This Privacy and Cookie Policy (“Privacy Policy”) outlines how SafeCanada.ca (“SafeCanada,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) gathers, uses, discloses, and safeguards information when you access or use our website (“Website”). It is important that all users (“you,” “your,” or “user”) review this document carefully before using our services.
Our Website offers editorial content related to online casinos, the gambling sector, and consumer dispute assistance. It may include external links to third-party websites. These third-party properties operate independently and follow their own privacy and cookie practices. If you access them, we recommend that you review their privacy policies before submitting any personal data.
By continuing to use our Website, you confirm your understanding of an agreement to the data handling practices described in this Privacy Policy.
Information We Collect
Personal Information
We collect personal information when you:
- Submit a casino-related complaint through our dispute resolution platform
- Contact us via the Website
- Subscribe to our communications or updates
Depending on the type of interaction, we may collect the following categories of data:
- Your contact information, including name, email address, city/province/country, and optionally, your phone number
- Casino-related account data, including the name of the casino, your public or registered username (we do not collect passwords), and references to specific financial transactions
- Complaint-specific details, including the description of your issue, key dates, involved amounts, and the nature of the problem
- Supporting documents, such as screenshots of support chats, transaction records, or page views within your casino account
- Additional follow-ups, such as your responses to requests for clarification during the complaint resolution process
When you contact us via web forms or sign up for our newsletter, we may collect:
- Your name and email address
- The content of your message or request
- Your choices regarding marketing or promotional messages
We collect and use this information only for the purposes of managing your complaint, answering your questions, and delivering updates or email communications if you have subscribed.
Sensitive personal information – such as data about race, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, health, trade union membership, or biometric identifiers – is not collected by us. We also do not gather or process criminal background information.
Non-Personal Information
As part of your interaction with our Website, we collect anonymous data that cannot be used to directly identify you. This includes “Non-Personal Information” such as:
- Your anonymized IP address and device identifiers
- Browser version, operating system, screen resolution, and language settings
- Access times and referring pages
- Patterns in Website usage, such as navigation flow, time spent on pages, and bounce rate
We use this information to better understand our audience, diagnose technical problems, and optimize the content, design, and speed of our Website.
About Cookies and Tracking
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and monitor how our Website is used. Cookies are small files stored on your device that assist with functionality, remembering preferences, and performance analysis.
Here are types of cookies we use and their purposes:
Essential Cookies
- Purpose: Necessary for core functionality of the Website
- Example: Saving session state, enabling navigation
- Storage Duration: Temporary (deleted when the browser is closed)
- Impact if Disabled: Some pages or actions may not work properly
Analytics / Performance Cookies
- Purpose: Understand how users interact with our Website
- Provider: Google Analytics or similar tools
- What’s Collected: Page visits, session length, scroll behaviour
- Benefit: Data helps us identify areas for improvement
- Retention Period: Typically up to 26 months
Functionality Cookies
- Purpose: Save preferences such as region or interface layout
- Function: Recognize returning users and apply settings
- Duration: Up to 12 months
- Provider: Ourselves or authorized third parties
Targeting Cookies
- Purpose: Understand interests to offer more relevant content
- Function: Track visited links and viewed content
- Duration: Varies per provider
- Provider: Third-party marketing platforms (e.g., Google, Facebook, etc.)
By using the Website, you agree to the placement and use of these cookies. Cookies do not store personally identifiable data. If you prefer, you can adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies. However, this may impact the usability and features of the Website.
External Links
Our Website may include hyperlinks to third-party websites that are outside of our control. These sites maintain their own privacy policies and cookie practices, which may differ from ours.
When you follow a link to another site, you do so voluntarily and assume full responsibility for any risks involved. Our Privacy Policy applies solely to SafeCanada.ca and does not extend to any third-party platform you choose to engage with.
How We Use Your Data
In addition to the primary purposes described above, we may use your information for:
- Complying with legal or regulatory requirements
- Protecting the technical integrity and security of our systems
- Improving and evolving our Services through internal analytics
- Identifying recurring patterns in user complaints to assist future users
- Compiling non-identifiable statistics on casino-related issues
- Responding to official legal inquiries or administrative requests
How We Share Data
We may disclose personal and non-personal data in the following circumstances:
Casino Operators
- Information Shared: Only complaint details and necessary contact information
- Purpose: Facilitate resolution of your dispute
- Legal Basis: Your explicit consent upon complaint submission
- Security Measures: We disclose only what’s essential to the case
Third-Party Service Providers
- Purpose: Assist us with website hosting, customer service, data analytics, email communications
- Safeguards: All providers operate under strict confidentiality agreements
Data for Research and Statistics
- We may compile and share aggregated, anonymized data to study gambling trends or site performance. No individuals are identifiable in this process.
Legal and Business Exceptions
We may share or disclose data:
- To auditors, accountants, and legal advisers
- During a merger, acquisition, or business restructuring
- When responding to valid legal processes (e.g., subpoenas or court orders)
- To protect user rights, prevent fraud, or respond to security concerns
Retaining Your Data
We retain information based on its intended use, legal obligations, and our operational needs.
Here is how long we generally keep each type of data:
- Active complaints: Until the issue is resolved
- Resolved complaints: Retained for up to 2 years
- General inquiries: Retained for 12 months
- Newsletter subscriptions: Maintained until you unsubscribe
- Anonymous statistical data: Stored indefinitely for reporting purposes
All retention practices are regularly reviewed and comply with privacy standards.
Security and Data Transfers
We follow recognized practices to safeguard your information from unauthorized access, misuse, or loss. These include:
- Technical protections such as encrypted communications
- Organizational safeguards like role-based access control
- Routine monitoring and system updates
Despite our best efforts, we cannot fully guarantee that data transmission over the Internet will be entirely secure. Any information you share with us is done at your own risk.
Most of our systems are based in Canada. If we ever transfer data across borders (e.g., using third-party infrastructure), we ensure appropriate data protection safeguards are in place, including contract terms that uphold Canadian privacy standards.
By using this Website, you consent to such data transfers as outlined in this Policy.
Age Restrictions
Our Website and Services are intended solely for individuals aged 19 and above. If you are not yet 19, you are prohibited from using our Services or submitting any information.
We do not knowingly collect data from individuals under the legal age for gambling-related content. If you believe a minor has shared data with us, please notify us immediately so we can delete the information.
Privacy Policy Updates
We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be reflected on this page, and for material updates, we will notify you through the Website interface.
We encourage all users to revisit this policy periodically. Continued use of the Website after changes means you accept those updates.
Your Data Rights
Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have rights regarding the personal information we hold about you. These may include:
- Access – View the personal data we store
- Correction – Update incorrect or outdated data
- Erasure – Request deletion where legally applicable
- Restriction – Limit processing in specific scenarios
- Objection – Oppose data use for specific purposes
- Portability – Request a copy of your data in a common format
- Consent Withdrawal – Revoke any consent previously given
To exercise any of these rights, please email us at [email protected] with the subject line: “Privacy Request”. We aim to respond to all legitimate requests within 30 days.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback regarding this Privacy Policy or our data handling practices, you can reach us at:
? Email: [email protected]