Cookie Policy
This Cookie Policy explains how Top Rating Zone (“we”, “us”) uses cookies and similar technologies on topratingzone.com (the “Site”). It supplements our Privacy Policy and should be read together with it. The Policy reflects the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) as amended for UK audiences alongside practical guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office on cookie consent and “strictly necessary” exemptions.
Definitions
“Cookies” are small text files placed on your device when a server sends a Set-Cookie header or when scripts write persistent identifiers readable on later requests. “Similar technologies” include HTML5 web storage mechanisms such as localStorage and sessionStorage, IndexedDB where deployed, server-side sessions keyed by identifiers in cookies, pixels where present, and cached responses governed by cache directives. For simplicity this Policy refers to cookies but covers analogous storage where legally equivalent duties arise.
Essential operations
Certain technologies are strictly necessary to deliver a service explicitly requested by you—such as remembering that you navigated past an age gate during an active browser session, honouring security tokens that mitigate cross-site request forgery where implemented, balancing load across servers, or enabling encrypted transport handshakes. Where technologies qualify as strictly necessary under PECR, we may rely on exemptions from obtaining prior consent, although transparency remains important.
Preference storage
When you interact with our cookie banner, we record acceptance or rejection of non-essential categories using local storage keys so that we do not repeatedly interrupt browsing with identical prompts. These preference memories relate to your choices about Site behaviour rather than third-party marketing profiles on our domain. If you clear site data, preferences reset and the banner may reappear.
Age confirmation handling
We store a session-scoped flag indicating that an adult self-declaration occurred so that navigation between pages in the same session does not trigger redundant modal presentations. Session storage generally clears when you close the tab or browser session; it is not intended for long-term profiling.
Analytics and performance
We strive to keep first-party analytics lightweight. If server logs alone suffice for aggregate metrics, we avoid extra client-side trackers. Should we deploy privacy-conscious analytics that rely on non-essential cookies or comparable identifiers, we will request consent through an updated banner flow before activation and document retention periods here.
Third-party operators after outbound clicks
Hyperlinks to licensed gambling operators may route you through tracking domains that set marketing or attribution cookies under partner privacy notices. Those cookies are not controlled by Top Rating Zone once you leave our Site. Review each operator’s cookie centre before accepting promotional registrations or personalised bonuses.
Consent mechanisms
Where consent is required, it must be granular (where practicable), informed, freely given, specific, and evidenced by a clear affirmative action such as clicking “Accept” on non-essential categories. Pre-ticked boxes are not used for non-essential cookies. You may withdraw consent by clearing stored keys through browser settings and revisiting the Site to trigger the banner where technically feasible.
Browser and device controls
Major browsers allow you to delete cookies, block third-party cookies, or alert you before storage. Mobile operating systems provide comparable reset options. Blocking strictly necessary technologies may prevent age acknowledgements or preference memories from persisting, degrading experience without improving privacy proportionately—consider selective blocking instead of global refusal unless you understand the trade-offs.
Retention periods
Session storage entries persist only for the active session unless implementation changes. Local storage keys tied to cookie preferences remain until overwritten or cleared by you. Server-side logs linked indirectly to cookie identifiers follow retention cycles described in the Privacy Policy.
Updates and transparency
If we introduce new categories of cookies or materially change retention, we will revise this Policy and, where consent is newly required, refresh prompts accordingly. Continued use after updates constitutes awareness of the revised practices for categories not requiring renewed consent under applicable law.
Contact
Questions about this Cookie Policy may be directed to info@topratingzone.com. While we cannot provide regulator endorsements, we will clarify how technologies on our domain function to reasonable technical depth.