Cosmolot: Innovating in Challenging Times

The team at Cosmolot, Ukraine’s first licensed online casino, has fully experienced what it’s like to be an innovator in times of war. However, Ukrainians never give up, which is why Cosmolot not only continued its operations but also became a trendsetter in the gambling industry. Dmitry Dyachenko, the head of the company’s operations, shared with 24 Channel how they managed to achieve this and what innovations were introduced on the platform.

How did Cosmolot face the full-scale invasion and what challenges did you have to overcome?

February 24 was a shock for all of us. People were not in the mood for entertainment, so our performance dropped more than 5 times, and it was a disaster. We managed to relocate some of our employees to Western Ukraine, where we had already set up a headquarters. We helped many with their relocation and accommodation. Within two weeks, the company resumed its operations. It took us that long to ensure the safety of our team, as with the start of the war, it became our main priority at Cosmolot. It was important for each employee to find a safe place for themselves and their families.

Our first step was to check all international partners for any connection to Russia. As it turned out, the aggressor country did not receive anything from us, not even through third-party companies. We also immediately blocked people with Russian documents from accessing and registering on our website. Within the company, we launched a line of psychological and legal support for employees and their loved ones. When the shock period passed, we resumed communication and adapted it to wartime conditions. The website now includes links to charitable foundations and official news.

What has changed since then and how have these changes helped you adapt to the new conditions?

At first, we didn’t fully understand how to communicate with players, but we saw that people were gradually returning, and games became a stress reliever for them, helping them distract from the news flow. So, we can say that it was the users who inspired us to return to work.

While our competitors didn’t know what to do, we started communicating. But it wasn’t aimed at conversion. It’s not appropriate to urge people to play and promise them a good life during wartime. Instead, we analyzed what people feel when they watch TV or read the news, what they talk about among themselves. And we thought about how we could help Ukrainians.

First, there was the campaign “Let’s Burn Cotton Together,” and later the campaign “Hell for Russians,” within which we created an interactive platform called “Add Heat to Russians,” where people could donate and ignite a bonfire under the occupiers’ hell. The funds from all our campaigns are credited to the “Return Alive” fund. Thanks to feedback from our customers, we realized that this kind of communication resonates both within the company and in the hearts of Ukrainians. It also shapes the right perception of the brand, which is very important to us.

If there are occasional news about other gambling platforms not leaving the Russian or Belarusian markets, you won’t find such news about Cosmolot because we are a Ukrainian product that operates only in Ukraine.

We also have a principled position with our partners, which has become even stronger during the war. We carefully monitor that game providers have no connection to the aggressor country, so we work with developers from all over the world except the CIS.

Cosmolot’s Patriotic Campaign: Video

You mentioned that within patriotic advertising campaigns, you collected donations for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Tell us more about this direction. How much money have you raised and for whom?

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, we have already donated about 5.5 million hryvnias to the needs of the military. The funds were donated to large foundations such as “Return Alive,” but we also responded to local requests from our employees, many of whom have been volunteering since February 24, and those who are currently on the frontlines themselves or have relatives there.

We also helped players who approached us to meet their needs for body armor or helmets. We purchased equipment for specific battalions, such as drones, thermal imagers, radios, and more. For this, the company received gratitude from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the golden commemorative award of the 74th reconnaissance battalion.

Currently, we have the “Free and Independent” tournament, which will last until September 25. Within this tournament, we will donate 1 million hryvnias to the “Return Alive” fund and the UNITED24 fund.

By the way, about tournaments – is it a common thing in the gambling world or is it your unique offering for players?

It is a good tool that many in this market underestimate. Of course, there are network tournaments that game developers hold on online casino platforms. In such cases, the game provider offers a prize pool of, for example, 100,000 euros, but all players connected to that provider will compete for it. So, there are 300 casinos vying for that 100,000 euros, and the chances of a Cosmolot player winning a prize are extremely low.

It turns out that there is a tournament, but no prize. The tournaments organized by Cosmolot are our own, and the entire announced prize pool is intended only for players on our platform.

Another advantage of our tournaments is equal opportunities for all participants regardless of their budget. It is also important that in almost every Cosmolot tournament, in addition to the announced prize pool, we contribute our own funds to charity.

In Ukraine, there are still many myths about online casinos and the people who choose this form of entertainment. What message do you convey to users to change their biased attitude?

First and foremost, it is important to understand that our players are ordinary people, Ukrainians, businessmen, programmers, military personnel, and so on. Online casinos are a means of relaxation for them, just like watching a movie, having a party with friends, or simply taking a walk in nature.

Cosmolot is a platform where you can enjoy the game, relax, and relieve stress. We not only make the gaming process exciting but also provide quality feedback to our customers, promote responsible gambling standards, and advocate for the entire market to operate legally.

What does “licensed online casino” mean for a player, and what guarantees does it provide?

Being a licensed casino means having an official permission for gambling activities in Ukraine from the state regulator and making an annual license payment of 23.4 million hryvnias. For users, this means having certified certificates from international partners for all games presented on the Cosmolot platform.

Such casinos are commonly referred to as “white,” as they have the highest payout rate, RTP (return to player) – the amount returned to players from the game. At Cosmolot, all slots are licensed, so if a person wins, they are guaranteed to receive their full winnings.

A licensed casino also ensures player safety in terms of protecting personal data because players undergo mandatory verification on the website, which prevents individuals under 21 years old and those registered as gambling addicts from accessing the games.

It is worth noting that a licensed online casino is not about instant profit but about long-term play. Our goal is to provide players with relaxation and positive emotions because we want them to come back to us again and again.

In the wave of Ukrainian popularity worldwide, many companies strive to expand their geography. Can Ukrainian gambling products interest foreign players? Is there anything we can learn from them or vice versa, teach them something new?

International gambling is a completely different world. If we talk about sharing experiences, of course, we learn something from them, such as systematic management schools and business development. But when it comes to customer orientation, they could learn from us.

We excel in the service aspect. For example, if a player doesn’t receive their money within 2 hours after clicking the “Withdraw” button, it’s a disaster. They will end the support chat and raise a fuss. On foreign gambling platforms, on the other hand, the waiting time can be up to two business days, as stated in their rules.

In some international online casinos, payment solutions don’t work on weekends. At Cosmolot, you can count on 24/7 support, and if you make a request at 3 am, you will receive your funds by 5 am at the latest.

What are your plans for the future? In which directions will Cosmolot develop?

We understand that we have the opportunity to work thanks to those who protect us on the frontlines. Therefore, our priority for investments has been and remains the army. By consciously giving up ambitious business projects, we will continue to work with both large charitable foundations and support local requests. And I hope that over time, this support will be even greater than it is now.

At the same time, we plan to continue our patriotic information campaign, which improves users’ mood and strengthens their belief in victory. And of course, we will look at international markets because we see great potential for our products and interest from other providers. We will also continue to break stereotypes and promote legal gambling and responsible gaming principles in Ukraine.

In conclusion, I would like to quote the author of the article on our website: “Cosmolot: Innovating in Challenging Times.”

Джерело: 24tv.ua