Plain English summary: Dart Starter is a free darts training platform. We collect only what we need to run the site, we never sell your data, we don't run intrusive tracking, and you can request deletion of your account and data at any time. Read on for the full details.
Who We Are
Dart Starter ("we", "us", "our") is a free digital darts training platform operated from Telford, United Kingdom. Our website is accessible at dartstarter.co.uk.
We provide training games, a Career Mode simulation, equipment reviews, checkout tools, a daily challenge, a community chat, and related darts content — all free of charge. Dart Starter is not a registered limited company; it is an independent platform run by its founder.
For any privacy-related enquiries, you can contact us at dartstarteradmin@gmail.com.
Data We Collect
We collect information in two ways: information you provide to us voluntarily, and information collected automatically when you use the site.
Information you provide:
- Account information (email address and password) if you choose to create a Dart Starter account via Google Firebase Authentication.
- Display name or username if you choose to provide one in the community chat or Career Mode.
- Any content you submit to the community chat.
Information collected automatically:
- Game progress and Career Mode save data, stored locally in your browser's localStorage and optionally synced to Firebase Firestore if you are signed in.
- Daily Challenge results, stored locally in your browser's localStorage.
- Basic usage data collected by Google Analytics (if enabled), including pages visited, time on site, device type, and approximate geographic location (country/city level). No personally identifiable information is sent to Google Analytics.
- Advertising data collected by Google AdSense, including your IP address, browser type, and browsing behaviour on our site, used to serve relevant ads. See Section 6 for details.
We do not collect payment information. Dart Starter is free and we process no financial transactions directly.
How We Use Your Data
We use the data we collect for the following purposes:
- To provide the service: running training games, saving Career Mode progress, powering the community chat, and delivering daily challenges.
- To improve the platform: understanding which features are used most, identifying bugs, and informing decisions about new content.
- To enable account features: if you create an account, to authenticate you, sync your save data across devices, and allow you to participate in the community.
- To serve advertising: Google AdSense uses data about your browsing to show you relevant ads. This helps fund the platform and keep it free.
- To communicate with you: only if you contact us directly at our email address.
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to any third party for marketing purposes.
Cookies & Local Storage
Dart Starter uses cookies and browser local storage to enhance your experience.
Local Storage (no expiry until you clear your browser):
- ds_career_v3 — your Career Mode save data (player name, pub name, division, season stats).
- ds_startle_[date] — your daily Dart Startle result for each date.
- ds_caller_settings — your Master Caller preferences (voice, speed, pitch).
- ds_career_input_mode — your preferred scoring input mode (dart-by-dart or keypad).
Cookies set by third parties:
- Google AdSense sets cookies to measure ad performance and serve personalised ads. These include the _ga, _gid, and NID cookies. You can opt out of personalised ads via Google Ad Settings.
- Firebase / Google sets authentication cookies if you sign in to a Dart Starter account.
When you first visit the site, a cookie consent banner asks for your agreement before any non-essential cookies are set. You can withdraw consent at any time by clearing your browser cookies and declining when the banner reappears.
Third-Party Services
Dart Starter uses the following third-party services. Each has its own privacy policy which governs how it handles data:
- Google Firebase (Authentication & Firestore) — used for optional user accounts and cloud save sync. Firebase is operated by Google LLC. Firebase Privacy Policy →
- Google AdSense — used to display advertising on the site. Google Privacy Policy →
- Google Fonts — used to load typefaces (Barlow and Lora). Font requests may log your IP address. Google Privacy Policy →
- Cloudflare — used for DNS and site delivery. Cloudflare may log request metadata. Cloudflare Privacy Policy →
- Buy Me a Coffee — an optional voluntary support link. If you visit that platform, their privacy policy applies.
- Facebook & TikTok — social links on the site. Clicking them takes you to their platforms, which have their own policies.
We have no control over the data practices of these third-party providers. We encourage you to read their privacy policies.
Advertising (Google AdSense)
Dart Starter displays advertisements served by Google AdSense (publisher ID: ca-pub-7899448439309795). Advertising revenue is what allows us to keep the platform free.
Google AdSense may use cookies and web beacons to serve ads based on your prior visits to our site and other sites on the internet. Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads based on your visit to our site.
You can opt out of personalised advertising by visiting Google Ad Settings, or by visiting aboutads.info to opt out of third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalised advertising.
Dart Starter itself does not accept paid placements or sponsored content that is presented as editorial. All reviews and recommendations on the site are independent.
Data Retention
We retain data only for as long as necessary to provide the service:
- Local storage data (Career Mode saves, daily challenge results, settings) is stored in your own browser and persists until you clear your browser data or delete it manually.
- Firebase account data (email address, display name, cloud saves) is retained while your account is active. If you request account deletion, we will delete your Firestore data and Firebase Authentication record within 30 days.
- Community chat messages may be retained for moderation purposes and to maintain the continuity of the chat. You can request removal of specific messages by contacting us.
- Analytics data collected by Google Analytics is governed by Google's retention policies (typically 26 months).
Your Rights
Under UK data protection law (UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018), you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right of access — you can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to rectification — you can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to erasure — you can ask us to delete your personal data ("right to be forgotten").
- Right to restrict processing — you can ask us to limit how we use your data in certain circumstances.
- Right to data portability — you can request your data in a structured, machine-readable format.
- Right to object — you can object to our processing of your data for direct marketing or where we rely on legitimate interests.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at dartstarteradmin@gmail.com. We will respond within 30 days. We will not charge a fee for reasonable requests.
If you are unhappy with how we handle your data, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.
Children's Privacy
Dart Starter is intended for users of all ages who enjoy darts. The training games, Career Mode and daily challenges are suitable for all ages and do not require an account to use.
We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 13 without verifiable parental consent. The account registration feature (which requires an email address) is intended for users aged 13 and over.
If you believe we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, please contact us at dartstarteradmin@gmail.com and we will delete it promptly.
Security
We take reasonable steps to protect the personal data we hold:
- Account authentication is handled by Google Firebase Authentication, which uses industry-standard encryption and secure token handling.
- User data stored in Firebase Firestore is protected by Firebase Security Rules, limiting access to authenticated users and administrative functions only.
- The site is served over HTTPS, encrypting data in transit between your browser and our servers.
- We do not store passwords. Authentication credentials are managed entirely by Firebase and Google's OAuth system.
No method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. If you become aware of any security vulnerability on the site, please contact us immediately.
Terms of Use
By using Dart Starter, you agree to the following terms:
Acceptable use
- You must not use the site for any unlawful purpose or in any way that could harm, disable, or impair the service.
- You must not attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the site, its servers, or any data connected to the site.
- You must not upload or transmit any content that is offensive, defamatory, discriminatory, or in breach of any applicable law.
- You must not use automated tools to scrape, crawl, or harvest data from the site without our prior written consent.
Community chat
- The community chat is a space for darts discussion. Keep it friendly, respectful and on topic.
- We reserve the right to remove any messages or suspend any accounts that violate these terms without notice.
Intellectual property
- All original content on Dart Starter — including the Career Mode, training games, blog articles, and site design — is the intellectual property of Dart Starter.
- You may share links to our content. You must not reproduce substantial portions of our content on other platforms without permission.
- Third-party brand names, trademarks and logos referenced in reviews (Target, Winmau, Red Dragon, etc.) are the property of their respective owners. Their inclusion is editorial and does not imply endorsement.
Disclaimer
- Dart Starter is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied.
- We do not guarantee uninterrupted access to the site. Maintenance, updates or technical issues may cause temporary unavailability.
- Equipment reviews on the site represent our honest independent opinion. We are not liable for purchasing decisions made based on our reviews.
- Career Mode is a simulation for entertainment and training purposes. It does not represent or affiliate with any real darts governing body, including the PDC, WDF, or BDO.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy and Terms of Use from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal obligations. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.
Continued use of Dart Starter after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. If the changes are material, we will make reasonable efforts to notify users through a banner on the site.
We encourage you to review this page periodically. Previous versions are available on request.
Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns or requests relating to this policy or your personal data, please get in touch:
We aim to respond to all enquiries within 48 hours. For formal data subject access requests or erasure requests under UK GDPR, we will respond within 30 days as required by law.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):
- Website: ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint
- Phone: 0303 123 1113
- Address: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF