Cookies
Cookies are small files that tell us if your phone, tablet or computer has visited the website before. They help us understand how the website is being used, help you navigate between pages efficiently, help remember your preferences, and generally improve your browsing experience.
Essential cookies
Essential cookies do things like:
- remember the notifications you have seen so we do not show them to you again
- remember your progress through a form
- enable core functionality such as website registration, security, network management and accessibility.
We do not need to ask permission to use essential cookies. These cookies always need to be on however they can be deleted by changing the settings on your browser.
The following table details the essential cookies we use within the website.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| seen_cookie_message | Lets us know if you've seen our cookie message | 1 year |
| cookie_policy | Saves your cookie consent settings | 1 year |
| gc-website-676377656273697465 | Saves your session information | 4 hours |
| _GRECAPTCHA | Used to manage site security | 6 months |
| ARRAAffinity | Used to manage site security | At the end of the session |
| ARRAAffinitySameSite | Used to manage site security | At the end of the session |
Find out more about how we use information website users provide us with by visiting the privacy policy
Analytics (optional) cookies
Analytics cookies collect information about:
- how you got to the website
- the pages you visit and how long you spend on each page
- what you click on whilst visiting the website.
These cookies provide us with statistics and do not collect information that identifies you. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.
Google Analytics
With your permission, we use Google Analytics software (Google Analytics 4) to collect anonymised information about how you use this website. We do this to help make sure the website is meeting the needs of its users and to help us make improvements.
We do not allow Google to use or share the data about how you use this website.
The following table details the cookies set by Google Analytics.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _ga | This helps us count how many people visit the Gambling Commission website by tracking if you have visited before | 400 days |
| _gid | This helps us count how many people visit the Gambling Commission website by tracking if you have visited before | 1 day |
| _ga_0HH6YRTMN9 | Used by Google Analytics to find and track an individual session with your device | 400 days |
You can read Google’s overview of data practises within Google Analytics (opens in new tab).
Microsoft Clarity
With your permission, we use Microsoft Clarity to capture how you use and interact with our website through behavioural metrics, heatmaps, and session replay to improve the website. We do this to help make sure the website is meeting the needs of its users and to help us make improvements.
The following table details the cookies set by Microsoft Clarity.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _clck | Saves the Clarity User ID and preferences, unique to that website is attributed to the same user ID | 1 year |
| _clsk | Connects multiple page views by a user into a single Clarity session recording | 1 day |
| CLID | Identifies the first-time Clarity saw this user on any website using Clarity | 1 year |
| ANONCHK | Indicates whether MUID cookie is transferred to Anonymous ID (ANID), a cookie used for advertising. Clarity does not use ANID and so this is always set to 0 | 10 minutes |
| MR | Indicates whether to refresh MUID cookie | 7 days |
| MUID | Identifies unique web browsers visiting Microsoft websites. These cookies are used for advertising, site analytics, and other operational purposes | 390 days |
| SM | Used in synchronising the MUID cookie across Microsoft domains | At the end of the session |
Third party cookies
Some website pages may contain content from other websites, such as YouTube, which may set their own cookies. These websites are sometimes called ‘third party’ services. This tells us how many people are seeing the content and whether it is useful.
In addition, if you share a link to one of our website pages, the service you share it on (for example, Facebook) may set a cookie.
We have no control over cookies set on other websites – you can turn them off, but not through us.
The following table details the cookies set by YouTube.
| Name | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| _use_hitbox | This is a randomly generated number that identifies your browser | When you close your browser |
| VISITOR_INF01_LIVE | Lets YouTube count the views of embedded YouTube videos | 9 months |
Change your cookie options
You may see a banner when you visit the Gambling Commission website inviting you to accept cookies or review your settings.
Accepting all cookies on the banner activates those cookie settings that are listed as analytics (optional) cookies on the settings page (that is, not ‘essential’ or ‘third party websites’ cookies). Your activation of all optional cookies lasts for 1 year and the banner will appear again. This gives you the opportunity to regularly re-visit and adjust your decision.
You can change which cookies you are happy for us to use by visiting the cookie preference page and selecting your cookie preference.
Last updated 02 December 2024.