Sticky bonuses closely resemble normal casino bonuses. A casino might advertise a 100% match bonus up to $100, which means you will playing with a balance of $200, having made an initial $100 deposit. The key difference, however, is that a sticky bonus can not be withdrawn from the casino, and will be removed from the account when you attempt to withdraw. When you look at the terms and conditions of an offer you will typically see that the casino quotes the bonus as being for "play or wagering purposes only". This is not always clear, so you should pay special attention to such terms. Throughout the website we have made every effort to make clear those casino bonuses which are sticky, but as with any bonus you should always check the terms and conditions for yourself first.
Immediately, you might realize how this would appear to affect your ability to make a profit. The basis of the strategy we described in our Casino Baggers Guide showed how by multiplying the house edge by the wagering requirement, you could determine how much of the bonus the average player would expect to lose. Provided that the this amount was less than the bonus given, the average player would be able to profit by withdrawing an amount equal to his deposit plus the bonus money retained. See the example below:
Casino A offers you a 100% deposit bonus (max £100) with a post bonus WR of 10* bonus:
Deposit= £100
Bonus= £100
Game chosen= Blackjack with 2% house edge
WR = £1000
Over the £1000 of wagering on blackjack with a house edge of 2% the average player would lose £20 (2% of £1000), leaving a balance of £180 for a profit of £80.
But what if the bonus was a sticky bonus? See how this changes things:
Casino A offers you a 100% deposit bonus (max £100) with a post bonus WR of 10* bonus , but this time the bonus is a sticky bonus and cannot be withdrawn:
Deposit= £100
Bonus= £100
Game chosen= Blackjack with 2% house edge
WR = £1000
Over the £1000 of wagering on blackjack with a house edge of 2% the average player would lose £20 (2% of £1000), leaving a balance of £180. When he attempts to withdraw the sticky bonus amount of £100 would be removed from the account leaving a balance of £80, for a £20 loss.
So should casinos offering sticky bonuses simply be avoided? The simple answer is "no", and below we show you why.
The way to make a profit from sticky bonuses is relatively simple, but be warned the variance will be higher so it would be wise to have a significant bankroll first.
They key to profiting from sticky bonuses is that you must attempt to double up your staring balance, comprise of your deposit and the sticky bonus. This is best done by betting it all on a game where there is as close to a 50/50 chance of winning as possible. A good game for this is baccarat, which although 99% of the time is disallowed as game counting towards the wagering requirement, can be used for this purpose of attempting to double up; you simply do not deduct the amount bet from the wagering requirement. With baccarat there is an approximately a 45% chance you will win, a 45% chance that you will lose, and a 10% chance you will tie. If you lose the hand and bust out, you simply move on to the next casino; what you have lost your initial deposit. But, if you win the hand, you now have a balance double the combined total of your initial deposit and sticky bonus which you can embark on the wagering requirement with. Follow the examples below and it should all become clear:
Casino A offers you a 100% sticky deposit bonus (max £100) with a post bonus WR of 10* bonus (all games allowed):
Deposit= £100
Bonus= £100
WR = £1000
You now bet your entire balance (£200) on a single hand of baccarat where there is a 50/50 chance you will win.
If you win you now have a balance of £400, and should bet through the wagering requirement (£1000) as normal, on the game with the lowest house edge allowed for wagering purposes. Assuming you play blackjack with a house edge of 2%, over the £1000 of wagering the average player would lose £20 (2% of £1000), leaving a balance of £380. On withdrawal the sticky bonus of £100 would be removed from the account leaving a balance of £280, for a £180 profit.
If you lose your balance is now £0 and you record a £100 loss (your deposit).
You should now be able to see that if you can win on your doubling up attempt 50% of the time, the average player in the scenario above would make a profit. Take the theoretical example below of the average player playing 100 identical offers.
100 Casinos
50% chance of doubling up
50 profits versus 50 losses
= ( 50 * £180 ) - ( 50 * 100 )
= 9000 - 5000
Net Profit = £4000
In summary, the key principle is bet everything first and double up or bust out. If you bust out move on. Alternatively, if you double up, bet through the wager requirement as usual. If you follow this strategy, in the long run you should be in profit.