Bonus money and real money: how your balance is used and what happens at withdrawal

When you accept a deposit bonus, your account holds two different kinds of money at once: your own deposit, the real money, and the bonus money the casino gave you. On screen they may look like one amount, but under the terms they behave very differently. Real money is yours and you can generally withdraw it at any time. Bonus money becomes withdrawable only once the wagering requirement is met.

Many disputes between casino and player arise precisely because the player did not know in which order the balance is used or what happens when a withdrawal is requested with an active bonus. This guide explains both.

Two balances in one account

Most casinos show separate real money and bonus money balances in the account overview. If you cannot find that view, ask customer support: it matters which balance goes down while you bet.

Here is a hypothetical example we will use throughout the guide. You deposit €100 and receive a 100% deposit match, i.e. €100 of bonus money. The wagering requirement is 30× the bonus amount, so you must place €3,000 in bets. The account now holds €200: €100 of real money and €100 of bonus money.

In which order the balance is used

Casinos use two main models.

1. Real money first (non-sticky or "parachute" bonus). With a non-sticky bonus you play with your own money first. Bonus money comes into use only when the real money balance is zero. If you win before the real money runs out, the win is real money and you can withdraw it by giving up the bonus. For the player this is the most flexible model.

2. The money is combined (sticky bonus). With a sticky bonus the deposit and bonus form one balance subject to the wagering requirement. The bonus amount itself can never be withdrawn: it is removed at the moment of withdrawal. If your balance after wagering is €350, you can withdraw €350 − €100 = €250.

Some casinos also use a third variant in which each bet is taken proportionally from both balances. Which model a casino uses must be stated in the bonus terms, usually in the section describing balance use or the nature of the bonus.

What happens at withdrawal with an active bonus

This is the most important question to answer before activating a bonus. Typical rules are:

• A withdrawal cancels the bonus. If you request a withdrawal before wagering is complete, the bonus money and all winnings tied to it are removed. The real money balance is paid out.
• The withdrawal is blocked. At some casinos you cannot request a withdrawal at all with an active bonus until you cancel the bonus yourself or meet the requirement.
• The deposit is locked. With a sticky bonus, even your own deposit may be locked until wagering is complete. That means the €100 deposit cannot be withdrawn before €3,000 in bets.

Let us look at the example with a non-sticky bonus. You play with your €100 of real money and reach €260 before the bonus money is touched. If you now request a withdrawal, the bonus (€100) is lost, but the €260 of real money is yours. With a sticky bonus that situation does not arise: the whole €360 balance is locked until €3,000 has been wagered.

Also note any withdrawal limits and a possible maximum cashout on bonus winnings. These apply on top of the wagering requirement.

Cancelling a bonus

At almost every casino you can cancel an active bonus from the account's bonus page or through customer support. The consequences of cancelling are:

• the bonus money is removed;
• winnings made with the bonus money are removed;
• the wagering done so far is lost and cannot be reused later;
• the real money balance remains and becomes withdrawable straight away.

Cancelling makes sense when you have won with real money and do not want to risk that win on wagering the bonus, when you realise you cannot meet the requirement before the deadline, or when the bonus restrictions, such as the maximum bet rule, do not suit your style of play.

Important: cancelling does not restore real money already lost. If your real money is gone and you are playing with bonus money, nothing is left for you after cancelling.

Example: two players, the same bonus

Two players each deposit €100 and receive a €100 bonus. Both do well in the first hour and their balance grows by €100.

Mari's bonus is non-sticky. She played with her real money and her real money balance is now €200. She cancels the bonus and withdraws €200. She did not benefit from the bonus, but it did not stop her taking her win.

Jaan's bonus is sticky. His combined balance is €300, but only a small part of the €3,000 has been wagered. A withdrawal request would cancel the bonus along with the winnings, and under the terms the deposit is locked. Jaan has to keep playing, and every further bet carries the house edge.

Same start, same luck, but very different freedom. That is why the type of bonus often matters more than its size.

How to read the terms before activation

Before accepting a bonus, find the answers to four questions in the terms:

1. Is the bonus sticky or non-sticky? This decides whether you can withdraw a real money win by giving up the bonus.
2. Which balance is used first? Real money first is better for the player.
3. What happens when a withdrawal is requested? Is the bonus cancelled, the withdrawal blocked or the deposit locked?
4. Can the bonus be cancelled, and what is left if you do?

You can work out the wagering volume with the wagering calculator and judge the value of the whole offer with the bonus calculator. The guide how wagering requirements work explains the details of wagering, and the article casino bonus and withdrawal myths covers common misconceptions about bonuses and withdrawals.

Saying no to a bonus is a choice too

A bonus is not mandatory. If you prefer to always withdraw your money freely, you can decline the bonus when you deposit. Many experienced players do just that when the bonus terms are strict. When you play with real money, your withdrawal is limited only by the casino's usual withdrawal rules. You can find information on withdrawals at Estonian licensed casinos on the Estonian licensed casino withdrawals page, and you can check whether a casino has a valid licence on the EMTA website.

If you decide to take a bonus, choose it consciously: compare offers on the best welcome bonuses page and work out beforehand whether you can complete the wagering within your budget.

A responsible angle

Bonus money creates the feeling that you are playing "with the casino's money", and that can lead you to bet more boldly or for longer than planned. Remember that during wagering you also lose your own money on average. Casino games in Estonia are allowed from the age of 21. Set a deposit and loss limit before activating a bonus, and if you feel gambling is getting out of control, you can find free help at peaasi.ee.