“Bonuses can be really exciting—who doesn’t want extra funds to play with? But the truth is, not all bonuses are created equal, and some can leave you feeling pretty disappointed if you don’t read the fine print,” says Casino Expert Ville Saari. He leads the team of expert reviewers at the popular British iGaming comparison site, Bojoko.com. With years of experience reviewing UKGC-licensed casino sites, Ville knows exactly where the pitfalls lie and why certain bonuses, like sticky bonuses, can be particularly misleading.
“So, here’s the thing about sticky bonuses. They’re designed to look like you’re getting loads of extra money to play with, but most people don’t realise that the bonus can never be withdrawn. And that’s not even the worst part! You can’t withdraw your winnings with sticky bonuses until you meet the wagering requirements. This means you could be sitting on some nice wins, but they’re locked until you’ve played through the required amount—often 30, 40, or even 60 times your deposit and bonus combined. That can take a lot of time and money.”
Ville pauses, letting that sink in before continuing, “You see, the problem with sticky bonuses is they’re not upfront about how restrictive they can be. They look like free money, but in reality, you’re tied to the casino until you’ve met those wagering terms. And if you don’t, you can wave goodbye to both the bonus and any winnings tied to it. It’s frustrating for players who don’t realise this going in.”
When asked what players should look for instead, Ville is quick to point out the advantages of non-sticky bonuses. “Non-sticky bonuses are much better because you play with your own money first. If you win while playing with your deposit, you can withdraw those winnings straight away. The bonus only comes into play if your own money runs out. So, you’re not locked into meeting wagering requirements unless you’re actively using the bonus funds. It’s way more transparent and gives you much more freedom.”
“With non-sticky bonuses, you’re essentially getting a safety net without losing control of your winnings. It’s a win-win. You know exactly what’s yours and what’s tied to the bonus, making the whole experience much less stressful. That’s why I always recommend them over sticky bonuses—they’re just fairer for players.”
The Bojoko team has made a dedicated effort to highlight British casinos that offer non-sticky bonuses to help players avoid nasty surprises. Ville also points out that sticky bonuses aren’t the only red flag players should watch out for.
“Wagering requirements can be a big red flag. If a bonus has really high wagering—like 50x or 60x—it’s probably not worth your time. Think about it: if you deposit £50 and get a £50 bonus with 50x wagering, you’d have to play through £2,500 before you can withdraw anything. Some casinos also apply wagering to the deposit, meaning that with the above example, you would have had to wager £5,000 to get any winnings. Most players don’t realise how hard that is to achieve, and by the time you’ve met the requirements, you’ve probably spent more than you’ve won.”
He adds, “Game restrictions are another sneaky tactic some casinos use. You might get a bonus, but then you find out you can only use it on a few low-paying slots, or a huge portion of the games comes with a reduced contribution to wagering. You have to expect the latter, at least in part, as it is the norm for high-RTP slots and table games, but anything more restrictive should be a red flag. It just makes the bonus less appealing, and honestly, it feels like the casino is trying to stack the odds against you.”
Ville says that one of the reasons Bojoko was created was to help players make more informed decisions, which is why their tools are designed to simplify the process. “At Bojoko, we want to take the guesswork out of comparing bonuses. All the casinos we list are UKGC-licensed, so you know they’re legitimate and regulated, but we go a step further. We break down the key details of every bonus—things like wagering requirements, expiration times, and game restrictions—so you can see right away whether it’s a good deal or not. Our filters make it really easy to narrow down your options, so you’re not wasting time on offers that don’t suit your play style.”
“The thing is, casinos are very good at making their offers look amazing, but when you look under the hood, some of them just don’t deliver. That’s why transparency is so important. We want players to feel confident and informed when they’re choosing where to play.”
For beginners, Ville’s advice is simple: keep it straightforward. “If you’re new to online casinos, start with bonuses that don’t have wagering requirements or ones with really low wagering, like 20x or 25x. These are much easier to clear, and you won’t feel like you’re stuck in an endless loop of wagering. And definitely avoid sticky bonuses—they’re not worth the hassle, especially if you’re just starting out.”
He also encourages players to take their time and read the fine print before committing to any bonus. “It’s not the most exciting thing to do, but it’s worth it. Even just skimming the terms and conditions can save you a lot of frustration later on. And if something feels too complicated or restrictive, skip it. There are plenty of better offers out there.”
