Bonus terms

Sticky vs Non-Sticky Bonuses: Which Balance Is Played First

Last updated 23 October 2026 · by the Aussie Top Casinos editors

A sticky bonus is deducted when you cash out; a non-sticky one plays your own cash first. How each works, with A$ examples and withdrawal points.

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Two match bonuses can carry the same percentage, the same cap and the same 35x wagering, and still treat your money in opposite ways. With a sticky bonus, the bonus is never yours to withdraw; it props up your balance and is removed when you cash out. With a non-sticky bonus, your own deposit is played first and you can often leave with a win before the bonus is ever touched. Knowing which one you have decides when you can withdraw and how much.

Sticky and non-sticky in one paragraph each

Sticky bonus (also called phantom or non-cashable). Deposit and bonus sit in one balance and are played together. You can bet with the bonus, but you can never withdraw the bonus amount itself. DeucesCracked's explainer puts it plainly: a sticky bonus "cannot be withdrawn; it is removed from your balance when you cash out, and only winnings remain."

Non-sticky bonus (also called parachute, phased or cashable in some terms). Your deposit and the bonus are kept apart. Wagers use your cash balance first. If you win and withdraw while still on cash, you usually take the winnings without meeting the wagering requirement and simply forfeit the bonus. If your cash runs out, the bonus becomes active, and its wagering requirement applies before anything won with it can be cashed out.

Which balance is played first

This is the practical difference. On a sticky bonus there is no order: every spin is made from the combined pot, and the whole pot is under the bonus terms from the first bet. That includes the maximum-bet rule and game restrictions, even though part of the money is your own.

On a non-sticky bonus, the order is set out in the terms. Typical wording is short. 7BitCasino's bonus terms, for example, say "when playing with a bonus, your real-money balance is used first", and the welcome section repeats it: "real money gets exhausted first".

Cash-first ordering on its own does not make a bonus fully non-sticky, though. The same 7BitCasino terms state that when you accept a deposit bonus "your deposit is locked together with it", with two options: complete the wagering requirement or cancel the bonus, losing the bonus and any winnings linked to it. In other words, real money is spent first, but a withdrawal of the deposit before wagering is complete forfeits the bonus and bonus winnings. Reading only the "real money first" line would give the wrong picture.

Worked examples with A$100 + A$100

All figures are examples: a A$100 deposit with a 100% match worth A$100, and 35x wagering on the bonus (A$3,500 of bets).

Sticky bonus

You start with A$200 in one balance.
You complete A$3,500 of wagering and finish on A$260.
At withdrawal the A$100 bonus is deducted. You can cash out A$160.
If you had finished on A$90 instead, deducting the A$100 bonus would leave nothing to withdraw.
If you want to withdraw before finishing the wagering, the terms usually forfeit the bonus and anything won with it.

Non-sticky bonus

You start with A$100 cash and a separate A$100 bonus.
Scenario A: your cash grows to A$300 before you touch the bonus. You withdraw A$300 and the bonus is cancelled. No wagering applies to that cash win.
Scenario B: you lose the A$100 cash. The A$100 bonus becomes active and must be wagered A$3,500 before release. If you finish on A$180, that A$180 becomes withdrawable, subject to any maximum cashout in the terms.

The same session under both rules

Run one session through both types to see the gap. Suppose your first A$100 of play turns into A$300 before any bonus money is touched, and you stop there. On the non-sticky bonus you withdraw A$300 and give up the bonus. On the sticky bonus you cannot do that: the A$300 is part of a combined A$400 balance under the bonus terms, so you must either finish the A$3,500 of wagering, during which the A$400 can rise or fall, or cancel the bonus and accept whatever the terms say happens to winnings. A good early run is worth far more under a non-sticky bonus, while a poor early run is where the sticky bonus's extra money helps by giving you more play.

The non-sticky version gives you a free second chance: if the deposit wins, you leave; if it loses, the bonus takes over. That is why many experienced players prefer it, and why it usually comes with tighter caps or higher multipliers elsewhere in the terms.

Side-by-side comparison

Feature	Sticky (phantom)	Non-sticky (parachute)
Balances	One combined balance	Cash and bonus shown separately
Played first	No order; combined pot	Your cash
Withdraw a cash win before using the bonus	No; bonus terms cover the whole balance	Usually yes, bonus forfeited
Bonus amount withdrawable after wagering	No; deducted at cash-out	Usually yes, within any cap
Bonus rules (max bet, games) apply to your cash	Yes, from the first bet	Usually only once the bonus is in play
Main risk	Small final balances can leave nothing after the deduction	Terms may still lock the deposit until wagering ends

When you can withdraw

Use the type of bonus to work out your exit points before you deposit:

Before any bonus play (non-sticky). If you are still on cash and up, withdraw and accept that the bonus is cancelled. Check that the terms do not lock the deposit; if they do, a withdrawal request forfeits the bonus and its winnings.
During wagering (both types). Withdrawing usually cancels the bonus. On sticky bonuses that can mean losing winnings made with your own deposit, because the balance was combined.
After wagering (sticky). Withdraw the balance minus the bonus amount.
After wagering (non-sticky). Withdraw the balance, subject to any maximum cashout and verification checks.

Verification can add time at any of these points. Casinos commonly ask for identity documents before the first withdrawal, and for bonus winnings in particular. Our page on instant withdrawal casinos covers how processing times differ by payment method.

How a strict regulator treats deposit money

The UK is a useful benchmark because its consumer regulator wrote this down. In undertakings reported in its 2018 overview for industry, the Competition and Markets Authority said operators should allow consumers to withdraw their deposit balance at any time, including when a bonus is pending or active, should display deposit and bonus balances separately, and should not apply bonus play restrictions to deposit money unless the software itself blocks the breach. In effect, that standard pushes towards non-sticky handling of the player's own money.

Offshore casinos that accept Australians are not bound by UK rules, and online casino games are not licensed for supply in Australia, so there is no local regulator enforcing an equivalent standard. That makes the terms page your only protection. Our guide to safe online casinos lists what to check in a site's licence and terms.

Key point: a sticky bonus is deducted when you cash out, so A$260 after wagering a A$100 sticky bonus means A$160 to withdraw. A non-sticky bonus plays your cash first, so a win on the deposit can usually be withdrawn without wagering, at the cost of the bonus. Check for a "deposit locked" clause: it can turn a cash-first bonus into one where withdrawing early forfeits the bonus winnings.

Reading the terms: phrases to look for

"Bonus amount will be deducted upon withdrawal" or "the bonus is non-cashable": sticky.
"Real money balance is used first" or "real money gets exhausted first": cash-first ordering.
"Deposit is locked together with the bonus" or "withdrawal of the deposit before wagering is completed forfeits the bonus": the deposit is tied up regardless of order.
"Maximum cashout" or "maximum winnings": a ceiling on what bonus play can return, separate from the sticky question.

If the terms say none of these things, ask support which type the offer is and keep the reply. For a wider view of how welcome deals are structured, see our guides to match bonuses and casino bonuses, and if you would rather skip the question entirely, no-wagering casinos pay bonus winnings as cash.

FAQ

What is a sticky bonus?

A sticky or phantom bonus can be played but never withdrawn. It is deducted from your balance when you cash out, so only winnings above it can leave the account.

What is a non-sticky bonus?

A non-sticky or parachute bonus keeps your cash and bonus separate and plays your cash first. If you win on the cash and withdraw, the bonus is usually forfeited and no wagering applies to that cash win.

Can a non-sticky bonus still lock my deposit?

Yes. Some terms say the deposit is locked with the bonus until wagering is complete, so withdrawing early forfeits the bonus and its winnings. Check for that clause before you deposit.