Sticky vs Non-Sticky Bonuses
Casino bonuses fall into two structures. With a sticky bonus, the bonus amount stays in your balance until you withdraw and is then removed; it can never be cashed out itself. With a non-sticky bonus (also called a parachute or hybrid bonus) your real money and bonus money sit in separate balances, real money is played first, and you can withdraw real-money winnings before the bonus is touched, forfeiting only the bonus.
The structure changes what you can withdraw after a win, so it matters as much as the wagering multiplier. This page is part of our bonus guides.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Sticky | Non-sticky |
|---|---|---|
| Balances | One combined balance | Separate real and bonus balances |
| Order of play | Mixed | Real money first, bonus after |
| Withdraw before wagering is done | Usually forfeits bonus and winnings | Allowed from the real balance while it is in use; bonus forfeited |
| Bonus amount at cashout | Removed | Already converted to real money if wagering is complete |
| Max bet rule applies | From the start | Usually once bonus funds are in play; check terms |
| Effective value | Lower | Higher |
Worked Example: A Quick Win
You deposit A$100 and receive a 100% bonus of A$100 with 40x bonus wagering (A$4,000 turnover). On your fifth spin a feature pays A$600.
Non-sticky: you were playing your real A$100. The win puts your real balance at roughly A$690. The bonus has not been touched. You cancel the bonus (losing the A$100 bonus only) and withdraw A$690 with no wagering. RocketPlay and Cosmobet use non-sticky bonuses according to our reviews of RocketPlay and Cosmobet.
Sticky: your balance is roughly A$790 of mixed funds with the A$4,000 requirement still open. To withdraw you must finish the turnover, with an expected loss of about A$160 at 96% RTP. At the end, the A$100 bonus is deducted from your balance. Withdrawing early forfeits the bonus and, under most terms, all winnings.
Worked Example: A Losing Start
Same deposit, but your real A$100 is lost in the first 50 spins.
Non-sticky: the bonus activates and you play the A$100 bonus balance, now with wagering. If it runs out, you lost A$100 in total. If it grows, you clear the requirement and the converted balance is withdrawable.
Sticky: you started with A$200 combined, so you are still playing, at A$150. You get more total playing time from one deposit, but the bonus will be deducted at the end.
The non-sticky bonus works as a second chance after your own money; the sticky bonus works as extra playing time.
Wager-Free Sticky Bonuses
A third structure combines no wagering with a sticky bonus. CristalPoker’s welcome package (100% up to A$800, 50% up to A$1,600, 100% up to A$800) and its reloads have no wagering, but the bonus is removed at cashout while your deposit and winnings are withdrawable. Example: deposit A$200, receive A$200, finish at A$650. At withdrawal the A$200 bonus is removed and A$450 is paid. If you finish at A$150, below the bonus amount, deducting the A$200 bonus leaves nothing to withdraw under typical sticky terms. See our CristalPoker review.
How to Tell Which Type You Have
Casinos rarely use the words “sticky” or “non-sticky” in the terms. Look for these phrases:
- “Real money is used first” or “bonus funds are used after your cash balance”: non-sticky.
- “The bonus amount will be deducted upon withdrawal” or “bonus is non-cashable”: sticky.
- “Withdrawing before completing wagering will forfeit the bonus and all associated winnings”: usually sticky, or a non-sticky bonus after it has activated.
- Two balances shown in the account (cash and bonus): usually non-sticky.
If unclear, ask live chat and keep the transcript.
Value Difference in Numbers
The difference shows up in the probability of a cashable result. With a sticky A$100 bonus at 40x, every outcome passes through A$4,000 of turnover, with an expected loss of A$160 against a combined A$200 balance. With a non-sticky bonus, every session where your real A$100 grows to a level you are happy with ends with no turnover at all; only sessions where you lose the deposit move on to the bonus phase. The expected cost of the wagering applies only to that second group, so the non-sticky version always has the higher expected cash value for the same multiplier.
Cancellation Penalties
Some casinos deduct more than the bonus when you cancel. Our Cosmobet review records that cancelling a bonus deducts the bonus, the winnings and the bets placed with it. Read the cancellation clause before opting in, especially if you might want to withdraw early.
Which Should You Choose?
- Prefer non-sticky if you are likely to stop after a win, play higher-variance pokies, or want to keep the option to withdraw.
- A sticky bonus suits you if you want the longest possible session from one deposit and will finish the wagering either way.
- A wager-free sticky bonus has the lowest cost but no cashable bonus amount; it pays off only when you finish well above the bonus value.
Other terms still apply to all three: the max bet rule, game weighting and wagering requirements. For reading clauses accurately, see how to read casino T&Cs. Current offers with their stored structure are in our bonus archive.
Frequently Asked Questions
A bonus that stays in your balance but cannot be withdrawn. It is deducted when you cash out, even after wagering is complete.
A bonus held separately from your deposit. Your real money is played first and can be withdrawn with its winnings before the bonus is used, forfeiting only the bonus.
Yes. The terms parachute, hybrid and non-sticky are used for the same structure in most casino terms.
You can withdraw the balance, but the original bonus amount is removed first.
Yes, usually from the point bonus funds are in play, and some casinos apply it from the moment you claim. Check the terms.
Bonus structure does not change the house edge. Play only if you are 18+, and call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858 for support.