Cookie Policy

Cookies are small text files that are downloaded to your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and to provide information to the owners of the site. Cookies can perform various functions, such as remembering your preferences, tracking your browsing activity, or helping to ensure the security of your account. They are essential for the operation of many online services, including those offered by Shikaka. Without cookies, certain features and functionalities on our website might not be available or might not operate as intended.

When you access Shikaka, our web servers send a cookie to your device. This cookie allows us to recognise your device and store some information about your preferences or past actions. This information is then sent back to our servers with each subsequent request you make, enabling a more personalised and efficient browsing experience. Cookies do not typically contain any information that personally identifies you, but personal information that we store about you may be linked to the information stored in and obtained from cookies.

Shikaka uses cookies for several purposes, all designed to enhance your experience on our platform and ensure the smooth operation of our services. These purposes include maintaining the security of your account, remembering your preferences, analysing site traffic, and delivering relevant advertising. By understanding how you interact with our website, we can continually improve our offerings and provide a more tailored service. Our use of cookies is always conducted in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Specifically, we use cookies to:

• Operate and secure our website effectively.
• Remember your login details and preferences, so you don't have to re-enter them on every visit.
• Understand how you use our website, allowing us to identify areas for improvement.
• Personalise your experience by showing you content and promotions relevant to your interests.
• Conduct analytics and research to better understand our audience and market trends.
• Deliver targeted advertising, both on our site and on other platforms.

Essential cookies are fundamental to the operation of the Shikaka website. These cookies enable core functionalities such as security, network management, and accessibility. Without these cookies, our website would not be able to function properly, and you would not be able to use many of its key features. For example, essential cookies allow you to log into your account, make deposits and withdrawals, and navigate secure areas of our site. They are typically session-based, meaning they are deleted once you close your browser.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary for the delivery of our services, they cannot be switched off in our systems. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but if you do so, some parts of the site will not work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information beyond what is necessary for their operational purpose. Your consent is not required for the use of essential cookies under GDPR, as they are necessary for the legitimate interests of providing a functional website.

Analytics cookies collect information about how visitors use the Shikaka website, such as which pages are visited most often, and if users encounter error messages. These cookies do not collect information that identifies a visitor. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. It is only used to improve how our website works. We use this data to understand user behaviour, identify popular content, and pinpoint areas where we can enhance the user experience. For instance, if we notice a particular page has a high exit rate, we might investigate its content or design for potential improvements.

The information gathered through analytics cookies helps us to make informed decisions about website development and content strategy. We use tools like Google Analytics for this purpose. While these cookies do not directly identify you, they do provide us with valuable insights into the collective behaviour of our user base. We obtain your consent for the use of these cookies through our cookie consent banner. You have the option to accept or decline analytics cookies, and your choice will not affect the core functionality of the Shikaka platform.

Functional cookies allow the Shikaka website to remember choices you make and provide enhanced, more personal features. For instance, these cookies can remember your username, language preference, or the region you are in. They can also be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts, and other parts of web pages that you can customise. The purpose of these cookies is to provide you with a more personal experience and to avoid you having to re-enter your preferences every time you visit our site.

For example, if you set your preferred language on Shikaka, a functional cookie will remember this setting for your next visit. This saves you time and makes your browsing experience more convenient. While not strictly necessary for the website to function, functional cookies significantly improve the user experience. We will request your consent for the use of functional cookies. If you choose to disable them, some personalised features may not be available, and you might need to re-enter your preferences more frequently.

Marketing and advertising cookies are used to deliver advertisements more relevant to you and your interests. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement and help measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. These cookies are usually placed by advertising networks with the website operator’s permission. They remember that you have visited a website and this information is shared with other organisations, such as advertisers. This means that after you have visited Shikaka, you may see advertisements about our services on other websites you visit.

These cookies track your browsing habits across different websites to build a profile of your interests. This profile is then used to show you targeted advertisements. At Shikaka, we use these cookies to ensure our marketing efforts are efficient and reach the right audience. We always obtain your explicit consent before placing marketing and advertising cookies on your device. You have full control over these cookies and can choose to accept or decline them through our cookie consent mechanism. Declining these cookies will not prevent you from using our services, but it may result in less relevant advertising.

In addition to our own cookies (first-party cookies), Shikaka also uses various third-party cookies. These are cookies set by a domain different from the website you are visiting. Third-party cookies are often used for cross-site tracking, retargeting, and serving advertisements. For example, we might use third-party analytics services, like Google Analytics, which set their own cookies to collect data on behalf of Shikaka. Similarly, social media platforms or advertising partners may set cookies if you interact with their content or advertisements on our site.

The use of third-party cookies is subject to the respective third parties' own cookie policies. While we carefully select our partners, we do not have direct control over the specific cookies they set or how they process the information collected. We only partner with reputable third parties who adhere to high standards of data protection. We ensure that any third-party services integrated into Shikaka comply with GDPR requirements. Your consent for third-party cookies is requested through our cookie consent banner, giving you the power to manage your privacy preferences.

The duration for which a cookie remains on your computer or mobile device depends on whether it is a "persistent" or "session" cookie. Session cookies are temporary and typically expire when you close your browser. They are primarily used to manage your current browsing session, for example, keeping you logged in as you move between different pages on Shikaka.

Persistent cookies, on the other hand, remain on your device for a set period, which can range from a few minutes to several years, or until you delete them. These cookies are used to remember your preferences or actions over multiple sessions. For example, a persistent cookie might remember your language preference or login details so you don't have to re-enter them every time you visit Shikaka. The exact expiry period for each cookie is determined by its purpose and the cookie provider. We strive to minimise the retention period of all cookies to what is strictly necessary for their intended function, in line with data minimisation principles under GDPR.

You have the right to manage and disable cookies. Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings preferences. You can configure your browser to accept or reject all cookies, or to notify you when a cookie is being set. Please be aware that if you choose to disable or block cookies, some parts of the Shikaka website may not function correctly, or your access to certain features may be limited. For example, you might not be able to log in or use certain personalised services.

To manage your cookie preferences directly on Shikaka, you can access our cookie consent tool, which is usually presented to you upon your first visit or can be accessed via a link in our website footer. This tool allows you to accept or decline different categories of cookies, such as analytics or marketing cookies. For more detailed instructions on how to manage cookies in specific browsers, you can refer to the 'help' section of your browser or visit resources like All About Cookies (www.allaboutcookies.org). Remember, disabling certain cookies might impact your overall experience on Shikaka.

Some web browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) feature. This feature sends a signal to websites that you do not wish to be tracked. However, there is no universally agreed-upon standard for how websites should interpret or respond to these DNT signals. As a result, many websites, including Shikaka, may not currently respond to DNT signals.

While we do not currently recognise or respond to DNT signals, we are committed to protecting your privacy. We offer you comprehensive control over your cookie preferences through our dedicated consent mechanism, allowing you to choose which types of cookies you wish to accept. This approach provides you with a clear and actionable way to manage your privacy settings on Shikaka, regardless of DNT signals. We continuously monitor developments in DNT standards and will update our practices if a universally accepted standard emerges.

Shikaka may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. Any changes we make will be posted on this page, and where appropriate, we will notify you by email or through a prominent notice on our website. We encourage you to review this Cookie Policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies and your related rights.

The "Last Updated" date at the bottom of this policy will indicate when the most recent revisions were made. Your continued use of the Shikaka website after any changes to this Cookie Policy will constitute your acceptance of such changes. If you do not agree with any modifications, you should cease using our website and adjust your cookie preferences accordingly. We are committed to transparency and ensuring you are always aware of our cookie practices.

If you have any questions or concerns about our use of cookies or this Cookie Policy, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our dedicated support team is available to assist you with any inquiries you may have regarding your privacy and data protection on Shikaka.

You can reach us through the following methods:

• Email: [email protected]
• Live Chat: Available 24/7 on our website.
• Postal Address: Please refer to the "Contact Us" section on our main website for our registered office address, as required by our licensing authority.

We are committed to addressing your concerns promptly and ensuring your experience with Shikaka is secure and transparent.