// cookie-lair · tracking policy · updated May 2026

Cookie Lair — What Gets Stored and Why

A plain-English breakdown of every cookie and localStorage entry OxfordWin uses, with controls to manage them.

This site is an affiliate-funded editorial guide. Homepage disclosure. Cookie choices can be updated at any time via the Cookie Settings button in the footer.

What a Cookie Is

A cookie is a small text file written to your browser by a web server. OxfordWin also uses localStorage — a browser-native key-value store — for consent preferences and the age gate. Neither mechanism is used to store personal identifiers beyond what is described below.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are required for the site to function. They are set automatically when you visit and cannot be disabled via the cookie panel. They do not track you for analytics or marketing purposes.

Name / KeyTypePurposeDuration
oxfordwin_ycu_agesessionStorageRecords that the age gate has been dismissed for this browser sessionSession (cleared when browser tab closes)
oxfordwin_ycu_consentlocalStorageStores your cookie consent choices (analytics: true/false, marketing: true/false)Persistent until cleared

Analytics Cookies

Only set when you choose "Accept all" or enable the Analytics toggle in the cookie panel. Anonymous usage data is collected via Google Analytics to help us understand which content is most useful.

NameProviderPurposeDuration
_gaGoogle AnalyticsDistinguishes unique users — contains a randomly-generated ID, not linked to any personal identifier2 years
_ga_XXXXGoogle Analytics 4Session counting and page-view measurement2 years

Marketing and Affiliate Tracking Cookies

Only set when you choose "Accept all" or enable the Marketing toggle. These allow us to measure whether a reader who clicked a sponsored link subsequently registered at the operator, which is how our referral commission is calculated.

The tracking identifier is generated by the operator, not OxfordWin. When you click a sponsored link, the destination URL includes a referral code in the query string. No personal data is passed to OxfordWin from the operator.

Third-Party Cookies

Where analytics cookies are consented, Google's own cookies are set by the Google Analytics script loaded on this page. Google processes this data as a sub-processor. See Google's Privacy Policy for how it handles analytics data.

OxfordWin does not embed third-party social media widgets, share buttons or video players that set their own cookies.

Managing Cookies in Your Browser

In addition to the cookie panel on this site, your browser gives you direct control over all cookies and localStorage. The major browsers — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge — each include a settings panel where you can view, block or delete cookies per domain. On mobile, these controls are usually under Settings → Privacy or Settings → Site Permissions.

Blocking all cookies will prevent the age gate and consent preferences from being remembered between sessions — you will see both prompts on every visit if strictly necessary cookies are blocked.

Updates to This Policy

When we add or remove cookies, this page is updated and the "updated" date in the page header changes. Material changes (new analytics tools, new third-party integrations) will also trigger a fresh cookie-consent request on your next visit.

Last reviewed: May 2026. Questions: contact us.