Bonus terms and conditions: the clauses that decide your withdrawal
When a withdrawal is refused or a balance is reduced after a bonus, the reason is almost always a clause in the bonus policy, not a technical fault. Reading that policy before opting in takes ten minutes and prevents most disputes. This page goes through the clauses that matter most at the cashier, explains sticky and non-sticky bonuses, and sets out what operators usually mean by bonus abuse. It describes common industry practice; the binding wording for Nano is the version published by the operator, and it can change, so keep a copy of the one you accepted.
Go to the offerWhere the bonus rules are written
There are normally two layers. The general bonus policy, often a section of the operator's main terms, sets defaults that apply to every promotion: one bonus at a time, how balances are used, what happens on withdrawal. Each offer page then adds its own figures, such as the multiplier, deadline and eligible games. If the two disagree, the offer page usually takes precedence for that offer, but the general policy still covers everything the offer page does not mention. Read both, and screenshot both with the date.
The clauses that matter most at the cashier
| Clause | What it usually says | What happens at withdrawal if it is broken or misread |
|---|---|---|
| Wagering requirement | Stakes needed before bonus money becomes cash | The request is refused, or the bonus is cancelled to release real money |
| Max bet | Largest stake allowed per spin or round while a bonus is active | Winnings made after the breach, or all bonus winnings, can be voided |
| Max cashout | Ceiling on what can be withdrawn from the offer | Anything above the ceiling is removed from the balance |
| Wagering cap | A stake limit expressed as a share of the bonus, or a cap on how fast wagering can be cleared | Progress made above the cap may not count |
| Deadline | Days allowed to complete the requirement | Bonus and linked winnings expire |
| Restricted games | Games that count partly, not at all, or are forbidden with a bonus | Wasted stakes, or winnings removed for a breach |
| Payment method exclusions | Deposits by certain methods do not qualify | The bonus was never valid, so winnings can be adjusted |
| One bonus at a time | A new offer cannot be active alongside an old one | The newer offer is refused or replaces the older one |
Our wagering guide covers the first row in depth. The rest are explained below with examples.
Sticky bonus vs non-sticky bonus
A sticky bonus can be played but never withdrawn. When the requirement is met and you cash out, the bonus amount itself is deducted and only the rest is paid. A non-sticky bonus, sometimes called a parachute bonus, keeps your real money and the bonus separate: you play with your own money first, and if you win before touching the bonus, you can usually withdraw that win and give up the bonus.
Example only: a deposit of 100 plus a bonus of 100, and a balance of 400 once the requirement is complete. With a sticky bonus, 100 is removed at withdrawal and 300 is paid. With a non-sticky bonus, a player who reached 400 while still on real money could often withdraw it in full by forfeiting the untouched bonus. The policy tells you which model applies; if it does not say, ask.
Max bet breaches: the most common reason winnings are voided
The maximum bet clause is easy to break by accident: a stake button pressed twice, an autoplay setting carried over from an earlier session, or a bonus round bought at a multiple of the base stake. Operators check bet history during the withdrawal review, and a single breach can be enough to remove bonus winnings. Before starting, set the stake below the limit and turn off any feature that multiplies it. If you are told a breach happened, ask for the round identifier, the time and the stake recorded, so you can verify it against your own history.
What operators mean by bonus abuse
Bonus abuse is a broad label in most policies, and it is applied at the operator's discretion, which is why it is worth understanding before it is applied to you. It typically covers:
- Several accounts held by one person or one household to claim the same offer again.
- Betting on opposite outcomes, or on very low-risk patterns, to complete wagering without real exposure.
- Switching stake size sharply between bonus and real-money play to exploit how balances are used.
- Claiming offers only to withdraw immediately after the requirement, repeated as a routine.
Honest players rarely trip these clauses, but irregular patterns can look similar. Keeping one account, using one payment method in your own name and playing the same way with or without a bonus is the simplest protection.
If a withdrawal is refused over a bonus clause
- Ask support, in the chat or by email, which clause was applied and to which rounds or dates. Request the answer in writing.
- Compare it with the version of the policy you saved when you opted in.
- If you disagree, file a formal written complaint following the operator's own procedure, quoting the clause and the transaction reference.
- If that does not resolve it, the operator's terms or footer name the regulator or the dispute resolution body that handles complaints. Our complaints page describes each step.
The statuses a request passes through, and the documents often requested along the way, are covered in our withdrawal guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sticky bonus?
What happens if I exceed the max bet with a bonus?
What does max cashout mean?
What counts as bonus abuse?
Keep reading
- Nano bonuses: overview
- Wagering requirements
- No deposit bonus and max cashout
- Welcome bonus
- Free spins
- Refer a friend and linked accounts
- Complaints and disputes
