1. Who we are (data controller)
The data controller for openbookies.com is S B Developments (North East) Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales under company number 08284564, with its registered office at Comma House, Napier Road, Swalwell, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom, NE16 3BS. You can contact us at contact@openbookies.com.
2. What this policy covers
This policy explains what personal data we collect when you use openbookies.com, why we collect it, how we use it, who we share it with, and what rights you have. It applies to all visitors and users of the Site.
3. The data we collect
We collect the following categories of personal data:
- Information you provide: when you submit a shop review you give us your display name, a star rating and a written comment. You may optionally provide a postcode or location when searching.
- Email sign-up data: when you sign up to our mailing list we collect your email address and, optionally, your location (city or postcode) and the topics you are interested in (such as high street bookies, online bookies, bingo or casinos/slots). We also record that you consented, when you consented, and which page you signed up from.
- Technical data: IP address, device type, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages viewed, and date/time of visits.
- Usage data: the pages you visit, the links you click, and how you navigate between pages, captured through Google Tag Manager and any tags configured in it (such as Google Analytics 4).
- Cookie data: see our Cookie Policy for details.
We do not knowingly collect special category data (such as health, religion or ethnicity) and we do not knowingly collect data from children under 18.
4. How we use your data and our legal bases
Under UK GDPR we must have a lawful basis for each use of your personal data. The main bases we rely on are:
- Legitimate interests — to operate, secure and improve the Site, to display relevant editorial content, to publish moderated reviews, and to prevent fraud and abuse.
- Consent — for non-essential cookies and analytics, and for sending you marketing emails about offers, opening-time changes and new shops, where consent is required.
- Legal obligation — to comply with applicable law, including responding to lawful requests from public authorities.
5. Email marketing
If you sign up to our mailing list, we use the email address and preferences you provide to send you marketing communications, such as betting offers, opening-time updates and alerts about new shops. We only do this where you have given us your consent by ticking the consent box on the sign-up form.
You can withdraw your consent and unsubscribe at any time. Each marketing email will include an unsubscribe option, and you can also email us at contact@openbookies.com to be removed from our mailing list. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before you withdrew it.
6. Who we share data with
We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with the following categories of recipient, and only as needed:
- Hosting and infrastructure providers that operate our servers and database.
- Google LLC (Google Tag Manager, Google Analytics 4, Google Places) — to deliver and measure the Site and to source shop location data. Google may process data outside the UK; transfers are protected by appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses.
- OpenStreetMap / Nominatim — when you use location search, your search query may be sent to Nominatim for geocoding.
- Affiliate networks and gambling operators — when you click an affiliate link, the destination operator and the network running the campaign may receive limited technical data (such as the referring URL and click identifiers) to attribute the click. We do not share your name, email address or any other directly identifying information unless you provide it on their site.
- Professional advisers, regulators or law enforcement where we are required to do so by law.
7. International transfers
Some of our service providers are based outside the UK. Where personal data is transferred outside the UK, we ensure it is protected by appropriate safeguards as required by UK GDPR, such as the UK International Data Transfer Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses, or transfer to a country covered by UK adequacy regulations.
8. How long we keep your data
- Reviews: retained for as long as the relevant shop listing is published, unless you ask us to remove them.
- Analytics data: retained for up to 14 months in accordance with our Google Analytics 4 retention settings.
- Server and security logs: retained for up to 12 months.
9. Your rights
Under UK GDPR you have the right to:
- access the personal data we hold about you;
- have inaccurate data corrected;
- have your data erased ("right to be forgotten");
- restrict or object to processing;
- data portability;
- withdraw consent at any time where we rely on consent; and
- lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.
To exercise any of these rights, email us at contact@openbookies.com. We will respond within one month.
10. Security
We use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, disclosure or destruction. However, no transmission over the internet can be guaranteed completely secure.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The most recent version will always be available on this page with the "last updated" date shown above.
12. Contact us
If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your data, please contact us at contact@openbookies.com or write to: S B Developments (North East) Ltd, Comma House, Napier Road, Swalwell, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom, NE16 3BS.