Rules & Guides

Privacy Policy

 

Privacy Policy — Rules and Guides

Last updated: November 2025

Your privacy matters to us. Rules and Guides is committed to protecting your personal information and being transparent about what we collect, how we use it, and what rights you have. This policy explains what data we handle when you visit https://rulesandguides.com, comment on our articles, subscribe to updates, or contact us.

We know privacy policies can be a wall of legal jargon — so this one’s written in plain English.

1. Who We Are

Rules and Guides is an independent website run by a small group of contributors who write about board games and strategy. Our contact address is [email protected].

For the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we are the “data controller” of your personal data — meaning we decide how and why your information is used.

2. Information We Collect

We collect only the data needed to make the site work properly, respond to your messages, and understand how people use our content.

We may collect:

(a) Information you provide directly

  • When you comment on posts: name, email address, and (if provided) website URL.

  • When you contact us via email: your email address and any details you include in the message.

  • When you subscribe to newsletters (if you choose to): your name and email address.

(b) Information collected automatically
Like most websites, we collect standard technical data:

  • IP address and browser type

  • Pages visited, time spent, and referring URLs

  • Device and operating system information

This helps us understand which pages are popular and identify technical issues, using tools like Google Analytics.

We do not collect or store sensitive personal data (e.g. health, financial, or political information).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your data only for legitimate, limited purposes:

  • To display and moderate comments on articles.

  • To respond to your questions or feedback.

  • To send newsletters or updates if you’ve subscribed.

  • To analyze site traffic and improve our content and performance.

  • To prevent spam, fraud, or unauthorized activity.

  • To comply with legal obligations or requests from authorities where required.

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information to anyone. Ever.

4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

Under UK and EU data protection law, we process your data on one or more of these legal bases:

  • Consent — for example, when you subscribe to our newsletter or post a comment.

  • Contractual necessity — when responding to messages or providing requested information.

  • Legitimate interest — for analyzing site performance and maintaining security.

  • Legal obligation — if required to retain or disclose data by law.

You can withdraw consent at any time by emailing [email protected].

5. Cookies and Analytics

Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to make things work smoothly and understand site traffic.

Cookies we use include:

  • Essential cookies for site functionality and security.

  • Analytics cookies (Google Analytics) to understand visitor behavior.

  • Affiliate and advertising cookies (from Awin, CJ, ShareASale, etc.) to track when readers click a product link and make a purchase.

Cookies never contain personal information like your name or email. You can delete or block cookies through your browser settings, though some parts of the site may not work properly without them.

For more on cookies, see our separate Cookie Policy (coming soon).

6. Comments and User Content

When you leave a comment, the information you enter (name, email, website) is stored by our content management system (WordPress). Your email address is never shown publicly.

We may use third-party spam detection tools such as Akismet to prevent spam. These tools automatically check comment data against known spam databases but do not store it long-term.

We reserve the right to moderate, edit, or remove comments that contain spam, offensive language, or personal attacks.

7. Third-Party Services

We work with trusted third parties that help us operate this site. These may include:

  • Hosting provider: for storing and serving website data.

  • Email delivery services: to send newsletters.

  • Analytics and advertising partners: Google Analytics, Google AdSense, and affiliate networks (Awin, CJ, ShareASale, FlexOffers, Webgains).

Each of these services has its own privacy and security policies. We only partner with companies that comply with GDPR and data protection best practices.

Some of these services may transfer limited data (such as IP addresses) outside the UK or EEA. When that happens, it’s done under approved safeguards (like the EU’s Standard Contractual Clauses).

8. Data Retention

We keep personal data only as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected.

  • Comments: kept indefinitely (unless you ask us to delete them).

  • Analytics data: typically retained for 26 months.

  • Email communications: retained for up to 12 months after the last correspondence.

We periodically review stored data and delete anything no longer needed.

9. Your Rights (Under GDPR)

You have full rights over your personal data. These include:

  • Access — request a copy of the data we hold about you.

  • Correction — ask us to fix inaccurate or incomplete information.

  • Erasure — request that we delete your personal data.

  • Restriction — limit how we use your data.

  • Portability — request data in a format you can transfer elsewhere.

  • Objection — object to certain uses of your data, including direct marketing.

  • Withdraw consent — for anything you previously agreed to.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at [email protected]. We’ll respond within 30 days.

If you’re unhappy with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. In the UK, that’s the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) — https://ico.org.uk.

10. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to keep your data safe. The site uses HTTPS encryption, secure hosting, and strong authentication practices. Access to data is limited to site administrators only.

No system is completely foolproof, but we actively monitor for security issues and follow best practices to minimize risk.

11. Children’s Privacy

Our site is intended for general audiences but not specifically targeted at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn that a child’s details have been submitted, we’ll delete them promptly.

12. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy occasionally to reflect legal, technical, or operational changes. The latest version will always be available here, with the “Last updated” date at the top.

If the changes are significant, we’ll post a clear notice on the site.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, complaints, or requests about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://rulesandguides.com

We read every message, and we’ll do our best to respond quickly and clearly — no corporate copy-paste replies here.