Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

GambleDude ("we", "us", "our") is a gambling review and comparison website operated at thegambledude.com. We publish independent reviews of online gambling sites and earn commission through affiliate partnerships. Questions about this policy can be sent to our contact page.

2. What Data We Collect

We collect two categories of data:

2.1 Automatically Collected Data

Optional measurement and sponsored content are off by default. If you chooseAllow optional in our privacy panel, we load Google Analytics 4, Ahrefs Web Analytics, our first-party page-view and affiliate-click measurement, and A-ADS frames on pages that contain a sponsored placement. Depending on the service and page, this may involve:

• Page paths and interactions, without sending URL query strings to Google Analytics or our first-party page-view store
• Referring site origin and path, with its query string and fragment removed
• Device type, browser, and operating system
• Approximate location derived from network information
• Clicks on outbound affiliate links and the casino selected
• Network and browser information requested by a sponsored-content provider when its frame loads

Ahrefs describes its standard Web Analytics service as cookie-free. Google Analytics may set first-party analytics cookies after opt-in. If you chooseEssential only or have not made a choice, these provider scripts and advertising frames are not loaded, our first-party page-view beacon is not sent, and affiliate clicks are not added to our analytics database.

2.2 Data You Provide

If you submit our contact form, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your message. This data is used solely to respond to your enquiry and is not used for advertising. If you submit a casino rating or complaint, we store the casino, rating or complaint category, and the text you provide. Please do not include sensitive personal information in complaint text.

3. Cookies

The privacy and measurement features use the following browser storage items:

Use the always-available Privacy settings button to change your choice. Withdrawing a previous opt-in clears accessible Google Analytics cookies and optional local/session values, then reloads the page so previously loaded provider code is no longer active. Browser controls can also clear site storage.

4. How We Use Your Data

• To understand how visitors use the site and improve content
• To measure the performance of our casino reviews and category pages
• To respond to enquiries submitted via our contact form
• To comply with legal obligations

We do not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling.

5. Data Sharing

After opt-in, measurement data may be processed by Google Analytics and Ahrefs Web Analytics under their terms, and sponsored placements may be supplied by A-ADS under its terms. Hosting and database providers also process information needed to deliver the website, store submissions, and protect the service.

When you click an affiliate link and sign up to a casino, that casino may set their own cookies and collect their own data. Their privacy policies govern that data - we have no access to it.

Some pages contain a clearly labelled A-ADS placement. Its third-party frame is not given a network URL until optional services are allowed. Loading or interacting with that frame is then subject to the provider's terms.

6. Privacy Requests and Applicable Rights

Depending on where you live and the law that applies, you may have rights such as:

• Access - request a copy of any personal data we hold about you
• Rectification - request correction of inaccurate data
• Erasure - request deletion of your data ("right to be forgotten")
• Restriction - request we limit how we process your data
• Objection - object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Portability - request your data in a machine-readable format

To make a privacy request, contact us. We may need enough information to verify and locate the relevant record, and will handle requests within the period required by applicable law.

7. Data Retention

Analytics retention is controlled in the relevant provider account. Contact messages, ratings, and complaints are retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to answer enquiries, operate the review service, resolve disputes, and meet legal obligations. You may request deletion using the contact details above.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. The "last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. An updated notice does not replace an explicit privacy choice where a new choice is required.