Order of balance use – which money you are actually playing with
When you activate a bonus at a casino, your account holds two kinds of money at once: real money, i.e. your own deposit, and bonus money added by the casino. The order of balance use is a rule described in the bonus terms that decides which balance each bet is taken from. It may seem like a technical detail, but in fact it is precisely this rule that decides whether your win is withdrawable straight away or tied to a wagering requirement.
The most common and most player-friendly order is the one in which real money is used first. Bonus money only comes into play once the real money is gone. This is typical of a non-sticky bonus: if you win while playing with real money, you can usually forfeit the bonus and withdraw the win without conditions. The reverse order, where bonus money is used first, is less common and ties even early winnings to the bonus terms. A third option is a combined balance in which the bonus rules apply to all the money – this is often how a sticky bonus works. Some casinos split each bet proportionally between both balances.
A hypothetical example helps to understand the difference. You deposit €50 and receive a €50 bonus. If real money is used first and you win €30 from the first €50, you have €80 of real money that you can withdraw by forfeiting the bonus. With a combined balance, the same €30 win would be tied to the wagering requirement, and requesting a withdrawal before meeting it could cancel both the bonus and the win.
In Estonia, bonuses may only be offered by casinos licensed by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board (EMTA), and their terms must be clearly understandable to the player. If the terms do not make clear in which order the balance is used, ask customer support before activating the bonus – it is an entirely reasonable question.
Remember that no bonus structure turns casino play into a source of income. Casino games in Estonia are only allowed for people aged 21 and over. Play responsibly, set yourself time and money limits, and if gambling starts to cause concern, help is available at peaasi.ee and tai.ee.