Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how Player Benchmark ("we", "us", "our") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on playerbenchmark.com (the "Platform"). It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which provides fuller details on how we collect and process personal data.

By continuing to use the Platform after being shown our cookie banner, you acknowledge this policy. Where consent is required under the EU ePrivacy Directive and GDPR, we will ask for your explicit opt-in before setting non-essential cookies.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that a website places on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit it. They are widely used to make websites work, improve efficiency, and provide information to website owners.

In addition to cookies, we may use similar technologies such as:

• Local Storage & Session Storage: Browser-based key-value stores used to persist session state (e.g., your login status) across page navigations within a single browsing session or persistently across visits.
• Pixel Tags / Web Beacons: Tiny invisible images or scripts embedded in pages or emails that signal when content has been viewed. We currently do not use these, but this policy will be updated if that changes.

References to "cookies" in this policy include all such technologies unless otherwise stated.

2. Categories of Cookies We Use

We classify cookies into the following categories based on their purpose:

2.1 Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the Platform to function. They cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions you take, such as logging in or filling in forms.

Legal basis: Legitimate interest / performance of contract. These do not require your consent under applicable law.

2.1b Local Storage (Strictly Necessary)

In addition to cookies, we use the following browser Local Storage entry as part of our consent management:

2.2 Analytics Cookies

These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of the Platform. They help us understand which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous.

Legal basis: Consent. These cookies are only loaded after you grant consent via the cookie banner.

2.3 Advertising Cookies

We display advertisements via Google AdSense to help fund the Platform (which is otherwise free to use). Google AdSense and its advertising partners may set cookies to show you relevant ads based on your browsing history on this and other websites.

Legal basis: Consent. Advertising cookies are only loaded after you grant consent via the cookie banner.

For a full list of cookies used by Google's advertising network, please refer to Google's Cookie Technologies page.

3. Cookies We Do NOT Use

We are committed to minimizing tracking. We do not use:

• Social media tracking pixels (Facebook Pixel, Twitter Pixel, etc.).
• Browser fingerprinting or canvas fingerprinting.
• Cross-site tracking technologies beyond those disclosed above.
• Supercookies or evercookies designed to circumvent browser controls.
• Cookies that collect sensitive personal data such as health information, financial data, or precise geolocation.

4. How Google Uses Data When You Visit Our Site

When Google Analytics or Google AdSense scripts are loaded (after consent), Google may collect the following types of information:

• Your IP address (anonymized where applicable under IP anonymization settings).
• Browser type, device type, and operating system.
• Pages visited, time on site, and referral source.
• Ad interactions (impressions, clicks) for advertising measurement.

This data is transmitted to and processed by Google LLC in the United States. Google acts as a data processor on our behalf for analytics and as an independent data controller for its advertising operations.

For more information, visit How Google uses data when you use our partners' sites or apps.

5. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

5.1 Our Cookie Banner

When you first visit the Platform, a cookie consent banner is displayed, powered by cookie-script.com. You can:

• Accept all cookies — enables strictly necessary, analytics, and advertising cookies.
• Reject non-essential cookies — enables only strictly necessary cookies.
• Customize preferences — choose which categories to enable or disable individually.

You can change your preferences at any time by clicking the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer or by clearing your CookieScriptConsent cookie to trigger the banner again.

5.2 Browser Controls

All modern browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically find these under Settings > Privacy or similar. You can:

• View and delete existing cookies.
• Block all cookies or cookies from specific websites.
• Set preferences for specific cookie types.

Please note that blocking strictly necessary cookies will prevent you from logging in and using core Platform features.

Browser-specific cookie guides:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari
• Microsoft Edge

5.3 Opting Out of Google Analytics

To prevent Google Analytics from collecting your data across all websites, you can install the official Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

5.4 Opting Out of Personalized Advertising

To opt out of personalized advertising from Google, visit Google Ads Settings.

For broader opt-outs from interest-based advertising by participating companies:

• Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) — aboutads.info
• Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) opt-out
• Your Online Choices (EU)

Note: Opting out of personalized ads does not mean you will stop seeing ads — it means the ads you see will be less tailored to your interests.

6. Do Not Track (DNT)

Some browsers include a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature that signals websites not to track your browsing. Because there is no consistent industry standard for how DNT signals should be interpreted, the Platform currently does not alter its behavior in response to DNT signals. We rely on our cookie consent mechanism to honor your preferences instead.

7. Consent and Legal Basis

Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ePrivacy Directive (Cookie Law), we are required to obtain your consent before setting any non-essential cookies. Our consent management is handled by cookie-script.com, which records the following for compliance purposes:

• The fact that consent was given (or refused).
• The categories consented to.
• The timestamp of the consent event.
• The version of the cookie policy in effect at the time.

Consent records are retained for up to 12 months or as required by applicable law.

You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawing consent will not affect the lawfulness of any processing that occurred before you withdrew it. To withdraw, update your preferences using the "Cookie Settings" link or clear your browser cookies.

8. International Transfers

Some of the third-party services described in this policy (particularly Google LLC) are based in the United States. When data is transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA), we rely on appropriate safeguards, including:

• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) adopted by the European Commission.
• Google's certification under applicable data transfer frameworks.

For more information on how Google handles international transfers, see Google's Privacy Policy.

9. Children

The Platform is not intended for children under the age of 16 (or 13 in jurisdictions where that is the applicable minimum age). We do not knowingly use cookies to collect personal data from children below the applicable age. If you believe a child has accepted tracking cookies on our Platform, please contact us at [email protected].

10. Changes to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the cookies we use, the technologies available, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will update the "Effective date" at the top of this page. Where required by law, we will re-request your consent if the cookies we use change significantly.

We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about our use of cookies.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies and tracking technologies, please contact us:

Player Benchmark
Email: [email protected]

For privacy-related requests (access, deletion, data portability), please refer to our Privacy Policy.