as 400% of the initial payment.
The advantage for the player is that a big balance is immediately available to play with. The natural assumption that players make about that is that the more funds that are available, the greater the chance there is of winning.
Sticky Bonus Example
Player B gets their hands on a 100% sticky welcome bonus which means that immediately their deposit and bonus amounts are joined. They still have a starting balance of £200, but the terms and conditions (i.e. wagering requirements) immediately kick in for their very first spin.
After playing for a while at the casino, Player B wins £500 and clears the wagering requirements while doing so. Now their balance is at £700 so they decide to withdraw everything. The £100 bonus amount is then deducted from the balance, so the cash out amount for Player B will be £600.
Pros and Cons of Sticky and Non-Sticky Casino Bonuses
There are pros and cons to the different formats. Non-sticky offers give players more control. You begin by playing with your deposit, and if you win, you’re free to withdraw both your original funds and any winnings – without touching the bonus. The bonus itself remains intact, giving you the option to use it later if you choose. In most cases, that’s exactly how it works. If it didn’t for you, chances are you weren’t dealing with a true non-sticky bonus.
A sticky bonus doesn’t give a player that option as it ties up the deposit. It simply puts up a bigger opening balance for the new player, who then has the opportunity to try and play for wins from that balance, while dealing with the wagering requirements.
One of the potential big issues with sticky bonuses is that newcomers to online casinos can easily interpret bonus funds as being “free cash”. It’s not, it’s a wagering-only balance wrapped up in T&Cs.
Getting the Most Out of Offers
Researching different welcome bonus offers is the key to finding the one that will suit you the best. Players are under no obligation to take a bonus offer that’s posted on a casino site when they join, but if one is being targeted, step back and study the terms and conditions in full first to know where you stand.
