Bonus Balance Vs Cash Balance: A Guide With Examples

I used to see one casino wallet and assume it was all mine. Then the withdrawal page showed Cash Balance and Bonus Balance, and my “easy cash-out” plan died fast. Over time, I’ve developed a way to read those two numbers, so I know what I can pull out. Read on to learn more.

If you want an example of split wallets, Sky Crown Casino makes it obvious. AU players get a four-step welcome pack up to A$8,000 plus 400 free spins (codes like CLASSY and SKYMAX), plus cashback promos. With 7,000+ games and ~10-min cashouts, wallet rules matter before you withdraw at all.

The Two-Wallet Setup

Most casinos split your funds into two buckets:

Cash Balance is your real money side. Deposits land here, and so do winnings that are already cleared.
Bonus Balance is promo money (or promo-linked winnings). This side comes with conditions.

A gut-check I use: if the site lets me hit “withdraw” with no warning, I’m looking at cash. If it shows a message about requirements, limits, or cancellations, that part is promo-tied.

Where Each Balance Comes From

This is where people mix it up, because both can go up after a win. See how these balances are built.

Cash Balance Sources	Bonus Balance Sources
Deposits (the obvious one)	Matched promotions (50%, 100%, etc.)
Converted promo winnings after requirements are met	Free spins winnings that land as bonus funds first
“Cashable” rewards (not super common, but they exist)	Cashback that is paid as bonus funds
	Sticky bonuses (the extra amount stays promo forever)

Mini Example: Deposit €20, claim a 100% match. You may see:

Cash Balance: €20
Bonus Balance: €20

Same total, two different rulebooks.

One extra move I use: I test a slot in the demo before I let it touch my bonus wallet. The juegos gratis de pragmatic play page is perfect for that. I can see how often the bonus round shows up, so I don’t pair a super swingy game with promo funds by mistake.

Order Of Play: Which Wallet Gets Used First

This part decides where your wins “live” during a session, so I always test it early.

Bonus-First. You spin with bonus funds first. Wins usually stay tied to the promo until it finishes.
Cash-First. You play your deposit first. The rewarded funds sit aside until you switch modes or your cash hits zero.
Mode Switch. You pick “Real Money” or “Bonus Mode.” Some sites make it obvious, some hide it in the wallet.

My simple test: I do one tiny spin, then I check which number drops. That tells me how the site is spending my funds.

Withdrawal Rule: What You Can Take Out

Here’s the short version I wish someone told me sooner: cash balance is usually withdrawable. Bonus balance usually is not.

The confusing part is the winnings. They can look like “money,” but still sit behind rules. The usual path looks like this:

You get bonus funds or free spins
You play under the campaign’s requirements
The offer completes (or expires)
The allowed amount converts to cash (or gets removed)
Then you request a payout

So when you see a win, don’t ask “Did I win?” Ask: Did it land as cash, or did it land in the bonus wallet?

Rules That Cause Cash-Out Problems

This is the stuff that creates those “Wait… why can’t I withdraw?” moments. I’ll keep it practical.

Max Cashout Cap. Free spins wins often have a ceiling (example: “max €50”). You can see €200 on screen and still only convert €50.
Max Bet Limit During The Promo. Example: “Max €5 per spin.” Go over once, and the site may void promo-linked wins.
Game Contribution Limits. Slots might count fully. Table games may count low, or not at all. That’s why requirements sometimes move like a snail.
Withdrawal Cancels The Promo. Some casinos let you withdraw cash, but they cancel bonus funds and winnings from them the second you do it.
Sticky Promo Setup. The bonus amount never becomes cash. Only winnings may convert, often with a cap.

When I check terms, I hunt for four lines only: max cashout, max bet, eligible games, and what happens on withdrawal. If those are unclear, I treat the offer as a trap and play cash instead.

Real Walkthrough: €20 Deposit, €20 Bonus

Let’s run a simple story, because examples beat theory. You deposit €20 and take a €20 deal with a requirement like x35 on the rewarded funds.

At the start, the wallet shows: Cash Balance €20, Bonus Balance €20. You play slots at €0.20 per spin. After a short run, you’re up €12.

Now the key question: where does that €12 sit?

Case A: Promo Wallet Holds The Wins. Your promo side changes up and down. The €12 is not withdrawable yet because it’s still tied to the rules.
Case B: Cash Wallet Shows The Wins, But The Bonus Blocks Withdrawal. Your cash number rises, but the payout screen warns: “Withdrawing will cancel the promo.” So the money looks like cash, but the offer still has a grip on it.

Both models exist. That’s why I always do the tiny-spin test and then check the withdrawal screen before I sink time into a session.

Final Word: Treat It Like Two Wallets

Once you stop seeing “balance” as one pile, the whole thing gets calmer. Cash is the money you control. Bonus funds are money with rules attached. Test which wallet spends first, check the four key lines, and you’ll know what you can withdraw before the first big win shows up.