Sticky vs non-sticky bonus: which money is played first

Two balances, two orders

A deposit bonus creates two pots: your cash and the bonus. The terms decide which is staked first and what happens if you ask for a withdrawal part-way through.

A worked example

You deposit $100 and receive a $100 bonus with 35x wagering on the bonus.

• Non-sticky: you play with your $100 first and run it up to $300. You may withdraw the $300; the untouched bonus disappears. If instead you lose your $100, the bonus becomes active as a second chance, with the $3,500 playthrough.
• Sticky: you have $200 in play from the first spin, all of it tied to the $3,500 requirement. Running it up to $300 early does not let you withdraw. If you complete wagering, some sticky offers also deduct the original $100 bonus from the payout.

This is why non-sticky offers are sometimes called “parachute” bonuses: the bonus only opens if your own money runs out.

How to tell which one you are being offered

1. Search the bonus terms for “order of funds”, “real money first” or “bonus balance”.
2. Look for what happens on withdrawal: “bonus forfeited” points to non-sticky; “bonus removed from winnings” or “non-withdrawable bonus” points to sticky.
3. Check whether bets from your cash balance count toward wagering.
4. If the terms are silent, ask support in writing before depositing.

Which is better

For the player, non-sticky is the more flexible structure because it preserves the option to leave with real-money winnings. A sticky bonus gives a larger starting balance, which suits long play on a fixed budget, at the price of locking funds until the requirement is met.

Neither changes the house edge. Maximum bet rules, game weighting and expiry dates apply to both.