Sticky vs non-sticky bonus: how UK casinos split your bets
A non-sticky bonus waits behind your own money: you play your deposit first and can withdraw a win from it. A sticky bonus is mixed in and can never be cashed out itself. UK rules push casinos towards the first.
By Gareth Llewellyn · Updated 14 October 2026
18+. Figures from each casino's own published terms, 14 October 2026.
- Non-sticky, cash first
- £70 cash, withdraw it
- Sticky
- £90 locked until wagered
- Proportional
- split across both
A simplified example. Each casino's terms decide the details.
Sticky vs non-sticky bonus: the difference
The main difference is how the bonus sits next to your own money.
- Non-sticky bonus
- With this bonus, your own money is played first. Withdraw any winnings and give up the bonus. Lose the deposit and the bonus takes over.
- Sticky bonus
- The bonus and deposit are combined and must be played through before any withdrawal. The bonus is removed from the account when cashed out.
- Proportional play
- Each bet is taken partially from the cash and partially from the bonus, based on the proportion of the two balances.
Non-sticky: an early win on your own £20
With a sticky bonus, that win would be locked until the wagering is completed.
Why sticky bonuses have largely gone from UK casinos
Because of the UK rules, your deposit is separated from the bonus.
Under the CMA undertakings, now part of Gambling Commission guidance, your deposit balance must be withdrawable at any time, even with a bonus active, and wagering rules must not apply to play with it. Deposit and bonus balances must be shown separately.
Sticky bonuses, in which deposit and bonus are locked until the wagering is completed, do not comply with these rules, so what UK casinos use instead are cash first or proportional bonuses.
The Player’s Account cash balance will always be used first when placing Bets before any Bonus Money can be used
Once your cash balance has been exhausted, or you place a wager which is greater than your cash balance, you will start to place wagers using your £40 bonus balance
If You have Bonus Money in Your account this Bonus Money will play proportionately to Your Real Money
Which balance UK casinos use first
Three sets of terms from three different UK operators.
| Casino | Bets come from | Win on your deposit | Withdraw before wagering |
|---|---|---|---|
| LuckyMate | Cash first, then bonus | Yours | Bonus and its winnings forfeited |
| Grosvenor | Cash first, then bonus | Yours | Unwagered bonus funds forfeited |
| Casumo | Cash and bonus in proportion | Partly bonus money | Bonus and its winnings forfeited |
From each casino's UK bonus terms, 14 October 2026.
There's an added detail worth knowing from Grosvenor: a single bet, that uses both cash and bonus, pays any winnings back to both balances in proportion. Overall, LuckyMate is the most favourable to the player of the three.
Most of the casinos we review avoid the question by not having a deposit offer at all. Their welcome offers are cash-paying spins.
How proportional play works on a bonus
Casumo's set-up, worked through.
£20 deposit, £10 bonus at Casumo
Part of every win is transferred to the bonus balance, meaning an early win is not fully cash.
Proportional play is fair to both sides, but it means you cannot walk away with a whole early win and keep the bonus going. If you withdraw, Casumo removes the bonus and any winnings derived from it.
Sticky vs non-sticky bonus: three outcomes compared
£20 deposit, £20 bonus, 10x the bonus. What you can withdraw in three common situations.
| What happens | Non-sticky, cash first | Proportional | Sticky |
|---|---|---|---|
| You win £50 on your first spins | £70 withdrawable, bonus given up | About £45 cash, £45 bonus | Nothing until wagering is done |
| You lose the £20 deposit | Bonus takes over, £20 to play | Both balances fall together | £20 bonus left, still locked |
| You finish the wagering with £60 | £60 withdrawable | £60 withdrawable | £40: the £20 bonus is removed |
The example is fairly simplistic. The actual details depend on which casino you play at.
The sticky set-up is worst in every row. That is the main reason it has largely gone from UK licensed casinos since the CMA's 2018 action on unfair bonus terms.
Proportional play means an early win is split between the cash and bonus, in the ratio of the cash and bonus balances at the time.
Sticky or non-sticky: which bonus is better for you?
For the majority of players, a non-sticky bonus is better.
- Non-sticky suits
Players who want the option to stop after a win. Your own deposit is a normal bet.
- Proportional suits
Players happy to finish the wagering either way.
- Sticky suits
Nobody much, and you will rarely meet one at a UK licensed casino.
- Cash spins beat all three
No bonus balance whatsoever. See cash spins and free spins.
More on how the two balances work in bonus money vs real money, and what withdrawing does in withdrawing with an active bonus. For offers ranked by what you must bet, see low wagering casinos.
Sticky and non-sticky bonus questions
What is a non-sticky bonus?
What is a sticky bonus?
Are sticky bonuses allowed in the UK?
Which is better, sticky or non-sticky?
Is Casumo's bonus sticky?
What is a parachute bonus?
Can I withdraw winnings from a non-sticky bonus early?
Written by
Gareth reads which balance a UK casino takes bets from first, because it is what determines if an early win is yours to keep.
Play safe
18+. Gambling should stay fun. If you’re spending more than you can afford, or if it’s affecting your life in any other way, you can block all UK casinos instantly with GAMSTOP or call the National Gambling Helpline free on 0808 8020 133, any time.
You can set a limit on how much you deposit before you play. More info on our Responsible Gambling page.