What cookies are
Cookies are small pieces of data stored on a device when a website is visited. Some exist only for a single browsing session and disappear once the browser is closed. Others remain for longer so that a site can remember settings the next time the visitor returns. Cookies do not automatically contain the full story of who you are, but they can become personal data when combined with other information. On Top20ukgamblingatlas, cookies are used sparingly and mainly to support basic site behaviour rather than advertising-heavy tracking.
How we use them on this site
The main uses are functional. We remember whether you have confirmed that you are over 18, and we remember whether the cookie banner has already been addressed so that it does not continue to interrupt the reading experience. Those settings are stored through the local browser and are tied to the local device rather than to a registered account because Top20ukgamblingatlas does not run player accounts. We may also rely on technical logs or temporary browser storage for security, error handling, or interface stability.
Categories we rely on
We group cookies and similar technologies into three broad categories. The first is strictly necessary storage that helps the site function, such as age-gate state. The second is preference storage that remembers interface choices, including whether the cookie banner has been dismissed. The third category covers service-support technologies, which may include short-lived technical data used to detect faults, maintain performance, or understand whether core pages are loading properly. We do not design the site around behavioural profiling.
Third-party services and embedded resources
Some resources requested by the site may come from third parties, for example font providers or external sites opened through outbound links. When you follow a link to a casino operator, that operator will have its own cookie practices and may use tracking tools beyond our control. If an embedded or linked service sets cookies, those cookies are governed by the relevant third party rather than this policy. We encourage readers to review the policies of any operator or platform they choose to visit from Top20ukgamblingatlas.
Consent choices
Where consent is required for the storage used on the site, we request it through the banner displayed on first visit. If you accept, the consent state is saved locally so the banner does not continue to reappear. If you close the banner, the interface records that choice locally as well. You can clear the setting later by removing stored site data in your browser. Consent is not an all-or-nothing idea on the wider web, but on this site the practical choices are intentionally kept simple.
Managing or deleting cookies
You can control cookies through browser settings, including deleting existing cookies, blocking future storage, or clearing local site data for individual pages. Most browsers also allow you to browse in private or incognito mode, which typically reduces how long cookies remain on the device after the session ends. Blocking all cookies may affect how age verification or consent settings behave, so you may see prompts more often if storage has been removed. Those trade-offs are normal and expected.
Updates and contact
We may revise this policy if site tools change, if a new service provider is added, or if the legal context around consent develops. When updates are made, the published page will reflect the current version of our approach rather than leaving older wording in place. Questions about this policy can be sent to contact@top20ukgamblingatlas.com. If your question is more specifically about personal data rights, please also review the privacy policy.
