On , the Ukrainian regulator PlayCity revoked the licence of Cosmolot. Two weeks later, the website is still up, deposits are accepted, and withdrawals are processing. This review covers in detail what really happened, why the casino remains open, and what a player can expect in May 2026.
Chronicle of April 22: why the licence was revoked
Here is the timeline. On , PlayCity decided to revoke the licence of Spaceiks LLC (Ukrainian registration code 43846231) – the operator of the Cosmolot brand. The grounds: violations of financial settlement rules. The regulator identified two systemic issues. First: the company was using p2p payments instead of receiving funds via the official organiser's account. Second: it allowed deposits from third-party bank cards.
In addition to the revocation, the operator received fines totalling UAH 12.9 million: UAH 8.6 million for p2p settlements and UAH 4.3 million for accepting funds from third-party cards. PlayCity head Hennadiy Novikov commented briefly: a licence implies operating under the conditions established by law. Otherwise – fines, and for serious violations – revocation.
What does this mean for a player? Legally, the casino is in limbo: the licence formally exists but is contested by the regulator. You can play, but the risks should be assessed soberly – more on that below.
Who Cosmolot really is
Cosmolot launched in Ukraine in February 2021 after receiving one of the first KRAIL licences – decision No. 34 dated . Compared to the rest of the market, the brand had a clear edge: aggressive social media advertising with a recognisable musical jingle, ubiquitous YouTube mentions, and broadcast sponsorship. Within two or three years, Cosmolot became one of the most recognisable gambling brands in the country.
In autumn 2024, the American investment holding Nevada Gaming Holding completed the acquisition of Spaceiks. Prior to that, the co-owner was the Anglo-German businessman Arnulf Damerau. In 2024, Damerau publicly told Western media that corrupt officials from Ukraine's law enforcement agencies and the Office of the President had demanded tens of millions of euros from him.
A separate chapter: the December 2024 arrest of KRAIL chairman Ivan Rudyi, charged with facilitating Russian online casinos. This happened before PlayCity was created – the new agency replaced KRAIL in June 2025, after which operator inspections became more rigorous. The Cosmolot licence revocation in April 2026 is PlayCity's first major high-profile case.
What p2p payments are and why this is not a minor issue
Briefly. When you fund a licensed casino account, the money should go to the official organiser's account – in Cosmolot's case, Spaceiks LLC. The amount is then recorded as revenue, and personal income tax plus the military levy are automatically withheld from any winnings. The p2p scheme works differently: the player transfers money not to the casino but to another player or an agent. The casino merely registers the receipt and credits the corresponding amount to the gaming account.
Why is this convenient for the player? Faster, with no payment system limits, sometimes with no bank fees. Why is it a problem for the state? Such transactions fall outside fiscal control, winnings leave without tax withholding, and on the surface the cash flows look like person-to-person transfers without an obvious purpose.
The second violation – deposits from third-party cards. Ukrainian gambling law requires the player to deposit personally, using a card verified against their passport. This is a basic safeguard against money laundering and underage participation through relatives' cards. Cosmolot did not enforce this – hence the second penalty of UAH 4.3 million.
Can you play right now: what practice shows
As of , the cosmolot.ua website opens without restrictions. Registration works, deposits go through (Visa, Mastercard, Monobank, Privat24). Withdrawals also process, but with a caveat: support warns of extended verification times for larger amounts. Whether this is directly tied to the licence situation, staff don't comment.
A personal observation: over four days of testing, withdrawals up to UAH 5,000 to a card processed within 30-90 minutes. A UAH 25,000 withdrawal took 14 hours with a repeat selfie-with-passport verification. Previously, similar amounts cleared in under 4 hours.
Welcome offer: Standard or VIP
The Cosmolot welcome package is split into two tiers with different deposit thresholds:
- Standard pack
- Up to UAH 250,000 + 850 free spins across the first 5 deposits. Minimum deposit – UAH 100. Wagering on the cash portion – x40, on free spins – x1 (effectively no wagering).
- VIP pack
- Up to UAH 375,000 + 1,000 free spins. The first 5 deposits must be UAH 2,000-4,000 each. Each top-up earns 125% bonus plus 100 FS valued at UAH 5 each. Wagering on cash – x35, transfer to the main account capped at x3 of the bonus amount.
What actually matters. Wagering window – 3 days from activation. That is stricter than most licensed Ukrainian casinos, where 7-10 days is the average. Maximum bet during wagering – UAH 150; bets above that limit automatically void the bonus portion.
Cosmolot also gives 17 free spins for registration and email confirmation, with no deposit required. The amount is tiny, but winnings transfer to the main balance with x1 wagering – effectively withdrawable.
Deposits and withdrawals: real methods
The current Cosmolot payment ecosystem:
| Method | Deposit | Withdrawal | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa / Mastercard | from UAH 100 | from UAH 100 | 30 min – 4 h |
| Monobank | from UAH 100 | from UAH 100 | 30 min – 2 h |
| Privat24 | from UAH 100 | from UAH 100 | 30 min – 2 h |
| Apple Pay / Google Pay | from UAH 100 | not supported | instant |
No cryptocurrencies, as in all licensed Ukrainian casinos. The p2p methods that triggered the fine are no longer available on the site – the operator disabled them immediately after PlayCity's announcement.
About taxes: Cosmolot acts as a tax agent, as required by law. 18% personal income tax and 5% military levy are automatically withheld from winnings. If the deposit was UAH 1,000 and the withdrawal UAH 5,000, taxes apply to the UAH 4,000 difference, not to the entire amount. This is standard practice for all licensed operators in Ukraine.
Catalogue: what to play in 2026
According to the platform itself, the catalogue contains over 2,000 games. The actual provider list is noticeably below market norms: Pragmatic Play, Playson, NetEnt, Spinomenal, BGaming, Booongo, Habanero. Microgaming and Yggdrasil – heavyweights of the industry – are not officially in the catalogue, likely due to incomplete integration agreements.
One interesting detail: Cosmolot has exclusive in-house slots. Cosmolot Bonanza features a maximum multiplier of x21,000; Hot Cosmolot 40 uses traditional mechanics. This is not unique on the market (Slots City and First also build their own slots), but it's a nice extra.
The live casino offers the classics: roulette, blackjack, baccarat, poker, plus live shows like Crazy Time and Monopoly Live. There is no demo mode in Live (slots do have it). Crash games include Aviator, Spaceman, JetX – the standard set.
Support and verification
Cosmolot support channels:
- Live chat on the site: 24/7, average response 1-3 minutes
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 0 800 33 27 07 (toll-free), +380 44 344 27 07. Hours 9:00-18:00, not 24/7
- Telegram channel with promo codes and announcements
Verification is fast under normal conditions: the standard "passport + tax ID + selfie with document" pack processes in 20-30 minutes. In April-May 2026, that stretched to 4-12 hours for new accounts and up to a day for withdrawals over UAH 25,000. I suspect this is a side effect of tightened compliance after the PlayCity ruling – the operator is hedging against further regulatory claims.
Strengths and weaknesses
Pros
- Welcome package up to UAH 375,000 + 1,000 FS – among the largest on the market
- Proprietary in-house slots with high return
- Fast withdrawals to Ukrainian banks (30 min – 4 h)
- 24/7 Ukrainian-language support
- Low minimum deposit – UAH 100
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
Cons
- Licence revoked by PlayCity, awaiting court verdict
- Strict 3-day welcome wagering window
- x40 cash wagering – above the average
- Smaller provider catalogue than Slots City or Favbet
- No official Telegram support (only an announcements channel)
- No demo in the Live section
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to play at Cosmolot after the licence revocation?
Legally – risky. The licence is formally active because the PlayCity decision is suspended by court order, but no court has issued a final ruling. If you lose, the loss stands. If you win a large amount, withdrawal may take longer or become problematic if the regulator ultimately prevails.
What is the minimum deposit for the welcome bonus?
UAH 100 for the Standard pack. For the VIP pack – the first 5 deposits at UAH 2,000-4,000 each.
Are Apple Pay and Google Pay supported?
Yes, for deposits. Withdrawals via Apple Pay and Google Pay are not supported – only refunds to the bank card used for the deposit.
How long does verification take?
Typically 20-30 minutes. After the April 2026 events, this extended to 4-12 hours for new accounts and up to a day for withdrawals over UAH 25,000.
Are taxes withheld from winnings automatically?
Yes. Cosmolot acts as a tax agent and withholds 18% personal income tax and 5% military levy from the difference between deposit and withdrawal, as required by Ukrainian law.
Editorial verdict
A paradoxical situation. Cosmolot remains one of the largest and most functional casinos on the Ukrainian market: broad bonus, fast payouts, decent support, in-house software. Yet a PlayCity revocation order hangs over the operator, only suspended by court – not overturned. Players should understand: this is a casino with a major question mark over its legal status. If you want stability, alternatives exist – Slots City, First Casino, Favbet. If the court case ends in Cosmolot's favour, the brand will continue as one of the leaders. Until then – play cautiously and with modest amounts.
Serhii Vovchenko, editor-in-chief at Tymoshenko
How people search for Cosmolot
Cosmolot has multiple parallel search identities: the Latin "Cosmolot" and the Cyrillic «Космолот». Ukrainian players often search through "Cosmolot UA", russian-speakers via «Космалот», «Козмолот». Typos happen because of the close letters «о» and «а».
Cyrillic Latin + modifier No spaces With typos
All variants lead to the official domain cosmolot.ua. Alternative spellings — "Kosmolot", «Космалот», «Козмолот» — are different forms of Cyrillic transliteration of "Cosmolot", legitimate for search. They don't indicate a clone or fake on their own.
