Cookies

This Cookie Policy explains how gamedrop.co (“GameDrop”, “we”, “us”) uses cookies, pixels, and similar technologies when you visit our website or interact with our newsletter. We publish a 100% free games-news newsletter about video games, arcade, and retro. We do not cover or promote gambling.

1) What are cookies & similar technologies?

  • Cookies are small text files stored on your device by websites you visit.
  • Local storage saves settings in your browser.
  • Pixels (tiny images or code) record events such as page views or sign-ups.
  • SDK/IDs may be used on mobile (if applicable).

These help the site function, remember your preferences, measure performance, and—if you allow—help us promote our free newsletter to interested readers.

2) Why we use them (purposes)

  • Essential operations: remember cookie choices, keep forms reliable, protect against abuse.
  • Performance & analytics: count visits, understand which sections are useful, improve speed and stability.
  • Functional: remember optional preferences (e.g., platform interests, region).
  • Advertising & measurement (Meta & Google): measure sign-ups and (if you consent) reduce duplicate “subscribe” ads after you’ve subscribed. We never promote gambling.

3) Legal basis & your consent

  • For non-essential cookies/pixels (analytics, functional, ads/measurement) we rely on your consent.
  • For essential operations we rely on legitimate interests (service security and core functionality), where permitted by local law.
  • You can grant or withdraw consent any time via our cookie banner/settings. Withdrawing consent won’t affect essential cookies.

4) Your controls

  • Cookie banner/settings: enable/disable non-essential categories any time.
  • Email pixels: block images in your email client to disable open tracking; unsubscribe with one click in any email.
  • Browser controls: block or delete cookies, use private browsing, or set site exceptions in your browser settings.
  • Ad controls: adjust ad personalization in your Meta and Google account settings; you can also email us to opt out of audience matching (details below).

5) Cookie categories we use

  1. Essential (always on)
    Needed for core site functions (security, consent storage, forms). Cannot be disabled.
  2. Performance (Analytics)
    Helps us measure visits and improve readability. No sensitive categories.
  3. Functional
    Remembers your optional preferences (e.g., platform interests, region).
  4. Advertising & Measurement (Meta & Google)
    Measures ad performance and (if enabled) reduces duplicate “subscribe” ads after you sign up. No gambling ads or audiences—ever.

6) About Meta & Google (ads/measurement)

Meta (Facebook/Instagram)

  • We may use Meta Pixel and, where supported, Conversions API to measure newsletter sign-ups and improve accuracy (e.g., when third-party cookies are limited).
  • Meta may receive event details (page view, sign-up), timestamp, user agent, IP address, and campaign parameters.
  • If you submit your email, we may send a hashed version to help measure which ad led to a sign-up or to avoid showing you “subscribe” ads again.
  • You can control this via our cookie banner and in your Meta ad settings.

Google (Ads; Analytics-for-Ads signals)

  • We use Google Ads tags for conversion measurement and (if you consent) remarketing.
  • In regions requiring consent, Google tags respect your choices (e.g., limited or non-personalized measurement when consent is denied).
  • Customer Match (if enabled): with your explicit consent, we may upload hashed subscriber emails to measure campaigns or exclude existing subscribers from prospecting. Email us to opt out and we’ll remove your address from any active lists.

7) Cookies & storage we may set or encounter

(Names can vary by browser, device, and updates. Lifetimes are typical.)

Essential

  • gd_consent (gamedrop.co) — Saves your cookie choices (12 months).
  • gd_session (gamedrop.co) — Session reliability/anti-abuse (session).

Performance (Analytics)

  • _gcl_au (Google Ads) — Stores ad click info to measure conversions (3 months).
  • (If you add GA4 later, you may see _ga / _gid for analytics.)

Functional

  • gd_preferences (gamedrop.co) — Optional preferences (e.g., platform interests) (12 months, local storage).

Advertising & Measurement (Meta & Google)

  • _gcl_aw (Google Ads) — Google click ID for conversion measurement (90 days).
  • _fbp (Meta) — Identifies browsers to deliver/measure ads (3 months).
  • _fbc (Meta) — Captures fbclid when present (3 months).
  • IDE / test_cookie (Google Marketing Platform, doubleclick.net) — Ad delivery/measurement (up to ~13–24 months; may appear only if relevant).

We may also use Meta Conversions API (server-side). That does not set a cookie on your device.

8) Email pixels (newsletter)

Our emails may include a standard open-tracking pixel. To opt out, block images in your email client or unsubscribe via the link in any email.

9) Retention

  • Consent & preference records: typically 12–24 months or until you clear cookies/storage.
  • Event-level measurement data: typically up to 18 months; aggregated stats may be kept longer.
  • We may shorten or extend retention as required by law or to defend legal claims.

10) International transfers

Our providers may process data outside your country (e.g., EU/UK/US). When we transfer data across borders, we use legally recognized safeguards and require comparable protection from our processors.

11) GCC regional notes (UAE, KSA, Bahrain, Kuwait)

We align with applicable GCC privacy rules. Where consent is required for non-essential cookies, we only use them after you agree. You can change your choice any time using the controls described above.

12) Updates to this Cookie Policy

We may update this Policy to reflect changes in our technology, providers, or applicable laws. The Effective date above shows when it was last updated.

13) Contact

If you want us to remove your email from any Meta/Google Customer Match or similar lists, email privacy@gamedrop.co from the subscribed address and we’ll action your request within a reasonable time.