Promotional bonuses have become one of the simplest ways for virtual casinos to attract new members. Through various offers, gaming websites provide their new and regular patrons with different perks that can be utilised while playing games at the casino. Such deals allow players to explore the gaming options on these websites, while casinos expand their customer base and enjoy increased attention and profit.
With so many different bonuses available, it can be tricky to choose which promotion will be most advantageous for your gameplay. While some bonuses can be very generous towards players, others appear to cater only to the needs of casino operators. That is why it is important to recognise poor offers and opt for a bonus that can deliver a rewarding experience.
While there is a wide variety of bonuses that one can redeem at virtual casinos, we will concentrate on the so-called sticky bonuses. Although opinions about this type of casino promotion vary, many believe that sticky bonuses are a rip-off. However, we believe that understanding the pros and cons of this kind of bonus can lead to favourable outcomes for players.
If you want to understand what makes sticky bonuses different and how to use them when playing online, we suggest you continue reading this article.
What Are the Specifics of Sticky Bonuses?
To put it simply, sticky bonuses are casino incentives that cannot be withdrawn. This type of offer is used solely for generating winnings, with players being able to withdraw only what they have earned. Most virtual casinos offer players bonuses for making certain deposits, the bonus amount being a percentage of the deposited sum. In most cases, these offers are sticky bonuses and come with specific conditions that must be met.
When you claim a match bonus on your deposit, you receive extra money that amounts to a percentage of your deposit. It is also possible to receive a no-deposit bonus for simply joining a virtual casino, allowing you to play with a specific bonus amount without making any deposits.
Typically, casino bonuses have wagering requirements that need to be met before players are allowed to withdraw their winnings. If, after completing the wagering, you are allowed to cash out your winnings plus whatever amount is left of the bonus, then this is a non-sticky bonus. Many players prefer this type of incentive as it is easier to understand. That said, sticky bonuses are not necessarily less advantageous when you know how to use them.
Sticky bonuses can be a strong motivator for players, as they allow them to start wagering with additional funds in their balance. In most cases, sticky bonuses can match your deposits by up to 200% or even 400%. Such percentages are rarely offered by non-sticky bonuses. Having more funds to play with may increase your chances of achieving favourable outcomes.
Often, however, players get carried away by the huge bonus amount on offer and fail to assess in time whether the bonus they have redeemed is sticky or non-sticky. In many cases, it is only when they request a withdrawal that players realise they have been playing with a sticky bonus. If that is the case, when they ask to withdraw their winnings after meeting the wagering requirements, the original bonus amount will be removed from their balance.
Sticky bonuses usually fall into two categories: phantom and expiring sticky bonuses:
- Phantom sticky bonuses
In most cases, the sticky bonuses offered by virtual casinos are phantom bonuses. The distinctive feature of this incentive is that it disappears from your balance as soon as you withdraw your winnings. Once you have completed the bonus wagering, you will be able to withdraw your bonus winnings plus any regular winnings. However, whatever remains of the bonus will be deducted from your balance upon withdrawal. - Expiring sticky bonuses
The second type of sticky bonus also remains a non-withdrawable amount in your balance. The difference is that it will not be removed from your account whenever you withdraw your winnings. Instead, whatever is left of your bonus after you have cashed out will stay in your bankroll and can be used to accumulate more winnings until it is fully spent. Expiring sticky bonuses, however, are not very common at online casinos.
Recognising Sticky Casino Bonuses and Understanding Their Terms and Conditions
The easiest way to be sure what type of casino promotion you are dealing with is to read carefully the terms and conditions of every bonus before you redeem it. You will not come across any promotional terms using words like “sticky” or “phantom bonus”, so it is important to recognise the conditions that indicate you will be dealing with a certain type of sticky bonus.
Whenever you are reading the terms and conditions of bonuses, you may come across phrases such as “for gaming/wagering purposes only” or “not cashable”. This indicates that the bonus is sticky, meaning you will not be allowed to withdraw it once you complete the playthrough.
Usually, sticky bonuses come with specific wagering requirements that need to be met before players can withdraw their winnings. Offers with lower playthrough (wagering) requirements are more advantageous as they allow players to enjoy their winnings sooner. Another thing to keep in mind is that the wagering requirements will most likely apply to both your deposit and bonus amount. For instance, depositing £50 and receiving a 200% bonus will award an extra £100 to play with. If the wagering requirements are 30x D+B, you will need to wager £150 thirty times before you can withdraw your winnings.
Sticky bonuses may also have limitations on the games you can use to meet wagering requirements. Often, slots with higher RTP may be excluded from bonus wagering or may have a lower contribution than usual. This is why it is important to check for such clauses in the bonus terms and conditions.
When you are completing the bonus playthrough, you will also have a bet limit on your single spin/game bet size. This prevents players from placing huge bets at once simply to complete wagering faster. It is also possible to have a cap on the maximum amount of winnings you can withdraw after completing the playthrough.
We recommend always reading the full terms and conditions that apply to casino bonuses, as this way you will know the type of incentive you are about to redeem. Understanding whether you are claiming a sticky or non-sticky bonus is extremely important, as this will allow you to use the right strategy to make the most of the offer.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Sticky Casino Bonuses
As with many other promotions, sticky bonuses have both benefits and drawbacks. Understanding the pros and cons will help you determine the right way to utilise this type of incentive and ultimately decide whether it is worth redeeming at all.
When compared to non-sticky promotions, sticky bonuses have one significant advantage: sticky offers tend to provide substantially higher bonus amounts, often matching players’ deposits with 200% or 400%. Such deals can allow players to enjoy up to £800 or £1,000 for their deposits.
Such generous amounts are seldom offered by non-sticky bonuses. Naturally, having more funds in your gaming balance will allow you to place more wagers and, hopefully, accrue more winnings.
Having more money to play with will also give you extra time to enjoy your favourite casino games. As non-sticky bonuses tend to be lower in value, they cannot offer players very lengthy gaming sessions. Lastly, enjoying a larger bankroll can allow you to explore games that require higher stakes. This is great news for those who usually cannot afford extended sessions on games with higher limits.
While the main benefit of sticky bonuses is having a larger bankroll, there are also a few disadvantages to this type of incentive. Players are advised to redeem sticky bonuses only if they are willing to risk larger amounts. While playing with bigger sums sounds tempting, luck can turn, and one might end up losing a significant amount of money, especially when the remaining bonus is deducted upon withdrawal.
Of course, the most obvious drawback of sticky bonuses is that they can be used only for wagering. While you can enjoy winnings earned beyond the bonus amount, the original bonus is deducted from your final profit once you complete the wagering requirements and request a withdrawal.
Another disadvantage lies in the very nature of sticky bonuses, as they can lure inexperienced players into depositing larger amounts to secure bigger bonuses. What these players fail to realise is that bigger bonuses may bring bigger wins, but the bonus amount that will be deducted will also be greater. Making a deposit larger than you would usually make may lead to substantial losses, so be careful when considering sticky bonuses.
Some players do not bother to read the full terms and conditions of the bonuses they redeem and are later disappointed when they discover they have claimed a sticky bonus unknowingly. Unfortunately, they often realise this only when the casino removes the bonus amount from their balance upon requesting a withdrawal.
| Pros and Cons of Sticky Casino Bonuses | |
|---|---|
| Pros | Cons |
| Having more funds to play with | Longer gaming sessions can increase the risk of losses |
| Players feel comfortable making bets bigger than they would usually make | Players might be tempted to deposit more than they normally would |
| Higher bonus amounts can translate into greater potential payouts | A bigger bonus will be deducted from your balance when you cash out |
Comparison Between Sticky and Non-Sticky Bonuses
To better understand the specifics of sticky bonuses, it helps to compare them with non-sticky promotions. The term “sticky bonus” refers to bonus money being stuck to the deposit that casino players make. In such cases, the member’s balance is combined, and bonus terms and conditions start applying as soon as the bonus is credited to the account. Wagering requirements also apply to the full amount comprising the qualifying deposit and the matched bonus.
If the bonus you redeem is non-sticky, the bonus amount will not stick to your deposit balance. In the terms and conditions of such promotions, you will often see explanations that regular funds and bonus funds are kept separately and that wagering begins with your deposited money.
Non-sticky bonuses allow you to play with your own money and even withdraw the winnings you have generated from it. If you do so, however, you forfeit the bonus and it is removed from your balance. The bonus amount is used for your wagers only if you exhaust your deposit money and continue playing. It is after this point that the bonus terms and conditions, including wagering requirements, take effect. As non-sticky bonuses are generally easier to understand and less risky, many players prefer to redeem this type of offer.
Should You Redeem Sticky Casino Bonuses
Sticky bonuses can be very generous as long as players know how to use them and understand what their specific requirements entail. Promotions that offer substantial sticky match bonuses can be very rewarding if they are redeemed under the right circumstances. One thing we always advise is to read the full terms and conditions of every offer before you claim it. That way, you will know from the outset whether you are claiming a sticky or non-sticky bonus.
The most important thing to remember is that sticky bonuses are combined with your deposit while you place bets on casino games. However, once you meet the wagering requirements and request a withdrawal, the original bonus amount will be deducted from your balance.
Sticky bonuses can be great incentives for players who do not mind making riskier bets and can afford larger losses. Since sticky bonuses tend to offer huge matching percentages, some players might be tempted to make higher deposits. This, however, could also lead to substantial losses if luck is not on your side. Losing the entire balance before you have met the wagering requirements will quickly leave you with no money, and you will need to deposit again to continue playing.
Even so, we recommend making use of sticky bonuses if you enjoy riskier bets and want the chance to win more. This type of incentive allows you to play for longer, place higher bets than you are usually comfortable with, and hopefully accumulate bigger returns than you would with a cashable offer.
At the end of the day, choosing whether to redeem sticky bonuses comes down to your personal preferences and ability to assess risk. If you are ready to make your gaming time more exciting, a sticky casino bonus might be just what you are looking for.
