Privacy Policy
This website is an independent information resource about the Hot Hot Fruit slot by Habanero, the Spina Zonke collection and the South African online casino scene. We publish reviews, guides and demo-play information - we do not operate any games, take bets or hold player funds. This Privacy Policy explains what information we handle when you visit, why we handle it, and what rights you have over it.
By using this site you agree to the practices described below. If you don't agree, please stop using the site.
Who We Are
Hot Hot Fruit SA is an editorial project run from South Africa. For any privacy question, correction or deletion request, contact us using the details on our Contact page. We act as the "responsible party" for the personal information described in this policy, in the sense used by South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
Information We Collect
We keep data collection deliberately light. There are two categories:
1. Information you give us voluntarily
The site has no player accounts, no wallets and no payment processing, so we never ask for ID numbers, banking details or gambling account credentials. You may choose to share personal information when you:
- email us with a question, correction or suggestion;
- request a review update or report an inaccuracy;
- apply to contribute as a writer (see our Authors page).
In those cases we may receive your name or pseudonym, your email address and, if you include it, your language or region. We use this information only to reply to you and to handle your request. We do not add visitors to marketing lists without a clear opt-in, and we do not sell personal information to anyone, ever.
2. Technical information collected automatically
Like most websites, our hosting and analytics tools process limited technical data when you browse:
- browser type, device type and operating system;
- IP address and general connection information;
- approximate region (country or city level);
- pages viewed, time on page and referring source.
This data is aggregated where possible and used to keep the site fast, fix errors and understand which guides are useful. It does not directly identify you, and we do not attempt to re-identify individuals from it.
Cookies
We use a minimal set of cookies and similar technologies:
| Type | Purpose | Can you refuse it? |
|---|---|---|
| Essential | Site security, load balancing, remembering your privacy choices | No - the site needs them to function |
| Analytics | Anonymous usage statistics that help us improve content | Yes - decline via the cookie notice or your browser settings |
| Embedded content | Embedded videos (e.g. YouTube) may set their own cookies when you play them | Yes - don't press play, or block third-party cookies |
Embedded players are provided by third parties and are governed by their own privacy policies, which we don't control.
Why We Process Data
- to respond to messages you send us;
- to keep the site secure, stable and fast;
- to understand which articles help readers and which need rework;
- to prevent spam, abuse and automated attacks;
- to comply with legal obligations where required.
When We Share Information
We share as little as possible, and only in these situations:
- Service providers - hosting and analytics vendors process technical data on our behalf under contract.
- Legal requirements - where a South African law, court or regulator compels disclosure.
- Security incidents - where sharing limited data is necessary to investigate misuse or protect visitors.
We never share your contact details with casinos, bookmakers or affiliates for their marketing.
How Long We Keep Data
- Email correspondence: up to 24 months after our last exchange, then deleted.
- Analytics data: retained in aggregate form for up to 26 months.
- Contributor application materials: deleted within 6 months if no collaboration follows.
Your Rights Under POPIA
If you are in South Africa (or anywhere else), you may ask us to:
- confirm whether we hold personal information about you;
- give you a copy of it;
- correct anything inaccurate;
- delete it where no legal obligation requires us to keep it;
- stop or restrict certain processing.
Email your request to the address on our Contact page. We respond within a reasonable period - typically under 30 days - and we don't charge for a first reasonable request.
Children
This site is intended for adults. Gambling advertising and content are restricted to persons 18 years and older under South African law. We do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you believe a minor has shared personal information with us, contact us and we will delete it promptly.
Security
We apply reasonable technical and organisational safeguards - encrypted connections (HTTPS), restricted access to correspondence, and up-to-date hosting infrastructure. No website can guarantee absolute security, but we treat your data with the care we'd expect for our own.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy as the site evolves or the law changes. The "last updated" date at the top always reflects the current version, and material changes will be highlighted on this page for a reasonable period.
Contact
Privacy questions, access requests and deletion requests go through our Contact page. If you are unsatisfied with our response, you may escalate to the Information Regulator of South Africa, which oversees POPIA compliance.
Thandi has covered the iGaming beat since 2021, with a particular weakness for classic fruit machines and everything in the Spina Zonke line-up. Every game she reviews gets a full demo session first, then real-money testing at licensed South African operators, bankroll logs included.