Cookies on gambling websites help identify you and remember how you use the site. They can keep you logged in, store your betting preferences, or display promotions that match your interests. However, not every cookie has the same purpose.
Some cookies are strictly necessary for the website to function, such as enabling secure logins or processing wagers. Others are optional and may be used for tracking, analytics, or targeted advertising related to gambling offers.
This guide outlines the various types of cookies used on gambling websites, explains how they function, and clarifies their importance.
Quick Facts About Web Cookie Types
- Cookies are categorized by duration, ownership, and function. Each has its own purpose.
- Session cookies are temporary; persistent cookies remain on your device for future visits.
- First-party cookies come from the site you visit; third-party cookies track you across different sites.
- Functional, analytics, and targeting cookies require user consent, unlike strictly necessary ones.
- Niche cookies like Zombie or Supercookies are harder to detect and delete, posing potential privacy risks.
Gambling Website Cookies Explained
Cookies come in different flavors, and you should learn what you might encounter to manage them properly.
Each example of cookies in your computer does something different. Some help websites work properly, while others are used for showing ads or tracking.
Here’s a simple comparison table:
| Cookie Type | What It Does | Duration | Who Sets It | Do You Need to Approve It? |
| Session Cookie | Helps the casino site run smoothly during your visit (like keeping you logged in) | Just while you’re on the site | The site you’re visiting | No |
| Persistent Cookie | Remembers things like your casino login info or settings for next time | Stays for days or months | The site you’re visiting | Sometimes |
| Third-Party Cookie | Tracks you across different websites to serve ads | Varies | Someone else (like an ad company) | Yes |
| Analytics Cookie | Collects data on how people use the casino site | Varies | The site or a third party | Yes |
| Functional Cookie | Saves your preferences, like language or layout | Varies | The site or a third party | Yes |
| Targeting Cookie | Used to show you targeted ads based on what you’ve done online | Varies | Third parties | Yes |
Web Cookies by Duration
Cookies can either be short-lived or stick around for a while. The difference mostly comes down to how long they stay on your device and what they’re meant to do.
Session Cookies
Session cookies are temporary and only work while you’re actively using a UK online casino. Once you close the tab or browser, they’re gone. They’re mainly used to keep things running smoothly during your visit.
| 💡 Example: If you’re playing casino games online, session cookies remember what games you played and how long you have been playing. |
Persistent Cookies
Persistent cookies don’t go away when you close your browser. They’re saved on your device and can last for days, weeks, or even months. They’re used to remember things between visits, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
| 💡 Example: Persistent cookies can keep you logged into a casino site or remember your preferred language next time you visit. |
Cookies by Ownership
Cookies can also be grouped by who sets them, like the site you’re visiting or someone else.
First-Party Cookies
These are created by the gambling website you’re on. They’re usually used to keep you logged in, remember your gaming preferences, or help the games work the way you expect.
| 💡 Example: A gambling website remembers your username or language setting. |
Third-Party Cookies
Third-party cookies come from other domains, like ad networks or analytics services, not the site you’re actually visiting. They’re mostly used to track what you do across different websites.
| 💡 Example: Seeing ads for a casino you visited at some point. |
Cookies by Function
Not all browser cookie types do the same thing. Some help a casino game work, others track what you’re playing, and a few try to personalise what games and bonuses you see.
Strictly Necessary Cookies
Strictly necessary cookies are the must-haves. Without them, the gambling site wouldn’t work right. You wouldn’t stay logged in, pages might not load properly, and basic features could break.
| 💡 Note: Consent isn’t required for these cookies. |
Performance (Analytics) Cookies
These web cookies track how people use the sports betting site or non Gamstop casino, like how long they play a certain game or where they click, so the site owner can improve performance.
| 💡 Note: Consent is required for these cookies. |
Functional Cookies
Functional cookies remember stuff like your language setting or if you prefer dark mode. They’re not absolutely required, but they make the site feel more personal.
| 💡 Note: Consent is usually required for these cookies. |
Targeting or Advertising Cookies
Targeting cookies follow you around the web to show you ads based on what you’ve looked at. They’re mostly from third parties.
| 💡 Note: Consent is required for these cookies, and most browsers block them by default. |
Emerging and Niche Cookies
Some cookies have extra features or behave in unusual ways. You might eventually come across a few of the more specialised types on certain gambling websites:
Secure Cookies
Secure cookies are only sent over secure connections (HTTPS), which helps keep sensitive data from being exposed. You’ll almost always see these used on gambling websites to prevent your login credentials or playing behaviour from being exposed.
HttpOnly Cookies
HttpOnly can’t be accessed by JavaScript, which adds a layer of protection against cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks. Only the server can read them, which helps keep things like your casino login tokens safer.
SameSite Cookies
SameSite type restricts when cookies are sent with cross-site requests. They’re used to prevent certain types of attacks, like cross-site request forgery (CSRF), by limiting how cookies are shared between websites.
Zombie Cookies (Evercookies)
Zombie cookies are hard to get rid of. Even if you delete them, they can regenerate using backups stored in other parts of your browser. Some casinos use them to make sure tracking data isn’t lost.
Supercookies
Supercookies, unlike their regular counterparts, are stored outside the browser’s normal cookie storage. Therefore, they are difficult to find or delete.
Internet service providers (ISPs) and other entities have been using them to track users in ways that are hard to block.
Conclusion
Understanding different types of web cookies helps you gain more control over your privacy online when playing casino games or placing sports bets.
Some website cookies, like session or first-party cookies, are useful and simply necessary for gambling websites to work properly.
Others, such as third-party or targeting cookies, are mainly used to track your activity and display targeted ads.
By understanding the purpose behind each type, you can make more informed decisions about which cookies you want to allow, block, or delete.
FAQs
What are gambling website cookies?
Gambling website cookies are small text files stored on your device by websites to remember information like your login status, preferences, or activity.
What kind of cookies do gambling websites store on your browser?
Casinos may store session, persistent, first-party, third-party, and specialized types like analytics or advertising cookies.
Why do online casinos use different types of cookies?
Different cookies serve different purposes. Some are needed for the games to function, others track usage or show personalized ads.
Which cookies are safe to accept online?
Strictly necessary and first-party cookies are generally safe, as they’re used for basic site functions and don’t track you across other websites.
What are the risks of accepting tracking cookies?
Tracking cookies can collect data about your browsing habits across multiple sites, which may be used for profiling or targeted gambling ads without your full awareness.
What is an example of a web cookie?
A cookie that keeps you logged into a gambling website between visits is a common example.
What are first-party and third-party cookies?
When the casino site you’re visiting sets cookies, we’re talking about first-party cookies. Third-party cookies come from outside services like ad networks and track you across sites.