A sticky bonus is casino bonus money that can be played with but never withdrawn: when you cash out, the bonus amount itself is taken off your balance and only what’s left is paid. Get a £50 sticky bonus, finish wagering with £180 showing, and you could withdraw £130. You will also see it called a non-cashable or phantom bonus.
The bonus part of a sticky bonus is deducted when you withdraw; only winnings above it are paid.
Sticky bonuses usually mix your deposit and bonus into one balance while wagering runs.
In the UK you can normally still withdraw your own deposit early, but that forfeits the bonus.
Terms words to look for: non-withdrawable, non-cashable, or “bonus amount will be removed”.
Also called
Non-cashable bonus, phantom bonus
Bonus withdrawable?
No, it is removed at cash-out
Winnings withdrawable?
Yes, after wagering is complete
Opposite
Non-sticky (parachute) bonus
UK wagering cap
10x since 19 January 2026
What a sticky bonus means
Every deposit bonus gives you extra funds to play with, but operators handle the bonus itself in two different ways once you want to withdraw. With a sticky bonus, the bonus figure “sticks” to the account: it helps you place bets and can produce winnings, yet it never becomes cash. At the point of withdrawal the operator subtracts it.
The opposite approach is a non-sticky bonus, where your cash is played first and the bonus only comes into use if the cash runs out. Both types usually come with a wagering requirement, and the label matters most when you hit a win part-way through.
A sticky bonus worked example in pounds
Imagine a hypothetical 100% matched bonus with 10x wagering on the bonus, a sticky structure and a £5 maximum bet. You deposit £50.
Stage
Balance shown
What happens
After deposit
£100
£50 cash plus £50 sticky bonus, shown together
Wagering target
£500 to bet
10 × the £50 bonus
Wagering finished
£180
Your bets have hit the target and the balance has grown
Withdrawal
£130 paid
The £50 bonus is removed; £180 − £50 = £130
Alternative ending
£35
Wagering finishes below the bonus value, so once £50 is removed there is nothing to pay out
The last row is the part people miss. With a sticky bonus, the bonus amount is effectively a deduction waiting at the end. If your balance at withdrawal is below the bonus value, there may be nothing left to pay out from the bonus-funded play. Exact handling varies, which is why the terms matter.
Sticky vs non-sticky bonus: the differences that matter
Feature
Sticky bonus
Non-sticky bonus
Can the bonus itself be withdrawn?
No, it is deducted
Yes, once wagering is complete
Order of play
Cash and bonus usually mixed
Cash first, bonus second
Early win on your cash
Usually tied to wagering
Can often withdraw by giving up the bonus
Typical balance display
One combined figure
Separate cash and bonus figures
Best for
People who expect to finish wagering
People who want flexibility
Put simply, a non-sticky offer usually gives you more choice when a session goes well early, while a sticky offer works the same way however the session starts. The guide to free spins vs bonus cash in apps compares both with spin-based offers.
Sticky bonuses at UK-licensed casinos
Two sets of UK rules shape how sticky bonuses work today. After Competition and Markets Authority action in 2018, operators serving British customers agreed that people must be able to withdraw their own deposited money without first completing wagering. In practice that means pressing withdraw while a sticky bonus is active usually cancels the bonus and any winnings made with it, but returns your remaining cash.
The second change is the 10x cap that has applied to all UK casino bonus wagering since 19 January 2026. Older sticky bonuses often came with 35x or more, so the deduction at the end mattered less than the vast amount of betting needed to reach it. With 10x as the ceiling, the sticky label now has a bigger relative effect on what you can take home. Remember too that the slot stake limits of £5 (25 and over) or £2 (18 to 24) apply alongside any max bet rule in the bonus terms.
How to tell if an app’s bonus is sticky
Very few offer cards use the word sticky. You have to read the wording, ideally before you opt in.
Open the offer in the app’s Promotions tab and tap the full terms link rather than the short summary.
Search the terms for phrases such as “non-withdrawable”, “non-cashable”, “bonus amount will be deducted” or “removed upon withdrawal”.
Look for a line about the order funds are used in. “Real money is used first” points to a non-sticky structure.
Check how the cashier or bonus area shows balances. Separate cash and bonus figures are common with non-sticky offers.
If it is still unclear, ask live chat to confirm in writing and keep a screenshot of the reply.
Pros and cons of a sticky bonus
Advantages
A bigger starting balance than your deposit alone.
Winnings above the bonus value become withdrawable once wagering is complete.
Wagering is capped at 10x on UK bonuses.
Drawbacks
The bonus itself never becomes cash.
Your deposit is usually mixed with the bonus, so an early win is tied up while wagering runs.
A balance that ends near the bonus value may leave little or nothing to withdraw.
Max bet rules, game weighting and deadlines all apply.
Whatever the structure, bonuses don’t change the house edge. Treat any bonus as extra play time within a budget you can afford to lose, and use the casino app limits guide to set a deposit limit first.
Terms linked to sticky bonuses
Matched deposit: the usual bonus format that can be sticky or non-sticky.
Game weighting: how much each game counts towards wagering.
Bonus expiry: the deadline for finishing wagering.
Opt-in: the step that attaches a bonus to your deposit.
Matched bonuses with 10x wagering in apps
Casumo offers new customers aged 18+ a 50% bonus up to £100 on a first deposit of at least £20, with opt-in required, 10x wagering within 7 days and a £5 maximum bet. 10bet offers a 100% match up to £25, with 10x wagering on slots within 3 days and maximum bonus winnings of £1,000. Terms apply to both; check the full wording for how each handles the bonus at withdrawal.
Casumo and 10bet both run matched deposit bonuses with 10x wagering, the UK maximum. The summaries we hold don’t say whether either is sticky, so read the full terms in the app before opting in. 18+, terms apply.
Significant terms: 18+. New customers only. Opt-in required. 50% deposit bonus up to £100 on first deposit. Minimum deposit £20. 10x wagering on the bonus amount. Maximum bet or spin £5. Bonus valid for 7 days. Game, play and payment method restrictions apply. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the Casumo reviewLicence: Recro Limited, UKGC account 61549. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
Significant terms: 18+. New UK customers only. Select the casino welcome bonus at sign-up and make your first deposit within 7 days. 100% bonus up to £25. Wager the bonus 10x on slots within 3 days. Maximum bonus winnings £1,000. Bonus is not redeemable. Full T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
Read the 10bet reviewLicence: Blue Star Planet Limited, UKGC account 43173. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sticky bonus at a casino?
It is bonus money you can bet with but can’t withdraw. When you request a withdrawal after finishing the wagering, the casino removes the bonus amount and pays the rest. For example, with a £50 sticky bonus and £180 in your account at the end, you would receive £130. The opposite is a non-sticky bonus, where your cash is used first and the bonus can be turned into cash once wagering is complete. Our matched deposit bonus apps page covers the offers you are most likely to see this on.
Why is it called a sticky bonus?
Because the bonus sticks to your account rather than leaving with your withdrawal. You can use it to place bets and it can help produce winnings, but at cash-out the operator deducts it. The same idea is sometimes called a phantom bonus, because it vanishes from the balance at the end, or a non-cashable bonus. Terms rarely use any of these labels, so look for wording that says the bonus amount is non-withdrawable or will be removed on withdrawal. The guide to casino app terms and conditions shows where to look.
Can I withdraw my deposit if I have a sticky bonus?
In the UK, usually yes, but you give up the bonus. Since Competition and Markets Authority action in 2018, operators serving British customers have committed to letting people withdraw their own remaining deposit without completing wagering first. Doing so normally cancels the bonus and any winnings made with it. Check the forfeit section of the terms before you press withdraw, because the exact effect varies. The casino app bonus withdrawal page explains the order operators process bonus and cash balances.
Is a sticky or non-sticky bonus better?
A non-sticky bonus is usually more flexible. Because your cash is played first, an early win on your own money can often be withdrawn by giving up the bonus, and the bonus may become cash once wagering is done. With a sticky bonus, the bonus amount is always deducted at the end. That said, the size of the bonus, the wagering multiple, the deadline and the max bet rule all matter as much as the label. Compare the whole package; our non-sticky bonus entry walks through the same example both ways.
How do I know if a bonus in an app is sticky?
Read the full terms, not just the offer card. Look for phrases such as non-withdrawable, non-cashable, or that the bonus amount will be deducted or removed when you withdraw. A line saying real money is used before bonus funds usually signals a non-sticky structure. The way the app shows your balance is another clue: separate cash and bonus figures are common with non-sticky offers. If it still isn’t clear, ask live chat before opting in. Our bonus terms guide lists the other wording to check.
Does a sticky bonus count towards the 10x wagering cap?
Yes. Since 19 January 2026, any bonus offered by a UK-licensed casino, sticky or not, can’t require more than 10x wagering. On a £50 sticky bonus that means no more than £500 of qualifying bets. The deduction at withdrawal is separate from wagering, so you still lose the £50 bonus amount at cash-out even after meeting the requirement. Game weighting can make the real betting needed higher on games that count less than 100%. See the wagering requirement entry for the calculation.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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