Privacy policy
Backgammon is a free online backgammon game. You can play without signing up, we keep only what the game needs, and we never sell your data. This page explains exactly what we keep and why.
Who we are
Backgammon is made by Powell Lines LLC, a company in the United States, and published under our studio brand Powell Play. Backgammon runs at backgammon.powellplay.com. In this policy, "we" and "us" mean Powell Lines LLC. You can reach us at backgammon@powellplay.com.
What we collect
You start as a guest. There is no sign-up form and we do not ask for your name, email or phone number. Our server stores:
- A random player id. It identifies your player and is not tied to who you are.
- Your in-game name. Either one we generate or one you choose.
- Game stats: matches played, wins, rating and badges.
- Match records: the moves and dice of your matches, so you can review them and so anyone can check that the dice were fair.
- Settings you choose in the game.
- A hashed recovery code, only if you make one. We keep a one-way hash, not the code itself.
- A two-letter country code, only if our hosting provider supplies one with your connection. We do not store your city or precise location.
- Reports and blocks you make about other players, and reports others make about you.
- Game events, such as a match starting or ending, which we use to keep the game running well.
- Purchase records, only if you buy Backgammon Pro (see Payments).
IP addresses. We do not store raw IP addresses in our database. Like any website, our servers see your IP address when you connect, and it appears in short-lived server logs that we keep for at most 30 days to fix problems and stop abuse.
On your device. To keep you signed in as the same player, your browser keeps a random session token in localStorage under the key pips_token. The game may also keep a short list of players used on this device. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.
What we do not do. Backgammon has no ads and no third-party analytics. Chat is limited to preset quick-chat phrases, so we never store free-typed messages.
Fonts. Our pages load the Space Grotesk font from Google Fonts. When your browser downloads it, Google receives your IP address and browser details as part of that request. See Google's privacy policy for how they handle it.
How we use it
- To run the game: match you with players or the bot, keep score, run clocks and save your progress.
- To show your stats, rating and badges, and to let you review past matches.
- To prove the dice are fair, by keeping each match's dice and seeds.
- To keep play safe and fair: handle reports and blocks, and spot cheating or abuse.
- To fix bugs and improve Backgammon, using game events and stats.
- To unlock Backgammon Pro if you buy it, and to handle refunds and taxes.
- To answer you when you write to support.
We do not use your data for advertising and we do not build profiles of you for anyone else.
Sign in with Powell Play
Signing in is optional. You can play Backgammon as a guest forever.
If you sign in with Powell Play, we receive your Powell Play ID, username, avatar and confirmed email address from Powell Lines LLC. We use the email only to find a Backgammon account you already have and offer to continue it. If you disconnect the game or delete your Powell Play account, we stop using them and remove them from Backgammon. If you ask Powell Play to delete your data in every connected game, we delete your Backgammon data too.
Backgammon does not keep that email address. We use it only at the moment you sign in, then discard it. Powell Play's own handling of your data is described in the Powell Play privacy policy.
Stats sharing
We keep gameplay statistics to run and improve Backgammon. If you connect your Powell Play ID, Powell Lines' Powell Play service can show your Backgammon stats on your Powell Play profile and leaderboards (you can hide your profile at id.powellplay.com/account). We share only totals, never your email, IP address or payment details.
If you never connect a Powell Play ID, your Backgammon stats stay in Backgammon.
Things to do
When a game is waiting on you (like your move in a match with a friend), we tell Powell Play ID so it can show it in your Things to do list and, if you choose, a summary email. You control this per game at id.powellplay.com/things-to-do.
In Backgammon this happens only when a match you played with your Powell Play ID connected finishes while you are away. Backgammon itself never sends you emails, texts or push notifications.
Payments
Backgammon is free. There is one optional one-time purchase, Backgammon Pro, for $4.99, sold on the web through Stripe Checkout.
- Stripe collects and processes your card details. We never see or store your card number.
- We store a purchase record: the item, the amount, the date, and a link to your player so Pro stays unlocked.
- Nothing is sold inside the Powell Play app.
- You can ask for a refund within 30 days. A refund removes Pro. See the refunds policy.
Stripe's handling of payment data is covered by Stripe's own privacy policy.
Who we share data with
We never sell your data and we never share it for advertising. We share data only with service providers who process it for us, under contract, to run Backgammon:
- Our hosting provider, which runs our servers and database.
- Stripe, which processes Backgammon Pro payments.
Other players can see your in-game name and the public parts of your profile, such as rating and badges, and the moves of matches you play with them. If you connect a Powell Play ID, Powell Play can show your stat totals as described above.
We may also disclose data if the law requires it, or to protect players or our service from fraud or abuse.
How long we keep data
| Data | How long |
|---|---|
| Raw game events | 180 days |
| Per-player stats, badges, settings | As long as your player exists |
| Bot and pass-and-play match records | 1 year |
| Online match records | Kept with the player, removed when you delete your player |
| Server logs with IP addresses | At most 30 days |
| Purchase records | As long as tax law requires, unlinked from your player after you delete it |
Your choices and rights
Wherever you live, you can ask us to access, correct or delete your data. We answer within 30 days and we do not charge for it.
- Access. Your name, stats, badges and match history are shown in the game. For a full copy of what we hold about your player, email backgammon@powellplay.com from the device you play on, or include your recovery code, so we can find your player.
- Correct. You can choose your in-game name and change your settings in the game. For anything else, email us.
- Delete. Go to Delete your data. You can delete the player on your device, or use a recovery code. This removes your player, stats, badges and sessions and anonymizes event logs. You can also delete your Powell Play account at id.powellplay.com/account.
- Disconnect Powell Play. You can disconnect Backgammon from your Powell Play ID. We then stop using your Powell Play details and remove them from Backgammon.
- Block and report. You can block or report any player in the game.
- Clear your device. Clearing site data in your browser removes your session token. Make a recovery code first if you want to keep your player.
If you are in a place with specific privacy laws, such as the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or California, you have these rights under that law too, and you may complain to your local data protection authority. We rely on running the game you asked for, and on our legitimate interest in keeping it fair and working, to process your data.
Children
Backgammon is for players 13 and over. It is not directed to children, and we do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 is using Backgammon, email us and we will delete that player.
Security
We use encrypted connections (HTTPS) for all traffic. Session tokens are random, and recovery codes are stored only as one-way hashes. Card details never reach our servers. We limit who can access our systems. No service can promise perfect security, so keep your recovery code private, and tell us at once if you think something is wrong.
Changes to this policy
We will update this page when what we collect or how we use it changes, and change the effective date at the top. If a change is significant, we will also let you know in the game.
Contact
Powell Lines LLC, United States
Email: backgammon@powellplay.com