Cookie Policy — BoardGameLink

Who we are

BoardGameLink is a trade name of Benki Games and is responsible for the use of cookies and similar technologies described in this Cookie Policy.

Address: Kanaalkade 57, 1811 LS Alkmaar, The Netherlands
Email: info@boardgamelink.nl

What are cookies and similar technologies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. We also use similar technologies such as local storage and session storage, which store small amounts of information in your browser. Throughout this policy we refer to all of these simply as "cookies".

Cookies can be set by us (first-party) or by a third party whose service we use (third-party), for example an embedded video player. They can last for a single browsing session or persist for a defined period.

The categories we use

You can accept or reject each optional category at any time. Strictly necessary cookies cannot be switched off.

Strictly necessary Always active

These cookies are required for BoardGameLink to work — signing in, keeping your session secure, and remembering your cookie choice. They cannot be switched off.

Analytics

These cookies help us understand how the platform is used so we can improve it. Google Analytics is not loaded until you allow it here.

External media

This category allows content hosted by third parties, such as YouTube and Vimeo, to be displayed. When you load this content, the relevant provider may receive information about your visit and may use cookies or similar technologies.

Cookies we use

The table below is generated directly from our live cookie configuration.

Cookies and similar technologies used by BoardGameLink.
Name	Provider / domain	Category	Purpose	Data processed	Party	Expiration	Consent required
`PHPSESSID`	BoardGameLink boardgamelink.com	Strictly necessary	Maintains your logged-in session and protects forms against cross-site request forgery (CSRF).	Opaque session identifier	First party	Session (until the browser is closed)	No
`bgl_remember`	BoardGameLink boardgamelink.com	Strictly necessary	Keeps you signed in when you choose "Remember me" at login. Stores a single-use token, not your password.	Opaque login token (hashed server-side)	First party	30 days (renewed on use)	No
`bgl_cookie_consent`	BoardGameLink boardgamelink.com	Strictly necessary	Remembers your cookie preferences so we do not ask again on every page.	Consent version, chosen categories, timestamp	First party	180 days	No
`bgl_qotw_vid`	BoardGameLink boardgamelink.com	Strictly necessary	Set when you answer the Question of the Week so the same browser cannot submit a second answer to that question. It is an anonymous identifier, not a login.	Opaque random identifier (hashed before storage)	First party	400 days	No
`_ga`	Google Analytics (Google LLC) boardgamelink.com	Analytics	Distinguishes visitors to measure traffic and usage.	Randomly generated client identifier	First party	2 years	Yes
`_ga_2SMS4V8KMP`	Google Analytics (Google LLC) boardgamelink.com	Analytics	Persists GA4 session state for this property.	Session identifier and counters	First party	2 years	Yes
`VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE, YSC, CONSENT, plus related YouTube cookies`	YouTube (Google LLC) youtube-nocookie.com	External media	Set when an embedded YouTube video plays; used by YouTube for playback preferences, measurement and advertising. We embed via the privacy-enhanced youtube-nocookie.com host and only load the player after you allow this category, so which cookies appear depends on the video and your interaction.	Device/usage identifiers	Third party	Varies by cookie — from the current session up to ~24 months	Yes
`vuid, player, flags, plus Vimeo session/security cookies`	Vimeo Inc. vimeo.com, player.vimeo.com	External media	Set when an embedded Vimeo video plays; used by Vimeo for playback, remembering player preferences, analytics and security. We load the player only after you allow this category and request Vimeo's dnt=1 ("do not track") mode, so which cookies appear depends on the video and your interaction.	Device/usage identifiers and player preferences	Third party	Varies by cookie — from the current session up to ~2 years (vuid)	Yes

Browser storage we use

Besides cookies we store a small amount of purely functional information in your browser using local storage and session storage. These technologies are first-party, are not shared with third parties, and are used only for functional application and interface state — never for analytics, advertising, or cross-site tracking. Session storage is cleared automatically when you close the browser tab.

Local and session storage keys written by BoardGameLink.
Name	Storage	Purpose	Retention	Set when
`bgl.discoveryContext`	localStorage	Remembers the discovery context (the audience/role you browse as) on the Link-ups pages, so the list stays filtered the way you left it.	Until you clear it or your browser storage	When you change the discovery context filter.
`bgl.qotwState`	localStorage	Remembers whether you collapsed, viewed or answered the current Question of the Week, so the drawer does not keep reopening for that question.	Until you clear your browser storage	When you vote, view answers, or collapse the Question of the Week drawer.
`bgl_hub_step1_collapsed_<companyId>`	localStorage	Remembers whether the first-step panel in the Games hub is collapsed.	Until you clear your browser storage	When you collapse or expand that panel.
`dash_ob_minimized`	localStorage	Remembers whether the dashboard getting-started panel is minimised.	Until you clear your browser storage	When you minimise or expand that panel.
`bglPublishingDefaultsUpdated`	localStorage	A short-lived signal that tells an open catalogue-onboarding tab that your publishing defaults were just saved, so its preview refreshes. Stores only a company id and a timestamp.	Until overwritten or you clear your browser storage	When you save your publishing / opportunity defaults.
`bglScroll:<page path>`	sessionStorage	Remembers your scroll position in a filtered list so it can be restored when you navigate back or forward to it.	Current browser tab session	As you scroll a filterable list.
`bgl_games_bulk_v1:<companyId>`	sessionStorage	Keeps your bulk game selection while you page through or filter your catalogue in bulk-edit mode.	Current browser tab session	When you select games in bulk-edit mode.
`editCurrentStep`	sessionStorage	Remembers which step of the multi-step game edit form you were on, so it can be restored after the page reloads (for example after a gallery upload).	Current browser tab session (removed once restored)	When you move between steps or before a gallery upload.
`scrollToGallery`	sessionStorage	Restores your scroll position to the gallery after a gallery upload reloads the game edit page.	Current browser tab session (removed once restored)	Before a gallery upload reloads the page.

Third-party providers

Where we rely on third parties, they act as independent controllers or processors under their own policies:

Google Analytics (Google LLC) — analytics; loaded only after you allow the Analytics category. See Google's Privacy Policy.
YouTube (Google LLC) and Vimeo Inc. — embedded video players; load only when you allow the External media category and choose to play a video. To limit tracking we embed YouTube through the privacy-enhanced youtube-nocookie.com host and request Vimeo's dnt=1 ("do not track") mode. Until you allow External media, a placeholder is shown and no video is loaded.

International data transfers

Some providers, including Google and Vimeo, are based in the United States and may process personal data outside the European Economic Area. Where applicable, such transfers are protected by appropriate safeguards under applicable data protection law, such as an adequacy decision or the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses.

How to give or withdraw consent

On your first visit you can Accept all, Reject all, or Manage preferences. Optional cookies are off until you choose to enable them — we never pre-select them and continuing to browse does not count as consent.

You can change your choice at any time by clicking here or in the site footer. When you withdraw consent, we stop the related scripts and remove the associated first-party cookies where possible.

Managing cookies in your browser

You can also block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Doing so may affect how parts of the site work. See your browser's help pages:

Related policies

This Cookie Policy should be read together with our Privacy Policy, , which explains in more detail how BoardGameLink processes personal data.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When the changes are material we increase the policy version, which prompts you to review your choices again. This is version 1, last updated 29 July 2026.