Best Non-Sticky Casino Bonus: How Is It Different From Sticky Bonuses?

If you’re a frequent reader of our blog, you know all about bonuses. We’ve brought you all of the key information about different types of bonuses available from online casinos in your state. However, the difference between sticky and non-sticky bonuses is another category in this topic that deserves its own in-depth analysis. Read on for all of the facts and to find the best non-sticky casino bonus out there.

We know that bonuses work for casinos by rewarding new players in exchange for signing up and making their initial deposits. This works for casinos as well since they have to compete to attract players with the most lucrative offers. However, some casinos use sticky bonuses and others use non-sticky bonuses – but what does that mean, exactly?

It’s a great question which we will answer here. If at any time you have further questions, visit our FAQ at the end of the page, or use the links below to explore the article piece by piece. If you’re ready to play, check out our guide to the top bonuses in your state.

• Non-Sticky Casino Bonus Explained
• Find the Best Casino Bonus, Non-Sticky and Sticky
• Other Terms & Conditions
• Bonus Categories Explained

Non-Sticky Casino Bonus Explained

To start, we want to break down the differences between a non-sticky casino bonus and a sticky one. Though the names “sticky” and “non-sticky” might sound funny, they are really just cute names to explain a fairly simple concept in how bonus offers are managed by online casinos the world over.

As you probably know, a bonus offer is a deal that an online platform shares with potential new customers. These are almost exclusively in the category of welcome (or sign up) offers, meaning they can only be applied once, the first time that someone registers for the site in question. There are however also bonus offers for loyal customers or high rolling VIPs that return to the same site frequently, or over a long duration of time.

With welcome bonuses, when the person registers, they get a reward to boost their enjoyment of the games (or sports betting) on the platform. These bonus types vary – and different types of bonuses appeal to different players. You will find a more general breakdown of different bonuses in a later section of this article. Whatever type of casino bonus, non-sticky is one way they might be labeled, while sticky is another – but what the heck does this mean?

Bonuses That Stick (or Not)

In terms of bonuses, stickiness refers to when the bonus you are given can only be used to bet (sticky) or if can also be withdrawn as a part of your earnings (non-sticky). We find the name confusing, too – you would think a bonus that “sticks” to your earnings is surely preferable! But no, in this case the meanings are opposite. Non-sticky bonuses are considered more desirable, because they mean extra dough added to your winnings!

We guess that the name instead echoes the idea of a “sticky” situation – i.e. a situation you don’t want to be in! Actually, it refers to the money being “stuck” inside the casino. A sticky bonus is not as appealing because, though you can use them to your advantage in game play, you can’t actually withdraw the bonus, meaning a lower amount for your overall net earnings. This is why we are not such fans of sticky bonuses.

How Do These Bonuses Work?

The easiest way to explain how both of these bonus types work is to give a hypothetical example from a realistic gambling scenario. Imagine you are on a site offering a sticky casino bonus and it has now been added to your account. The bonus is free spins. Great! You obviously can’t withdraw spins, you only can use them to play a slot machine game and then withdraw those earnings. This is a perfect example of a sticky bonus in action: it helps you play, but you can’t withdraw it.

It’s a little more complicated to imagine if the bonus isn’t free spins but rather a free, set amount of cash. Let’s say the casino site offers a $100 bonus for depositing for the first time. Now you have your deposit amount (let’s say it’s $250) and your gifted amount ($100) for a total of $350 in your bankroll. If you were to withdraw in that moment, with a sticky bonus, you could not withdraw all of the money, only the total bankroll minus your sticky bonus, i.e. $250.

If you were to play, on the other hand, things might go differently. Let’s imagine you play blackjack and hit an unlucky streak. You lose $250, but you still have your $100 of bonus cash to play with so you play with that now. Aha – at last the tides turn and you earn a total of $300 more by playing with that $100. You can withdraw that $300, but you can’t withdraw the $100 bonus you bet with. That stays stuck (hence “sticky”) within the casino platform.

Now we can give an example of a non-sticky casino bonus. Let’s go back to a similar scenario. You, the player, have deposited $150 this time, and you received a $150 bonus, so your total bankroll is $300. You play poker for a while and receive a net $50 in earnings, for a total bankroll of $350. If you were to withdraw your earnings, you could withdraw all of it, including the $150 deposit, for $350 total.

However, there is an important caveat to bonuses. This has to do with wager requirements as outlined by the individual terms and conditions of that casino site. We’ll explain everything you need to know about these requirements a little bit later on in this article.

Find the Best Casino Bonus, Non-Sticky and Sticky

If you are looking for the best casino bonus, non-sticky or sticky, look no further! Our expert casino team have researched all of the top licensed casinos in every US state to compile lists of the best bonuses for you! Please be aware that bonuses do change from time to time so it is important to double check them with the casino at the date that you are ready to sign up! But for now, you can get a good idea of what bonuses are available now for bettors who feel ready to play.

New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia

In New Jersey, the top current offer comes from BetMGM, which will give up to $1000 to new customers. DraftKings is a close second since they offer either $100 in credits or $2000 in deposit matching.

In Pennsylvania, BetMGM is also our pick. The only difference here is that new players can receive a $25 bonus as well, no strings attached. The DraftKings deal in Pennsylvania is also the same.

BetMGM’s offer heats up in West Virginia, where new players can receive up to $2500 plus free credits and spins. DraftKings is again our number two pick here, offering $100 in credits or up to $2000 matched.

Michigan and Connecticut

In Michigan, players can find another exceptional deal from BetMGM which offers up to $1000 for new sign ups. The same deal stands for DraftKings as in the other states, $100 in credits or up to $2000 matched. In Connecticut, players will find this DraftKings deal as well, with the same terms.

Across the board, good deals also exist from Caesars Palace, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock and bet365 among others. However, these deals are ranked lower in our eyes because they have more constrictive wager requirements, tighter time limits for use, or fewer perks like daily free spins. Check our latest bonus rankings to get eligibility codes and sign up when you are ready.

Reading Terms & Conditions

The less fun side of bonuses is the fine print. Even the best non-sticky casino bonus comes with its own terms and conditions. Common terms and conditions used by online casinos and betting platforms include:

• Time limit: You must take advantage of the bonus credits, cash or spins within a certain amount of time after signing up, for example within seven days.
• Usage limit: It is common for sites to only allow one user per household to prevent people scamming the system and signing up for bonuses multiple times.
• Wager requirements: One of the most common stipulations on a bonus is known as a wager requirement, which says you must wager a certain amount of your own money before you can withdraw any of the money you’ve earned, including from a bonus.

Wager requirements prevent users from signing up, depositing, and simply withdrawing all of the funds they have been given from the betting platform. However, the point of a casino non-sticky bonus is that you are not subject to wager requirements. In theory, these bonuses allow you to withdraw the bonus cash whenever you are ready, without having to bet an extravagant number of times or amount of money first.

Bonus Categories Explained

When signing up for a new casino platform, we recommend checking whether they offer no sticky casino bonuses or not. However, just as important is the type of bonus you receive. Here are a few of the common bonus types you’ll come across at the top casinos:

• Deposit Match: You receive a percentage of your deposit matched by the platform as a bonus, up to a maximum limit. The more you deposit, the more you receive, which makes this one of the most lucrative bonus types.
• Zero Deposit: With this deal, you do not have to deposit any of your own money up front to create an account.
• Free credits or cash: You receive a fixed amount of credits or cash to play with, in addition to whatever you deposit. The amount is not affected by how much you first deposit.
• Free spins: Similar to free credits, but this is a set amount of spins, so only usable on online slot machine games.