Sticky VS Non Sticky Casino Bonuses

April 27, 2018

Gambling guides and strategies

Bonuses at online casinos can sometimes be confusing. There are so many of them and we don’t mean to sound like we’re complaining about having various opportunities to enhance our casino balances, it’s just that the average player needs some time to fully understand all of them and find out what each of them has to offer. Online casino bonuses can be sorted into multiple categories, depending on which of their characteristics one uses as a differentiating perimeter. From here on out, we’ll be focusing on the sticky/non-sticky bonuses classification. Many a player seems to be unable to set apart the two as bonuses aren’t directly presented as sticky or non-sticky. Let’s dig deeper into the dilemma.

What is a Sticky Bonus?

The name itself gives us a hint about what kind of a bonus is the so-called ‘sticky’ bonus. It is also known as the non-cashable bonus. Its main characteristic is that it can’t be withdrawn. In the terms and conditions of a sticky bonus there is always a clause that says something along the lines of ‘bonus is for play purposes only and cannot be cashed out’. So how does this kind of bonus work? Well, its purpose is to give the bettor additional motivation for play; it secures extra funds for wagering but the amount of the bonus itself cannot be withdrawn, as opposed to the deposit amount and the winnings generated from the bonus which can be cashed out – after the wagering requirements have been met, of course. In other words, the bonus itself can’t be converted into spendable cash, it can only serve as tool for achieving more wins.

Most common types of sign-up bonuses are given in the format of sticky bonuses. You can use them for as long as you like for wagering, but as soon as you request a withdrawal the bonus amount will disappear from your balance. Sticky, aka non-cashable, bonuses are rather tempting and generally offer massive amounts of extra funds to play with. In retrospect: once you claim a sticky bonus at an online casino by making a deposit you’ll play with extra funds until you meet the wagering requirements; then you’ll ask for a withdrawal and you’ll only be allowed to cash out the deposit sum and the bonus winnings, but not the bonus amount you were given to wager with. Sometimes, sticky bonuses are also called ‘phantom’ bonuses due to their tendency to disappear and never become actual cash.

What is a Non-Sticky Bonus?

The non-sticky bonus is an incentive with most its characteristics contrasting the sticky bonus. Also known as the ‘normal’ bonus and ‘cashable’ bonus, the non-sticky casino offer is a regularly withdrawable bonus in form of extra funds that can be converted into cash. Once the bettor has fulfilled the wagering requirements the sum of the non-sticky bonus becomes cashable and he or she is free to cash it out. Most of the time, the cashable bonus is given to the online casino customer upon signing up and after making the first deposit. A typical non-sticky bonus lies between 50% and 100% match of the deposit.

Punters normally take the side of a non-sticky bonus since they see it as an opportunity to make extra money easily. What they sometimes fail to acknowledge is that turning a non-sticky bonus into cash is not always easy peasy. It’s all about reading the terms and conditions before redeeming a casino bonus, whatever its attributes may be.

Sticky vs. Non-Sticky

When compared, sticky and non-sticky bonuses demonstrate both advantages and some downsides. Sticky bonuses are a good choice for players who are looking to take risks and play on a big scale, but not for bettors who are new to gambling and have limited budgets. The main pro side of the sticky bonus is that you get lots of bonus money up front and with that capital you are likely to fulfill the wagering requirements in time and have funds left on your balance. The biggest drawback is the fact that you can’t get to the cold hard cash of the bonus as it can’t be withdrawn.

Non-sticky bonuses are less risky. They involve a deposit match bonus amount that you can actually cash out and convert into proper money once you meet the rollover (wagering) requirements. With cashable bonuses it is easier to calculate the expected value of the bonus you’ll end up winning. However, the bonus amount is grated to you only when you meet the wagering conditions and if you fail to do so, you will not lay eyes on the bonus.

Bottom line, you need to get your ambitions and your facts straight before you start hunting for casino bonuses. Getting to know every detail about the bonus is crucial to making the most out of the offer, whether it’s cashable or not.

Typical Gambler’s Mistake

It’s tough to tell if sticky bonuses are less advantageous to non-sticky bonuses or vice versa. At the end of the day, it all comes down to one’s gambling preferences and appetites. What emerges as a problem is that players often sign up to a new casino and get dazzled by the huge numbers in the welcome deposit offer without taking the necessary precautions, thus failing to realise whether they have signed up for a sticky bonus or a non-sticky bonus. In practice, it is not until they are done playing out the bonus and they try to cash out their deposited sum that they realise they’ve made a mistake of not reading the terms in time.

Getting familiar with the terms and conditions surrounding casino bonuses, particularly the best-sounding deals, ought to be the number one rule among web bettors. Failing to read even the smallest letters (and we know bonuses often come with so much small print) may result in losing a bonus upon withdrawal because you weren’t aware of its ‘sticky’ disposition.