Who we are
Pocket Auction (the “game”) and this website are created and published by Yilmaz Ipekci, an individual developer (“we”, “us”, “our”). For the information described in this policy that we decide the purposes of, we are the “controller” under data protection laws such as the GDPR and the UK GDPR.
Contact: support@ylms.me. Please put “Privacy” in the subject line so we can find it quickly.
What information is involved
This table covers everything. If it is not listed here, we do not collect it.
| Where | What | Who receives it |
|---|---|---|
| Game saves and settings | Save slots, collection, progress, scores, preferences, last-played slot | Stored only on your iPhone. We never receive it. |
| Ads in the iPhone app | Technical and ad-interaction data handled by Google’s ad SDK (see Advertising) | Google, acting as an independent controller for that data |
| Ad consent choices | Your consent or privacy choice, recorded on your device by Google’s consent tool | Stored on your device; Google’s tool may use it to tell the ad SDK what is allowed |
| Support messages | Your email address and whatever you choose to tell us | Us, and our email provider |
| This website | Standard server logs (IP address, browser type, pages requested, time) | Our web hosting provider |
The game does not ask for your name, contacts, location, photos, camera, microphone, health data or payment details. It has no in-app purchases, no accounts, no analytics and no social features.
Information stored on your iPhone
Your save slots, collection progress, tour scores, the last-played slot and your preferences are stored locally on your device. We cannot see, access or restore them. Deleting a career from the save-slot screen removes that career. Deleting the app removes all local game data. Your own iPhone or iCloud backups may keep earlier copies according to your Apple settings.
Advertising in the iPhone app
The iPhone app uses the Google Mobile Ads SDK (Google AdMob) to show ads. There are two kinds:
- Interstitial ads that may appear between some evenings.
- Optional rewarded ads that you choose to watch in exchange for an in-game bonus, such as recovery coins, a fresh start with the dealer, one more evening on a rung, doubled evening XP, or a free appraiser reference. The bonus is granted only if you watch the ad through. Declining costs you nothing but the bonus.
What Google may collect
When an ad is requested or shown, Google’s SDK may collect and use information such as your IP address (from which it can infer an approximate location), device and app information (device model, operating system version, language, app identifiers such as a vendor identifier), whether and how ads were displayed or interacted with, and app diagnostics such as crash and performance data. Google uses this to deliver and measure ads, limit how often an ad appears (frequency capping), prevent fraud and abuse, and keep its services secure and compliant.
Google acts as an independent controller of the data it collects through its SDK and handles it under its own Privacy Policy. See also How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services. We do not receive individual-level data from Google; we see only aggregated reports such as impressions and estimated earnings by country.
Non-personalized ads and tracking
- We tell Google to serve non-personalized ads. Those are not selected using your past behavior across other apps and websites. Google may still process limited data for the purposes above.
- The app does not show Apple’s “Allow tracking” prompt, so it does not receive your advertising identifier (IDFA).
- We do not sell your personal information, and we do not combine ad data with any other data about you.
Consent and your ad privacy choices
In the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and wherever else the law requires it, the game shows a consent message from Google’s User Messaging Platform before requesting any ad. While consent is required and has not been given, the app does not request ads and the game carries on without them. Where a privacy-options choice is required (for example under certain US state laws), an Ad privacy choices button appears in the game’s Settings so you can review or change your answer at any time.
Ads and consent messages need an internet connection. Without one, the game works normally and simply shows none.
Why we use information, and our legal bases
If you are in the EEA, the UK or Switzerland, we rely on these legal bases:
| Purpose | Legal basis |
|---|---|
| Showing ads through Google AdMob, including reading or storing information on your device for that purpose | Consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR and the ePrivacy rules), collected through Google’s consent message. You can withdraw it at any time via Ad privacy choices in Settings. Google decides its own purposes and legal bases as an independent controller. |
| Replying to support messages and fixing problems | Legitimate interests in helping players and improving the game (Article 6(1)(f)), or steps you ask us to take (Article 6(1)(b)). |
| Website security and reliability (server logs) | Legitimate interests in keeping the site running and secure (Article 6(1)(f)). |
| Handling privacy requests and complying with law | Legal obligation (Article 6(1)(c)). |
International transfers
Google and our service providers may process information in countries other than yours, including the United States. Where required, transfers rely on safeguards such as the EU–US Data Privacy Framework or standard contractual clauses. Google describes its own transfer safeguards in its Privacy Policy.
How long we keep information
- Game data: stays on your device until you delete it. We hold none.
- Support messages: for as long as needed to help you, and then for up to 24 months after our last exchange, unless the law requires longer or a dispute is open.
- Website server logs: kept by our hosting provider for a limited period under its own settings, typically weeks rather than years.
- Ad data: retained by Google under its own policies.
Your rights
Depending on where you live (for example in the EEA, the UK or Switzerland), you may have the right to access the personal data we hold about you, have it corrected or erased, restrict or object to some processing, receive it in a portable format, and withdraw consent at any time without affecting earlier processing. You also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority.
To use these rights, email support@ylms.me. We may need to verify that a request is really from you and will reply within one month (or as your local law requires). Because we hold no identifiers linked to your game, the personal data we hold is generally limited to support emails. For ad-related data, you can also use Google’s controls: review its Privacy Policy, and change your consent through Ad privacy choices in the game’s Settings.
Apple settings. You can also manage tracking and advertising on your iPhone under Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking and Apple Advertising.
US state privacy rights
Residents of some US states, including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Utah and Texas, have rights to know, access, correct, delete and obtain a copy of their personal information, to opt out of its sale or sharing for targeted advertising, and not to be discriminated against for exercising these rights.
- Categories we collect: identifiers and communications only when you email us. Google may collect identifiers, internet or app activity and approximate geolocation through its SDK, as described in Advertising.
- Sale and sharing: we do not sell personal information. Because we request non-personalized ads, we do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.
- Sensitive information: we do not collect it.
- How to exercise your rights: email support@ylms.me, or use Ad privacy choices in Settings where it is shown. An authorized agent may act for you with your written permission.
Children
Pocket Auction is not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 where local law sets that age), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Consent for ads should be given by an adult. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
This website
This site uses no cookies, no analytics, no advertising and no third-party embeds. Fonts and images are served from this site, so your browser makes no requests to other companies when you visit. Like almost every website, our hosting provider automatically records standard server logs (such as IP address, browser, pages and times) to keep the site secure and running. Links to external sites, such as Apple or Google, are governed by those sites’ own policies.
Security
We keep collection to a minimum: game data never leaves your device, so it is protected by your iPhone’s own security. Support emails travel through standard encrypted email services. No system is perfectly secure, but we take care to hold as little as possible.
Changes to this policy
If the game’s data practices change, for example by adding a new service, we will update this page and its effective date before the change takes effect, and update the summary inside the game. Earlier versions can be requested by email.
Contact us
Questions, requests or concerns about privacy: support@ylms.me. You can also visit the support page.
Questions? Write to support@ylms.me.