Gambling Commission Suspends Ken Howells Betting Operator Over Anti-Money Laundering Failings

^{The Gambling Commission, headquartered at Victoria Square House in Birmingham, suspended the operator's remote licence with immediate effect. (Photo: Bs0u10e01 / Wikimedia Commons)}

The Gambling Commission has suspended the combined remote operating licence of Targetlocal Ltd, which trades as Ken Howell's Sports Betting and runs kenhowells.com, the regulator confirmed on 21 September 2026.

Targetlocal's online business offers casino games, sports betting and virtual event betting under operating licence number 000422-R-336567-002. In the public statement, the Commission said the suspension follows its own enquiries, which revealed anti-money laundering failings at the business.

Section 116 Review Now Under Way

The regulator is now carrying out a review of the licence under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005, and the suspension will remain in place until it is satisfied the business is compliant. The Commission has told the operator it is expected to treat consumers fairly and keep them fully informed of any developments that affect them throughout the review.

The suspension took effect immediately but does not prevent Targetlocal from allowing customers to access their accounts and withdraw funds; the business can still be contacted through its website. The Commission also confirmed the suspension does not extend to Targetlocal's separate non-remote general betting standard licence, which covers the operator's land-based betting activity.

A combined remote operating licence allows a business to offer multiple types of remote gambling, in this case casino, sports betting and virtual event betting, under a single authorisation rather than separate licences for each activity. Suspending it removes the operator's ability to accept new online bets or casino wagers under that licence while the review continues, without shutting the business down outright.

The Latest in a Run of AML-Related Licence Actions

The case adds to a string of UK enforcement actions this year tied to anti-money laundering controls at licensed operators. The Gambling Commission suspended VGC Leeds's licence over similar money laundering concerns earlier this year, underlining how consistently the regulator has flagged anti-money laundering controls as a top risk across the sector.

In a separate case, the Commission also fined ProgressPlay £1m for AML and player safety failures. The regulator does not disclose the scale of penalties or further sanctions it may impose until a section 116 review concludes; outcomes can range from a formal warning to licence revocation depending on what investigators find.

The Commission's own account is direct about the trigger for the action: "The suspension of Targetlocal Ltd online business offering casino, sports betting and virtual event betting... follows Commission enquiries which revealed anti-money laundering failings."

What Happens Next

Targetlocal has not issued its own public statement on the suspension. The Gambling Commission's own notice sets no timeline for completing the section 116 review, and licensees under review typically remain suspended until the regulator is satisfied any compliance gaps have been closed. Customers with active balances can continue to withdraw funds while the review is under way, and the Commission has said it will keep monitoring how the operator treats consumers for the duration of the suspension.