What This Page Covers
This cookie policy explains what cookies are, how WagerPals.co.uk uses them, and what control you have over them. It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which covers our broader data handling practices. If there’s ever a conflict between the two documents, the Privacy Policy takes precedence.
We’ve tried to keep this straightforward. Cookie policies have a reputation for being either incomprehensibly technical or so vague they’re useless. We’re aiming for the middle ground — specific enough to be meaningful, readable enough that you don’t abandon it after the first paragraph.
What Cookies Are
Cookies are small text files that websites place on your device — whether that’s a laptop, phone, or tablet — when you visit. They serve various functions depending on the type. Some remember your preferences so you don’t have to reset them every visit. Some track how people use a site so the owners can improve it. Some record when you click a link so that referrals can be attributed correctly.
Cookies aren’t programmes. They can’t install software, access your files, or damage your device. They’re plain text, and they can only be read by the website that placed them or, in some cases, by third-party services that the website works with.
The term “cookies” in this policy also covers similar tracking technologies including pixels, local storage, and session storage, unless we specify otherwise.
Why WagerPals Uses Cookies
WagerPals is a casino affiliate site. We review casinos, publish guides, and link to operators through tracked affiliate links. Cookies play a role in three areas of that operation: keeping the site functional, understanding how visitors use it, and tracking affiliate referrals so we earn the commission that funds the site.
We don’t use cookies to identify you by name. We don’t use them to build a personal profile about you. And we don’t sell cookie data to anyone.
The Cookies We Use
Every cookie on WagerPals falls into one of three categories. The table below breaks down each category, what the cookies do, who places them, and how long they last.
Essential Cookies
These are required for the website to function. Without them, core features break. They are loaded automatically and cannot be disabled through our cookie banner.
| Cookie | Placed By | Purpose | Duration |
| Cookie consent preferences | WagerPals | Remembers your cookie choices so the banner doesn’t reappear on every page | 12 months |
| Session identifier | WagerPals | Maintains your browsing session as you navigate between pages | Session (deleted when you close the browser) |
| Security tokens | WagerPals / hosting provider | Protects against cross-site request forgery and other common web attacks | Session to 24 hours |
| Cloudflare (__cf_bm) | Cloudflare | Identifies trusted traffic and blocks bots — required for site security and performance | 30 minutes |
Analytical Cookies
These help us understand how visitors interact with WagerPals — which pages are popular, where people drop off, how long sessions last, and what devices are being used. The data is aggregated and anonymised where possible. We use this information to improve content, fix usability issues, and prioritise what we work on next.
| Cookie | Placed By | Purpose | Duration |
| _ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique visitors by assigning a randomly generated identifier | 2 years |
| ga[container ID] | Google Analytics | Maintains session state and tracks page interactions | 2 years |
| _gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes visitors during a 24-hour window for more granular session tracking | 24 hours |
| _gat | Google Analytics | Throttles request rate to prevent overloading the analytics server during high traffic | 1 minute |
We use Google Analytics with IP anonymisation enabled, which means the last portion of your IP address is removed before any data is stored. Google’s full privacy policy and data practices are available on their website.
Affiliate and Marketing Cookies
These are the cookies that make our business model work. When you click an affiliate link on WagerPals that takes you to a casino operator, a tracking cookie is placed on your device by the operator’s affiliate platform. If you go on to register or deposit, that cookie allows the platform to confirm WagerPals referred you, which triggers the commission payment that funds this site.
| Cookie | Placed By | Purpose | Duration |
| Affiliate tracking ID | Casino operator’s affiliate platform (varies by operator) | Records that you arrived at the casino via a WagerPals link | 30 to 90 days (varies by operator) |
| Campaign parameters (utm_ values) | WagerPals | Tracks which page or link on our site you clicked so we can measure content performance | Session |
| Referral source | WagerPals | Records the external source that brought you to WagerPals (e.g. a search engine or social media link) | Session |
Affiliate cookies are placed by the casino operator’s platform, not by WagerPals directly. Once you arrive at the casino, any further cookies placed by the operator are governed by their own cookie and privacy policies, not ours. We have no visibility into or control over what the operator tracks after you leave our site.
Your Choices
You have full control over non-essential cookies. Here’s how to manage them.
Through our cookie banner: The first time you visit WagerPals, a cookie consent banner appears. You can accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies, or customise your choices by category. Your preference is saved for 12 months, after which the banner reappears for a fresh decision.
Through your browser: Every major browser lets you manage cookies in its settings. You can block all cookies, block third-party cookies only, delete existing cookies, or set your browser to notify you each time a cookie is placed. The process varies by browser — search for “manage cookies” followed by your browser name for specific instructions.
What happens if you reject non-essential cookies: The site works exactly the same. You see the same reviews, the same content, and the same links. The only difference is that your visit won’t appear in our analytics data, and affiliate clicks won’t be tracked back to WagerPals. That second point means we don’t earn commission on any casino registrations that follow — which affects our revenue but has zero impact on your experience.
We’re not going to guilt you about cookie choices. We’d rather have a reader who trusts us with cookies disabled than one who feels pressured into accepting something they don’t understand.
Third-Party Cookies and External Sites
WagerPals links to external websites throughout our content, including casino operators, the UK Gambling Commission, game providers like NetEnt, and responsible gambling services such as GamCare and GAMSTOP. Each of these sites has its own cookie policy.
When you click an external link and leave WagerPals, any cookies placed from that point forward are the responsibility of the destination site. We cannot see, modify, or delete cookies set by third parties on their own domains.
If you’re concerned about cookies at a specific casino operator, check their cookie policy before registering. UKGC-licensed operators are required to comply with UK data protection law, including the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations that govern cookie consent.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this cookie policy when we add or remove tools, change analytics providers, or when legal requirements evolve. Changes will be reflected in the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. If we make material changes — such as introducing a new category of cookies — we’ll reset the cookie banner so you can make a fresh choice based on the updated information.
Questions
If you have questions about our use of cookies, contact us at:
Email: privacy@wagerpals.co.uk
For broader questions about how we handle your data, refer to our Privacy Policy. For questions about how we use affiliate links and how our reviews are produced, see our About page and How We Rate page.