Privacy and Cookies Notice
1. Introduction
Our Privacy Policy applies when you visit this website or use any of our other online services, including, without limitation, interaction with our newsletters and other content delivered via email or via our affiliated businesses across each of our platforms (collectively, our “Services”).
This Privacy Notice explains why we collect information concerning the users of the platforms (each a “user”, “you” or “your”), what type of information we collect and how we use that information. This Privacy Notice applies to any such information collected via any platform which displays it (or a link to it).
Our Privacy Policy does not govern or apply to information collected or used by us through other means. It also does not apply to websites maintained by other companies or organisations to which we may link or who may link to us. We are not responsible for the actions and privacy policies of third party websites.
By using our Services, you are accepting the practices described in our Privacy Policy, including our use of cookies, web beacons, and similar online tools. If you do not agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not use our Services. We reserve the right to modify or amend the terms of our privacy policy from time to time without notice. Your continued use of our Services following the posting of changes to these terms will mean you accept those changes.
Please note that our Services are under constant development. This Privacy Policy may therefore be modified and updated on an ongoing basis. Please check back to this page regularly.
2. What data we collect
When a user interacts with any of the platforms, we may collect certain data about that user. This data falls into 2 broad categories: (i) data about a user themselves, which the user gives us; and (ii) data about the user, or the way a user interacts with the platforms or Services, which is collected by us electronically (collectively “User Information”).
2A Information you provide to us
There are a number of circumstances in which you may be required or invited to supply us with personal information, such as when you: subscribe to our newsletters and other content; create a log in or register for any of our Services; create a profile; use an interactive feature; interact with our bots or other interactive content; submit content or post a comment; or send us an email, pitch, or request for information.
2B Your use of Services and interaction with the platforms
We collect the following User Information in accordance with applicable law:
information that users provide to us, directly or via a third-party registration service for the purpose of registering with us or our group companies;
a user’s entry details for a competition or promotion;
information users provide to us when users interact with our customer service team;
information users provide when users participate in our surveys or marketing promotions;
information from a user’s social media profile to populate their profile on our platforms, and where the user chooses to register with us using their social media login(s);
information users provide relating to reviews or ratings, favourite sports, tournaments, teams, events or personalities, and/or other subjects of interest to sports fans;
information about user interactions with our platforms, and any direct communications the user receives from us (such as emails);
device IDs or unique identifiers, location data, device and software characteristics (such as type and configuration), connection information, statistics on page views, referral URLs, ad data, website and app navigation, IP address and standard web log information;
the language choices made by users in relation to their use of the Service, which may include information relating to their location when using the Service;
the details of any third-party digital property (such as a website) that referred or linked a user to the platforms, together with information about how a user interacted with any online and email marketing campaigns related to the Service;
information and communications on forums on the platforms, including chat rooms and message boards; and
information about how users behave on our platforms (such as the type of content they view, how frequently, at what times, etc.).
We may also collect personal information from:
A variety of third-party sources: These include social networks (subject to the user’s privacy settings and the privacy policy of the social network, and adopting a “two-click” solution where required), service providers which allow us to verify, enhance or supplement the User Information collected on our platforms, and business partners to whom we are offering a service.
Publicly or commercially available sources: Certain third parties make available
Information from our affiliates: We may receive information from within our family of affiliated businesses.
3. How & why we use the data we collect
We use the User Information for three main purposes: (i) to operate and improve the platforms and to ensure that we can provide the Services; (ii) to optimise the content on the platforms and enhance your experience of the Services; and (iii) send marketing and show advertising to our users.
More specifically, we will use the User Information to do one or more of the following things:
administer our platforms;
provide the Service requested by the user;
improve the browsing experience by personalising the Service to the user;
recommend goods, services or promotions which may be of interest to the user or contact users in order to conduct market research (with the consent of the user, where necessary). For these purposes, we may conduct research on our users’ demographics, interests and behaviour, including performing statistical analysis of our users, their use of the Services, and their purchasing patterns. We do this to optimise and improve the Services, our products, and our operations and we will create a profile about your interests and preferences which will enable us to increase our advertising and communication relevance;
prevent, detect and investigate potentially prohibited or illegal activities, including fraud, cheating, and money laundering and enforce our terms;
to notify users about changes to our Service;
send out email alerts, text message notifications or device notifications in relation to our Service;
send users prizes won via the platforms, and supply services purchased via our platforms;
send notices and invoices to users, and collect payments from them;
provide third parties with statistical and other information about our users as required to operate the platforms or Services;
deal with enquiries and complaints;
provide our commercial partners with information about users’ use of co-branded services, including historical use data;
comply with any legal or regulatory requirements and otherwise respond to any relevant regulator or competent authority as required by law;
understand user trends and patterns; and
develop aggregate analysis in respect of our users and business intelligence that enables us to operate, protect, make informed decisions and report on the performance of our business.
The platforms we operate are designed to attract as many users as possible. In our case, our users are typically sports fans or interested in sports news and other sports-related content. The creation of this content, and the work that goes into ensuring that the platforms continue to be class-leading digital sports destinations, are funded by advertising revenues which we receive as a result of showing users advertising or other sponsored or branded content on the platforms. We have a legitimate interest in ensuring that we deliver this advertising in a responsible way, and in allowing us to deliver it to the users most likely to be interested in it, and in doing so we employ User Information, such as the user’s location, how the user engages with the platforms and the content that the user views.
4. Cookies
Much of the User Information that we collect, and most of the information we employ in connection with advertising, is obtained via the use of cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are usually a string of numbers and/or letters that a platform transfers to a user’s hard drive. Similar technologies include pixel tags and web storage and other technologies, and we refer to all these things as “cookies” in this section. The cookies enable the platforms to “remember” you, either for the duration of your visit (session cookies) or for repeat visits (persistent cookies).
On the platforms, we use the following types of cookies:
Strictly necessary cookies – These cookies are essential to enable the user to navigate around the platform securely and to provide the user with Services they have specifically requested.
Functionality cookies – These cookies enhance the functionality of the platforms by storing user preferences. For instance, they can remember your name and location, if you provide this information, and the types of content you are interested in.
Performance cookies – These cookies improve the performance of the platforms. For instance, they help pages load quicker.
Analytics cookies – We may use third party analytics services such as Google Analytics and others. Your IP address and other information will be collected by automated means to evaluate your use of the platform, compile reports on platform activity, identify user patterns and provide related services.
If you register with us or if you continue to use the platforms, you agree to our use of cookies. In some cases, when you arrive on the platform a pop-up message will appear asking for your consent to place advertising cookies on your device as required by applicable law. In order to provide your consent, please click ‘OK’. Once your consent has been provided, this message will not appear again when you revisit, unless you delete cookies via your browser settings or otherwise.
Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but if you prefer, you can change your browser settings to prevent that, or opt-out as explained below. You may not be able to take full advantage of the platforms or use certain functions if you disable cookies.
5. Anonymous Identifiers
We collect statistical information about visitors to the Services, including which pages are visited and when they are visited. Information recorded may include your IP address, browser type, operating system, the referring web page, pages visited, location, your mobile carrier, device and application IDs, and search terms. This information is aggregated for statistical purposes, and is never connected to any PII and remains anonymous. This analysis is provided and managed by Google Analytics.
6. Disclosure of User Information
We may also share User Information with selected third parties including:
business partners, suppliers and sub-contractors in connection with providing Services to our users;
advertisers and advertising networks that require the data to select and serve relevant adverts to the user;
analytics and search engine providers that assist us in the improvement and optimisation of the platforms;
if we decide to sell the business operating the Service or it is integrated with another business, we may disclose User Information to our advisers and any prospective buyer’s advisers as well as to the new owners of the business;
if we are under a duty to disclose or share a user’s personal information in order to comply with any legal obligation, or in order to enforce or apply our terms; and
in order to prevent fraud, cheating and money laundering we may disclose User Information and betting and gaming history to third parties including, but not limited to, any relevant regulator, gaming and sporting bodies, financial institutions and law enforcement agencies or any other body that deals with the investigation of alleged offences.
Where relevant, we will disclose User Information and anonymized information associated with a user’s use of and interaction with the platforms to the partner on whose behalf we operate that platform, for the purposes of marketing and advertising, and to promote their own products and services.
7. Security
We understand that the security of your User Information is important to you. When handling User Information, security is paramount and we seek to ensure that User Information is protected through appropriate technical and organisational measures.
We use reasonable administrative, logical and physical controls, including password protection, to safeguard your User Information against loss, theft and unauthorised access, use or modification. Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we will do our best to protect your User Information in accordance with applicable law, we cannot guarantee the security of your User Information.
8. International data transfers
Information that we collect may be stored and processed in and transferred between any of the countries in which we operate in order to enable us to use the information in accordance with this notice.
Information which you provide may be transferred to our group companies, commercial partners, suppliers or agents located outside your country as set out in paragraph 5 above. We will ensure adequate protection of personal data transferred outside of your country as required under applicable laws. For example, if you are located in the EEA, Swiss or in the UK, we may enter into model clauses with the recipient. You may contact us for a copy of the safeguards which we have put in place to protect your personal data in these circumstances.
In addition, personal information that you submit for publication on the platforms will be published on the internet and may be available, via the internet, around the world. We cannot prevent the use or misuse of such information by others.
9. Parents and guardians
Our platforms are not directly intended for children and should not be used by them unless supervised by a parent or guardian.