Ok, I have heard back from the rep on this. Their explanation seems quite reasonable to me though the end result -- still a work in progress as I understand it -- won't be to everybody's liking.
That said it is a public holiday here in the UK so the official statement from them probably can't be expected today.
One thing I will add is that they are still compliant as far as they, and I, read the UKGC rules. Namely that SE is "available directly in the software and can be actioned without the need to contact nor talk to an individual."
The rest of it will have to wait until tomorrow.
Did some more digging myself after some "kip" and re-watching Dunover's video.
It is
CLEARLY NOT available directly in the software.
- if you click on the link it is asking you to log-in and then displays Screen 1 (see below)
> please note how hidden the next step is, hardly visible although the screenshot is zoomed to 120% (pointing arrow so nobody has to use magnifying glasses

)
> yet the
CANCEL button jumps into your face.
- next screen is actually not what logically should be the SE screen, see below Screen 2 (quote UKGC rules: "SE is available directly in the software")
> you only confirm the email address and a form is sent to the player
> only after you sent back the completed and signed form will the case be dealt with by the Player Experience Team
* hence the UKGC requirement - quote UKGC rules: "can be actioned without the need to contact nor talk to an individual" - is clearly not met
> please note how hidden again the next step is (highlighted again with an arrow)
> yet again the
CANCEL button jumps into your face.
Is this how "RESPONSIBLE GAMING" procedures look like from a so called "responsible" operator????
CONCLUSION:
- fact is that 32RED had the direct SE/TAB facility active until recently - hence it is technically possible!!!
- the change was implemented on the quiet just before the long and busy Easter Holidays!!!
- hence, they
consciously made the SE/TAB facility "activation" unfriendly and VERY hard for a normal user to find his way through several screens and logins to finally see that it cannot be done directly and remotely.
- yet all the time they put the
CANCEL button right in the face of the player
FINAL CONCLUSION:
- THIS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE GAMING!!!
- i repeat my suspicion that i raised at the beginning of this thread, just because this was done right before the long Easter weekend
> 32RED introduced pending periods to improve profitability
> however, an increasing number of players found out that they can quickly activate a short break by using the online TAB function to lock their account while they had a withdrawal pending
> alternatively, some would rush and do an online SE (just because they did not fully understand what a SE means)
> hence, over time a decreasing amount of funds were reversed which is having a direct impact on the bottom line.
> the reduction of reversed funds must have been so significant that they decided to take action, a so called "BUSINESS DECISION"
> hence, they changed the procedure quietly before the Easter weekend which brought along pending periods of up to 5 days!!!
> players have to go now through a lengthy process to have their account locked, no matter if it is TAB or SE, hence it stays open longer and the weak will fall for it and reverse and/or deposit even more as they don't have control over their behavior (exactly where RG should come in and protect them)
> and many probably decide not to TAB/SE at all as they find it too troublesome
I must state that this is my own personal opinion and the principle "innocent until proven guilty" must be applied.
Screen 1
Screen 2
