Overview
Entering the iGaming universe in 2017, PlayCosmo is a space-themed casino coming out of the EveryMatrix Software stable. Now licensed by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and packed with a great selection of games this online casino is making a bid to become an industry leader. To give you a better insight into how this operator is looking to shake things up with a unique bonus system, stick with us and read our detailed PlayCosmo review.
Safety and Trustworthiness
When an online casino is new, it’s often not obvious whether it’s a trustworthy place to play. Because PlayCosmo only launched in 2017, the feedback from the community is somewhat sparse. Indeed, during our PlayCosmo review, we struggled to find any words of advice from players. However, there was a handful of comments from industry insiders. Many of those “in the know” were positive about the site’s selection of slots and mobile provisions, but not so hot on the selection of payment options.
Naturally, these are only other people’s opinions, so to supplement our research we took a look at what GameCheck had to say. As well as showing the average customer service response time was 4 hours, our review confirmed that PlayCosmo’s SSL certificate is valid until August 11, 2019. In other words online financial transactions (deposits and withdrawals) are secured by the latest technology and as per GameCheck’s results there were no recorded instances of malware, harmful applications or social engineering.
From our perspective, PlayCosmo proved itself to be a reputable site during the sign-up process. After we’d created our account, a popup told us that our funds would be held in secure, segregated accounts complying with UKGC regulations. Additionally, we were given the option to activate the following self-monitoring methods: Deposit Limit, Wagering Limit, Loss Limit, Session Limit, Reality Check
Although these features aren’t mandatory, they are recommended by the UKGC as a way of giving customers more control over their spending. In the past, operators have been criticised for not being socially responsible. By offering these provisions, PlayCosmo is not only showing that it’s in line with UKGC policies, but that it wants to protect players. When you combine this with games certified as fair from top suppliers as well as the community’s feedback, we’re confident that PlayCosmo is not only a safe place to play but a trustworthy one.
Deposits & Withdrawals
PlayCosmo offers a small selection of credit/debit card and eWallet solutions: Visa, MasterCard and Neteller. Withdrawals are subject to a an initial pending period of 24hrs with the processing thereafter determined by the method you choose, i.e. an e-wallet withdrawal will see your money getting back to you before a debit or credit card withdrawal. No PayPal, Skrill or Paysafecard option is something we hope they redress and introduce soon
Bonuses
Once launched into the PlayCosmo universe, you’ll receive a 200% match deposit bonus up to £500. However, to claim that amount you’ll need to enter a special code before you make your deposit, with the standard new player deposit offer at PlayCosmo being a 100% multiplier up to £100. By following our sign-up link and using the exclusive promo code, things become more lucrative with the chance to claim up to £500 in bonus credits and an additional 100 free spins.
Unsurprisingly, we’re hot on this deal but before comparing this offer to those at sites such as Dunder we need to look at the terms and conditions. In terms of wagering limits, 40X the deposit and bonus amount will unlock your free credits and make them eligible for withdrawal. This is a harsh term and most casinos require wagering on just the bonus – by requiring you to play-though on both the bonus + your deposit it in effects double the amount you need to play-though.
As ever, bets on different games are weighted in different ways with PlayCosmo setting the following play-through percentages: Slots – 100%, Roulette – 10%, Baccarat and Video Poker -5% weighting. Whilst the 100% weighting for slots is standard, a 10% weighting for roulette bets is a little lower than some sites will give you. However, the %% contribution to video poker icompares well to Dunder Casino, one of our recommended casinos where it has zero % contribution. counter to this is that video poker does receive a 5% weighting.
Overall, this welcome bonus sits somewhere in the middle of the pack. The 200% initial match bonus plus 100 free spins is good but its let down by the wagering demand on both bonus and deposit.
Game Selection
Microgaming software forms the backbone of PlayCosmo’s gaming lobby, but that’s not the only software provider on offer. Alongside the 300+ Microgaming slots, you’ll also find games from NetEnt Gaming and NextGen have to offer. Thanks to these partnerships, PlayCosmo’s instant play desktop site currently offers 610 slots and counting, including: Planet of the Apes, Major Millions, Starburst and Drive. In addition to video and jackpot slots, PlayCosmo also offers 64 classic (three-reel) slots. Beyond the burgeoning slot lobby, table games such as roulette, baccarat, blackjack and craps are also on offer.
In comparative terms, PlayCosmo is right up there with the industry’s best when it comes to slots. The average number of spinners at the leading UK sites is around 400, so to offer upwards of 650 is clearly a positive. What’s more, when you add in a host of variants for the leading table games, there’s no doubt this platform has something to offer all players. For us, however, the most interesting aspect of the PlayCosmo gaming grid was the non-standard offerings such as keno, poker dice, chase the ace and bingo all bring something unique to the mix. In our opinion, these types of games are great because they work on two levels.
Firstly, they give experienced players a break from the norm. Secondly, they’re often more appealing to casual players. For example, Darts 180 is a cross between a casino game and a video game. By offering something like this, PlayCosmo has made its platform a lot more appealing to newbies who may be venturing into the online casino world for the first time and looking for some fun. That, for us, is a positive.
Mobile App
PlayCosmo currently doesn’t have a casino mobile app which is a big minus point. However with the main casino site optimized for the smaller screen offering just as much action and efficiency as native apps, this isn’t really a deal breaker. We found the responsive mobile site intuitive offering all the mobile features we love such as swipe-to-spin (i.e. swiping the reels of a slot to start the game) and a neat search bar and more than 200 games to choose from.
If there was one slightly annoying thing we found with PlayCosmo’s mobile software it was the search process. As we were swiping up and down the gaming grid, the links were so sensitive that games would load up when we didn’t want them to. Anytime we touched the screen in slightly the wrong place, a game would load up interrupting our search. While this is an issue we’ve found at other mobile casinos, it’s no less frustrating that it happens at PlayCosmo mobile.
In terms of game choice you’ll find over 200 games which puts it in the middling of the pack but far behind the likes of LeoVegas and Casumo in terms of game numbers.
Promotions
Once you’ve picked up our exclusive welcome bonus, PlayCosmo has a unique way of rewarding regular players. The first thing to point out is that the “promotions” and “rewards” sections on the site are fairly sparse and disappointing on first inspection. With the average big-name casino now offering everything from reload rewards, free spins and seasonal promotions, PlayCosmo’s offering didn’t seem very promising.
PlayCosmo however seems to be taking a different direction by offering a “real world” rewards scheme. Although it only offered one prize at the time of writing, the underlying concept is interesting.Instead of giving real money players something back in the form of free spins, PlayCosmo’s team is putting up real world prizes. During our review, PlayCosmo hadn’t confirmed the fine details of the system, but the suggestion is that regular deposits and bets will net you a Tastecard which entitles you to money off your meal at hundreds of UK restaurants. Unlike standard bonuses, the Tastecard is yours to keep without any additional wagering requirements. Its certainly an interesting concept and if the team can build on this and offer up more real-world rewards in the future, this site could quickly set the standard for how regular players get some added value.
Support
PlayCosmo operates a daily support service, which means you can get help via the following methods every day of the week
Review Summary
For a fairly new platform, PlayCosmo has done a lot of things right. Partnering with big brand developers and putting together a games lobby that’s bigger than most is certainly going to win over a lot of people. On top of this, it’s clear to see that the promo team is working hard to create something unique. Although the real-world rewards system isn’t quite ready to change the industry, it certainly has the potential. Overall, if you can get beyond the lack of payment methods, app and the slightly oppressive bonus wagering conditions, PlayCosmo is a solid site. While it’s too early to say it’s one of the best around, there’s no denying it’s already doing well and more importantly capable of getting even better. For now we’re marking PlayComo 7/10 but a few additions and it’ll be pushing an 8 or even 9/10