Cookie Policy
This page describes the cookies and similar technologies (local storage, session storage, web beacons) used on Casiny Online, what each one does, and how to control them. The accompanying Privacy Policy covers the broader handling of personal information; this document is the technical companion to that one. The wider mission of the site is described on the About page.
1. What cookies are
A cookie is a small text file that a website asks your browser to save so it can recognise the same browser on a later visit. Cookies cannot read files on your device, install software, or carry viruses. The information stored in a cookie is limited to text — typically an anonymous identifier or a small set of preferences. Two distinctions matter for the rest of this policy. First-party cookies are set by Casiny itself; third-party cookies are set by services Casiny embeds, such as analytics or affiliate tracking. Session cookies are deleted automatically when you close the browser; persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period (usually expressed in days).
2. Categories of cookies used
Casiny groups cookies into four functional categories. Strictly necessary cookies cannot be turned off through the consent banner because the site relies on them to display correctly. The other three categories are optional.
| Category | Purpose | Optional? |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly necessary | Page rendering, security, accessibility settings, consent state itself | No |
| Performance / analytics | Aggregate page-view counts, traffic source breakdown, basic device class | Yes |
| Affiliate tracking | Recording that a click on an outbound operator link came from this site | Yes |
| Functional | Remembering preferences such as table-of-contents collapse state and review-card filters | Yes |
3. Detailed cookie list
The list below covers cookies actively in use at the time of writing. The third-party services involved are described in section 4.
| Cookie | Set by | Lifetime | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
casiny_consent | Casiny | 12 months | Stores your consent choice across categories |
casiny_session | Casiny | Session | Maintains state between page loads (e.g. open accordions) |
_ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics | 13 months | Distinguishes unique browsers for traffic measurement |
casiny_ref | Casiny | 30 days | Records the operator click that a click came from this site |
casiny_pref | Casiny | 6 months | Stores display preferences (e.g. light/dark, table-of-contents state) |
Only cookies in the strictly-necessary category are loaded before you accept the consent banner. Analytics, affiliate-tracking, and functional cookies are loaded only after you actively opt in. The methodology behind operator reviews is documented on the How We Test page, with the scoring framework on the How We Rate page.
4. Third-party services explained
Google Analytics 4. Aggregate traffic measurement so we know which articles are read and which are not. The implementation uses IP-anonymisation and does not feed any signal back to Google's advertising graph. We do not use Google Ads, Google Signals, or any remarketing tag. Analytics cookies are loaded only with your consent.
Affiliate networks. When you click an outbound link to an operator, the click is logged on Casiny's own server (so we can count outbound clicks) and the operator may set its own cookie on the destination site to record the referral. The cookie that operators set is theirs, not ours; their privacy policy applies to it. Affiliate tracking on Casiny's side is restricted to a single first-party cookie (casiny_ref) and a server log entry; the funding model behind those affiliate links is set out on the Affiliate Disclosure page.
No advertising or remarketing pixels. Casiny does not use Facebook Pixel, TikTok Pixel, Twitter Pixel, LinkedIn Insight, or any cross-site advertising technology. The only third party that loads scripts on the site is Google Analytics, and only when you consent. Editorial standards covering content production are set out on the Editorial Policy page.
5. Managing cookies in your browser
You can manage cookies in two places. The first is the consent banner on Casiny: re-opening it from the link in the footer lets you change your category-level choices at any time. The second is your browser's own settings, which give you more granular control across all sites you visit. Questions specifically about Casiny can be sent through the Contact page.
- Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Safari (macOS): Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Safari (iOS): Settings app → Safari → Block All Cookies
- Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Cookies and site data
Most browsers also offer a private / incognito mode that automatically deletes cookies when the window is closed.
6. What happens if you decline cookies
The site continues to work. Strictly-necessary cookies are still set because they're required to display the page. Without analytics consent we cannot measure which pages are working and which are not, so editorial decisions are slightly worse-informed; this does not affect the content you see. Without affiliate-tracking consent, an outbound click to an operator may not be associated with Casiny on the operator's side. The clearest practical difference is that some preference toggles on the site (such as remembering whether the table of contents is collapsed) reset on each page load.
7. Updates to this policy
This Cookie Policy is reviewed when a new third-party tool is added, when an existing tool changes its cookie footprint, and routinely at least once every twelve months. The "Last updated" date at the top of the page reflects the most recent substantive change. Material changes — for example adding a new third-party advertising tool — are also flagged through the consent banner so existing visitors are asked to re-confirm their preferences. Safer-play resources for adult Australian readers are gathered on the Responsible Gambling page.