Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

BetScout ("we", "us", "our") is an independent online casino review and comparison platform operated for Australian players at www.betscout.online.

We are committed to complying with the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained within it. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle personal information that we collect when you use our website.

BetScout is a comparison and information service. We do not operate any online casino, process gambling transactions, or hold gambling licences. We may link to third-party casino platforms — each of which operates under its own independent privacy policy.

2. Information We Collect

We only collect information that is reasonably necessary for our functions and activities. The types of information we may collect include:

Information You Provide Directly

• Your name and email address if you contact us or subscribe to any communications
• Feedback, comments, or messages you send to us
• Any other information you voluntarily provide when interacting with our website

Information Collected Automatically

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type and version
• Operating system and device type
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation paths
• Referring website or search terms that brought you to our site
• Date and time of your visit
• Clicks on affiliate links and outbound links

3. How We Collect Information

We collect information through the following means:

• Directly from you — when you contact us by email, submit a form, or provide feedback
• Automatically — through cookies, web beacons, and analytics tools when you browse our website
• From third-party analytics providers — such as Google Analytics, which uses cookies to collect aggregated, anonymised usage data
• From affiliate tracking tools — when you click through to a casino partner, affiliate tracking cookies may record that click for commission purposes

We will always collect your personal information by lawful and fair means, and we will not collect it in an unreasonably intrusive way.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Website Operation & Improvement

• To operate and maintain the BetScout website
• To analyse how visitors use our site and improve our content and user experience
• To identify and fix technical issues
• To understand which casino reviews and pages are most useful to our audience

Communications

• To respond to enquiries or feedback you send us
• To send you updates or newsletters if you have opted in — you may unsubscribe at any time

Commercial Purposes

• To track affiliate link clicks for commission reporting with our casino partners
• To measure the performance of our content and affiliate relationships

Legal & Compliance

• To comply with applicable Australian laws and regulations
• To enforce our Terms & Conditions where necessary
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of BetScout, our users, or others

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

BetScout uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate our website and understand how it is used. A cookie is a small text file placed on your device by our website.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential cookies — necessary for the website to function correctly, such as remembering your session preferences
• Analytics cookies — used by Google Analytics to collect anonymised data about how visitors use our site, including pages viewed and time spent. This data is aggregated and does not identify you personally
• Affiliate tracking cookies — placed when you click an affiliate link to a casino partner. These cookies track whether you subsequently sign up, so we can receive a commission. They do not collect your casino account details or gambling activity

Managing Cookies

You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or delete existing cookies. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

To opt out of Google Analytics tracking specifically, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Do Not Track

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) setting. Our website does not currently respond to DNT signals, as there is no industry-wide standard for how such signals should be interpreted. We rely on cookie consent and browser-level controls instead.

6. Third Parties & Affiliate Partners

BetScout contains links to third-party casino websites. When you click through to a casino partner, you leave our website and enter a site governed by that operator's own privacy policy. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of any casino site you visit.

Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website. These include:

• Google Analytics — website analytics (anonymised, aggregated data only)
• Hosting providers — for website infrastructure and data storage
• Email service providers — if you have opted into communications from us
• Affiliate network platforms — for tracking clicks and managing affiliate commissions

All third-party service providers are required to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information and are only permitted to use it for the specific purpose for which it was shared.

Legal Disclosures

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, court order, or regulatory authority, or where we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of BetScout, our users, or the public.

7. Data Storage & Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information we hold from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These measures include:

• SSL encryption for all data transmitted to and from our website (HTTPS)
• Restricted access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Regular review of our data handling practices
• Use of reputable, security-conscious third-party service providers

While we take all reasonable precautions, no method of internet transmission or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmitted over the internet.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by Australian law. Analytics data is typically retained for 26 months in accordance with Google Analytics default settings. Email communications may be retained for up to 2 years. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to destroy or de-identify it.

Overseas Disclosure

Some of our service providers (including Google) may store or process data outside Australia. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure those providers comply with standards consistent with the Australian Privacy Principles. By using our website, you consent to your information being processed in this way.

8. Your Rights

Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988, you have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right of Access

You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you. We will respond to such requests within a reasonable timeframe, typically within 30 days. In some circumstances, we may be unable to provide access — for example, where providing access would impact the privacy of others — and we will explain why.

Right to Correction

If you believe the personal information we hold about you is inaccurate, out of date, incomplete, irrelevant, or misleading, you may request that we correct it. We will take reasonable steps to correct the information or, if we disagree, note your request alongside the information.

Right to Complain

If you believe we have breached the Australian Privacy Principles, you have the right to make a complaint. Please contact us first using the details below. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or by calling 1300 363 992.

Unsubscribe

If you have opted into email communications from BetScout, you may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email we send, or by contacting us directly. We will action all unsubscribe requests promptly.

9. Children's Privacy

BetScout is an online casino review and comparison platform. Our content is intended exclusively for adults aged 18 years and over. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 18.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately at privacy@betscout.online and we will take steps to delete that information as quickly as possible.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of the BetScout website after any changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

If we make significant changes that materially affect how we handle your personal information, we will take reasonable steps to notify you — for example, by posting a notice on our website.