The Gambling Commission suspended Targetlocal Ltd’s combined remote operating licence on 21 September 2026 after identifying anti-money-laundering failings in its Great Britain online casino, sports betting and virtual betting operations.

The regulator has opened a statutory review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005. It has not revoked the licence.

Targetlocal’s remote gambling operations are suspended, but customers can still access their accounts and request withdrawals while the review continues.

What the suspension means

The suspension took immediate effect. Targetlocal cannot offer the affected remote gambling services to customers in Great Britain while the suspension remains in place.

The action covers licence number 000422-R-336567-002. According to the Gambling Commission, Targetlocal trades as Ken Howell’s Sports Betting and operates the kenhowells.com website.

The Commission said customers can still access their accounts and withdraw funds. The operator must treat customers fairly and keep them informed about developments affecting them.

The suspension does not affect Targetlocal’s non-remote general betting standard licence. The action therefore applies to the company’s remote business, not every gambling activity covered by its permissions.

Review is not a final revocation

The section 116 process examines whether licensed activities complied with licence conditions and whether the operator remains suitable to conduct them.

The review can produce several outcomes:

  • a warning;
  • additional licence conditions;
  • continued suspension;
  • a financial penalty; or
  • licence revocation.

The Gambling Commission has not announced the final outcome or said how long the suspension will last.

Why the controls matter

Anti-money-laundering controls require gambling operators to assess risk, monitor customers and act when transactions or account activity raise concerns.

The Gambling Commission’s licence conditions and guidance require remote casino operators to maintain systems that address money-laundering and terrorist-financing risks.

The Targetlocal notice does not identify the specific failures found by the regulator. The suspension will remain in place until the Commission is satisfied that the business meets its obligations, or until the review leads to a different decision.

What happens next

  • The statutory licence review will continue under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005.
  • Targetlocal must keep affected customers informed.
  • Customers can access their accounts and request withdrawals.
  • The Commission may impose further regulatory action after the review.

The Gambling Commission listed the suspension in its enforcement notices on 21 September 2026. Its register records the matter as a live suspension and review, rather than a completed licence revocation.