Privacy Policy.

Who we are

This site is operated by Northernstakes Media Inc. ("Northernstakes", "we", "us"), based in Toronto, ON. We publish independent reviews and analysis of licensed Canadian iGaming operators. We are a publisher — we are not a gambling operator, a regulator, or a payment processor, and we never take deposits, hold player funds, or operate games. This policy covers the website at https://www.northernstakes.com and does not cover any third-party site you reach by following a link from us.

Information we collect

Information you give us directly. If you email us — for example, to request a correction or ask a question — we receive your email address and whatever you choose to put in your message. We use it only to respond and to keep a record of the correspondence. We do not have account registration, and we do not ask you to create a profile.

Information collected automatically. Like almost every website, our hosting and analytics providers automatically log basic technical data when you visit: the pages you view, approximate region (derived from your IP address, not stored as a precise location), device and browser type, and referring source. We use privacy-first, aggregated web analytics (Vercel Web Analytics) that does not use tracking cookies, does not build an advertising profile of you, and does not follow you across other websites.

What we do not collect. We do not collect your name, payment details, date of birth, government identifiers, or gambling account information. We have no reason to — those interactions happen on the operators' own licensed platforms, under their privacy policies, not ours.

Cookies and tracking technologies

Our own website does not set advertising or cross-site tracking cookies. We use a single, optional preference stored in your browser's local storage to remember your light/dark theme choice; it never leaves your device and is not personal data. Our analytics is cookieless.

When you click an outbound "Visit" link to an operator, that operator — and any affiliate network sitting between us and them — may set their own cookies or tracking parameters to attribute the referral. That activity is governed by the destination site's privacy policy and cookie notice, which we encourage you to read. You can decline non-essential cookies on those sites and use your browser's controls to block or clear cookies at any time.

How we use information

We use the limited data above to deliver and secure the website, understand which articles and reviews are useful (in aggregate), fix problems, respond to your messages, and meet our legal and record-keeping obligations. We do not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling, and we do not sell, rent, or trade personal information to anyone.

Service providers and data processors

We rely on a small number of reputable providers who process data on our behalf, each under their own data-protection commitments:

• Vercel — website hosting and privacy-first web analytics.
• Cloudflare — DNS, content delivery, and security/abuse protection.
• Email provider — delivery and storage of messages you send us.
• Affiliate networks — when you click a partner link, the relevant network may process referral data to attribute and (where applicable) pay a commission.

We do not authorise these providers to use your data for their own independent marketing.

Outbound links and affiliate partners

Northernstakes earns commissions from some operators when readers sign up through our links — see our affiliate disclosure. Once you leave our site, the operator becomes the data controller for any information you provide to them, including the identity and age-verification (KYC) data that licensed Ontario operators are legally required to collect. We have no access to that data.

Your rights (PIPEDA and GDPR)

Our audience is primarily Canadian, so we follow the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and applicable provincial privacy law. Where the EU/UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies to a visitor, we honour it as well. Subject to verification, you may ask us to access, correct, or delete the personal data we hold about you, withdraw consent, or object to a particular use. Under the GDPR our lawful bases are your consent (for messages you send us) and our legitimate interest in operating and securing a functioning website (for aggregate analytics and logs).

To exercise any of these rights, email editorial@northernstakes.com. We aim to respond within 30 days. If you are in Canada and are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada; in the EU/UK, your local supervisory authority.

Data retention, security, and transfers

We keep email correspondence only as long as needed to handle your request and meet record-keeping obligations, and aggregate analytics for a limited, rolling period. We rely on our providers' industry-standard security (including site-wide HTTPS) to protect data in transit and at rest, though no method of transmission over the internet is ever 100% secure. Because our providers operate globally, your data may be processed on servers outside your province or country; where required, such transfers are covered by appropriate safeguards.

Age restriction

This site is intended for adults of legal gambling age in their jurisdiction — 19+ in Ontario. It is not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect data from anyone under the legal age. If gambling is causing you harm, free, confidential support is available 24/7 through ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600.

Changes and contact

We may update this policy as our practices or the law evolve. Material changes will be reflected in the "last updated" date above. Questions or privacy requests can be sent to editorial@northernstakes.com or via our contact page. See also our Terms of Use.