Your Privacy Matters

We collect information you provide directly and data generated automatically when you use the Platform:

Information You Provide

• Account data: name, email address, phone number, username, hashed password, date of birth
• Profile data: avatar, preferences, and any optional profile information you add
• Verification data: confirmation that your email and phone number belong to you, and your linked Telegram account (if you choose to link one)
• Communications: messages you send to our support team

Automatically Collected Data

• Usage data: pages visited, contest entries, picks made, features used
• Device data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Log data: access times, error reports, referral source

We use the information we collect to:

• Operate the Platform — create and manage your account, run contests, distribute BCP rewards
• Improve our services — analyze usage patterns to enhance features and fix issues
• Communicate with you — send contest results, account notifications, and (with your consent) promotional emails
• Ensure safety and fairness — detect fraud, prevent cheating, and enforce our Terms of Service
• Comply with legal obligations — respond to lawful requests from authorities when required
• Process referrals — track and credit referral bonuses accurately

We will never use your data for purposes materially different from those listed without your explicit consent.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share your data only in these limited circumstances:

• Service providers: trusted vendors who help us operate the Platform (hosting, analytics, email delivery) — bound by confidentiality agreements
• Legal requirements: when required by law, court order, or governmental authority
• Business transfers: in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, with user notification
• Safety: to protect the rights, property, or safety of BracketContest, our users, or the public
• With your consent: for any other purpose with your explicit prior consent

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience:

• Essential cookies: required for the Platform to function (session management, security)
• Analytics cookies: help us understand how users interact with the Platform
• Preference cookies: remember your language and display settings

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling essential cookies may affect Platform functionality. We do not use cookies for cross-site behavioral advertising.

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide services:

• Account data: retained for the duration of your account plus 2 years for legal compliance
• Contest and picks history: retained indefinitely as anonymized records after account deletion
• Support communications: retained for 3 years
• Log data: retained for 12 months

When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law.

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures, including:

• Encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest
• Hashed and salted password storage — we never store plain-text passwords
• Regular security assessments and access controls
• Incident response procedures for detecting and addressing data breaches

No system is 100% secure. In the event of a breach that affects your rights, we will notify you as required by applicable law.

BracketContest is intended for users who are 18 years of age or older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18.

If we become aware that a user under 18 has provided personal information, we will promptly delete that information and terminate the associated account. If you believe a minor has registered, please contact us at [email protected].

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Correction: request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
• Deletion: request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten")
• Portability: receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Opt-out of marketing: unsubscribe from promotional emails at any time
• Withdraw consent: where processing is based on consent, withdraw it at any time

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

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services (e.g., social login, Telegram). This Privacy Policy applies only to BracketContest.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external services you use in connection with BracketContest.

BracketContest is operated from the United States. If you are accessing the Platform from outside the U.S., your personal data may be transferred to and processed in the U.S. or other countries that may have different data protection standards than your home country.

Where required by law (e.g., for users in the European Economic Area), we implement appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses to protect your data during international transfers.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
• Notify registered users via email or an in-Platform notification at least 7 days before changes take effect

Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date constitutes your acceptance. If you do not agree, please delete your account before the effective date.

If you have any questions, requests, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact our privacy team. We are committed to resolving privacy concerns promptly.