The UK Gambling Commission announced on 21 September 2026 that it had suspended Targetlocal Ltd's combined remote operating licence after enquiries revealed anti-money-laundering failings. The company trades as Ken Howell's Sports Betting and operates kenhowells.com. The suspension covers its online casino, real-event sports betting and virtual-event betting permissions; the regulator says Targetlocal's separate non-remote betting licence is not affected.
The Commission is reviewing the remote licence under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005. That is an ongoing regulatory process, not a published final sanction or a finding that consumers cannot access their balances. The announcement says customers may still access accounts and withdraw funds during the suspension.
What is suspended—and what is not
The Commission's notice identifies a combined remote operating licence, number 000422-R-336567-002. It connects that permission to an online business offering casino, sports betting and virtual-event betting. Its public register, checked on 23 September, lists the casino, real-event and virtual-event remote activities as suspended.
The same register lists Targetlocal's general betting standard non-remote permission as active. The regulator explicitly says the online suspension does not affect that separate licence. A shorthand headline such as “Targetlocal loses all gambling licences” would therefore be inaccurate. The distinction between a legal entity, its activity types and each licence's current status is central to verifying an online gambling licence.
The register shows a suspension date of 18 September for the remote activities, while the public news notice is dated 21 September. Those are two different dates in two official records. The notice says the suspension takes place immediately but does not explain the date difference, so this report does not infer an unpublished chronology from it. The safest current description is that the remote activities are shown as suspended and the regulator announced the action on 21 September.
Why the regulator acted
The Commission says its enquiries revealed anti-money-laundering failings. It does not provide a detailed public account of the alleged controls, transactions or customer cases in this notice. BETTIMES therefore cannot identify specific unreported breaches, quantify any suspected flows, or state that criminal wrongdoing has been established.
The regulator says it is conducting a licence review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 and will keep the suspension in place until satisfied the business is compliant. The Commission's enforcement policy explains that it can suspend a licence at the start of, or during, a review on specified grounds. Review and interim suspension are process stages; a final regulatory outcome may be different and should not be anticipated as fact.
The distinction is relevant across the operator and supplier licensing chain. A remote operating licence authorises specified player-facing gambling activity in Great Britain, while a separate land-based permission can have a different status. Readers should check the current register rather than rely only on a brand name or an older licence badge.
What the notice says about customers
The Commission says Targetlocal is expected to treat customers fairly and keep them informed of developments that affect them. It also says the suspension does not prevent customers from accessing their accounts or withdrawing funds, and directs them to the business through its website. This is a statement about access during the regulatory action, not a guarantee of any individual's account balance or a finding about all pending withdrawals.
The public record checked on 23 September does not include a company response attached to the Commission's notice. It also does not announce a penalty amount, resolution date or final licence decision. Those points should remain open until an official register update, regulator statement or attributable company response supplies them.
What happens next
The practical next document is the Commission's final review outcome or a change in its public licence register. The remote licence is currently marked suspended there, while the non-remote betting permission remains active. BETTIMES will update this report if the regulator publishes a change; the 21 September notice should not be read as proof of a future fine or revocation.
For industry readers, the episode is a reminder to separate three questions: which legal entity holds the permission, which remote or land-based activities it covers, and whether the regulator has announced an interim measure or a final decision. Combining those questions into one “licensed/unlicensed” label can misstate both the scope of the action and what customers can do now.
Frequently asked questions
Can Targetlocal customers withdraw money during the suspension?
The Gambling Commission says the suspension does not stop customers from accessing their accounts or withdrawing funds. It expects the operator to treat consumers fairly and keep them informed of relevant developments. The notice does not adjudicate individual balances or withdrawal disputes; customers with a case-specific question should use the business contact route identified by the regulator.
Does the suspension include Targetlocal's betting shops?
No. The Commission states that Targetlocal's separate non-remote general betting standard licence is not affected. Its public register lists that non-remote permission as active while casino, real-event and virtual-event remote activities are suspended. This difference concerns licence scope; it does not describe the operational status of any particular shop.
Has the regulator imposed a final fine or revoked the licence?
Not in the public notice checked on 23 September 2026. The Commission announced a suspension and a section 116 review after identifying AML failings. It did not announce a final penalty, revocation or review conclusion in that document. Any later outcome should be verified against a new official notice or register change.