Understanding how we use cookies to enhance your experience, ensure security, and maintain compliance with Australian lottery regulations.
Last Updated: January 2024
Understanding the technology that powers your online experience
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, smartphone, tablet) when you visit our website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide a better user experience by remembering your preferences, settings, and previous interactions.
These files contain information that is transferred to your device's hard drive, allowing our website to recognize your device during subsequent visits. Cookies cannot run programs, deliver viruses, or access other information on your hard drive. They are designed purely to store and retrieve information about your website usage.
Temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser, used for essential website functionality.
Cookies that remain on your device until they expire or you delete them, used to remember preferences.
Cookies set directly by SouthernStarTrails.com to provide core functionality and enhance your experience.
Cookies set by external services like payment processors and analytics providers to support site operations.
The specific purposes cookies serve on our lottery platform
We use cookies on SouthernStarTrails.com to provide essential lottery services, enhance security, improve user experience, and comply with Australian gaming regulations. Our cookie usage is designed to support responsible gaming practices while maintaining the highest standards of data protection.
Enable core features including user authentication, session management, secure transactions, and navigation between pages. These cookies are strictly necessary for the website to function.
Protect your account from unauthorized access, detect suspicious activity, prevent fraudulent transactions, and maintain the integrity of our lottery platform through advanced security monitoring.
Remember your age verification status to ensure compliance with Australian gaming regulations requiring all players to be 18 years or older. This protects minors from accessing gambling services.
Track session duration, enforce spending limits, remember self-exclusion preferences, and support responsible gaming tools that help players maintain healthy gaming habits and control.
Analyze website usage patterns, understand user behavior, identify technical issues, and continuously improve our services. This helps us optimize the lottery experience for all players.
Detailed breakdown of cookie categories and their purposes
Required for basic website functionality. These cookies cannot be disabled as the website would not function properly without them.
Store your age verification status to comply with Australian gaming regulations requiring 18+ access.
Enable secure payment processing and protect financial transactions from fraud and unauthorized access.
Help us understand how visitors interact with our website to improve user experience and service quality.
Track promotional campaigns and deliver personalized content based on your lottery preferences and interests.
Support responsible gaming features including self-exclusion, spending limits, and session time management.
External services that may set cookies on our platform
We partner with trusted third-party services to provide essential functionality and enhance your lottery experience. These services may set their own cookies to support payment processing, analytics, and security features. We carefully vet all third-party providers to ensure they meet our strict data protection and privacy standards.
Third-party payment gateways set cookies to process secure transactions, prevent fraud, and comply with financial regulations. These include major payment providers like Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and other authorized payment processors.
Examples: Payment gateway sessions, fraud detection cookies, transaction verification tokens
Website analytics services help us understand user behavior, identify technical issues, and improve platform performance. These services collect anonymous usage data to provide insights into website traffic and user interactions.
Examples: Google Analytics, performance monitoring tools, error tracking services
Third-party security services set cookies to detect fraudulent activity, prevent unauthorized access, and protect player accounts. These services use advanced threat detection algorithms to maintain platform security.
Examples: Fraud detection systems, bot protection services, security monitoring tools
Responsible gaming organizations may set cookies to provide support resources, self-assessment tools, and educational materials. These partnerships help us maintain the highest standards of player welfare.
Examples: Gambleaware, Gamblers Help, Reset App integration cookies
How long different types of cookies remain active
Cookies have varying lifespans depending on their purpose and function. Some expire immediately when you close your browser, while others remain active for extended periods to remember your preferences and settings.
| Cookie Type | Duration | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Session Cookies | Until browser closes | Temporary authentication and navigation |
| Age Verification | 30 days | Remember verification status for compliance |
| Cookie Consent | 12 months | Store your cookie preferences |
| User Preferences | 90 days | Language, display settings, notifications |
| Analytics | 24 months | Track usage patterns for improvements |
| Marketing | 12 months | Personalized promotions and campaigns |
| Security Tokens | 24 hours | Fraud detection and account protection |
| Responsible Gaming | Varies (7-365 days) | Enforce limits and self-exclusion periods |
How to control and delete cookies from your device
You have full control over the cookies stored on your device. Modern web browsers provide tools to view, manage, and delete cookies. You can configure your browser to block all cookies, accept only certain cookies, or notify you when a cookie is being set.
While you can disable cookies, please be aware that blocking essential cookies will prevent you from accessing certain features of our lottery platform, including ticket purchases, account login, and responsible gaming tools. We recommend allowing essential cookies while managing optional cookies based on your preferences.
Understanding your rights and choices regarding cookie usage
In compliance with Australian privacy laws and international data protection regulations, we provide clear information about our cookie usage and obtain your consent before setting non-essential cookies on your device.
When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie notice banner explaining our cookie usage. This banner provides options to accept all cookies, decline non-essential cookies, or customize your preferences.
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by accessing the cookie settings available in the website footer or by clearing your browser cookies. Your consent choices are stored for 12 months, after which you will be asked to reconfirm your preferences.
Manage Cookie PreferencesEssential cookies are necessary for website functionality and regulatory compliance. These cookies do not require consent as they are strictly necessary for the service you have requested. This includes cookies for:
How blocking cookies affects website functionality
While we respect your right to control cookies, disabling certain cookie categories will significantly impact your ability to use our lottery services. Below is a breakdown of how different cookie restrictions affect platform functionality:
Blocking essential cookies will prevent you from:
Blocking analytics cookies will result in:
Blocking marketing cookies will mean:
Comprehensive inventory of cookies used on our platform
The following table provides detailed information about specific cookies set by SouthernStarTrails.com and our trusted third-party partners. This list is regularly updated to reflect changes in our cookie usage.
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Category | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| session_id | Maintains user session across page navigation | Essential | Session |
| csrf_token | Protects against cross-site request forgery attacks | Essential | Session |
| age_verified | Stores age verification status for 18+ compliance | Essential | 30 days |
| cookie_consent | Records user cookie preference choices | Essential | 12 months |
| payment_session | Secure token for payment gateway processing | Essential | 24 hours |
| rg_limits | Enforces responsible gaming deposit and time limits | Essential | 365 days |
| _ga | Google Analytics user identification | Analytics | 24 months |
| _gid | Google Analytics session tracking | Analytics | 24 hours |
| marketing_pref | Stores user marketing communication preferences | Marketing | 12 months |
| campaign_tracker | Tracks effectiveness of promotional campaigns | Marketing | 90 days |
This list represents the primary cookies used on our platform. Additional cookies from third-party services may be set depending on the features you access and your consent preferences.
How we communicate changes to our cookie practices
We regularly review and update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in our cookie usage, technological developments, legal requirements, and industry best practices. When we make significant changes to how we use cookies, we will notify you through appropriate channels.
We conduct comprehensive reviews of this Cookie Policy:
By continuing to use our website after changes to this Cookie Policy are posted, you acknowledge and agree to the updated practices. If you do not agree with the changes, you should discontinue use of our services and delete any cookies we have set on your device.
Questions about our cookie usage or privacy practices?
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding our Cookie Policy or data privacy practices, please contact our Privacy and Compliance team. We are committed to addressing your inquiries promptly and transparently.
Additional information and legal documents
Our Privacy and Compliance team is here to help. We are committed to transparency and addressing your concerns about data privacy and cookie usage.
