UKGC suspends Targetlocal Ltd’s combined remote operating licence immediately

The UK Gambling Commission suspended the combined remote operating licence of Targetlocal Ltd with immediate effect on 21 September 2026 after enquiries identified anti‑money laundering failings. The action applies to operating licence number 000422‑R‑336567‑002, which covers online casino, betting on real events and betting on virtual events traded as Ken Howells Sports Betting at kenhowells.com.

What the Commission did and when

The regulator confirmed it has opened a formal licence review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 and placed the remote permissions on suspension while that review runs. The suspension began immediately on 21 September 2026 and will remain in place "until the Commission is satisfied the business is compliant," according to the regulator's published notice. The Commission also stated the suspension follows Commission enquiries which revealed anti‑money laundering failings.

Which permissions are affected by the remote licence suspension

The affected permission is the combined remote operating licence referenced as 000422‑R‑336567‑002. That licence, as recorded on the Gambling Commission public register, covers three remote activities:

• online casino

• general betting on real events

• betting on virtual events

The Gambling Commission's register separately lists Targetlocal Ltd's non‑remote general betting standard licence as active. The regulator specifically confirmed that the suspension does not affect the company's non‑remote general betting standard licence, so land‑based permissions remain outside the immediate action. The distinction turns on the difference between remote gambling supplied online or by other remote means and non‑remote (land‑based) gambling.

Consumer access, communications and obligations during the suspension

The Commission made clear the suspension does not prevent Targetlocal Ltd from allowing customers to access their accounts or withdraw funds. The regulator also set an expectation that the operator must treat consumers fairly and keep them fully informed of any developments that affect them while the suspension is in force.

"The suspension...does not prevent Targetlocal Ltd from allowing consumers to access their accounts and withdraw funds," the Gambling Commission said in its statement.

The notice therefore preserves account access and withdrawal rights for customers and places an ongoing communication obligation on the operator for the duration of the review.

Legal basis: section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 and possible outcomes

Section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 gives the Gambling Commission the statutory power to review operating licences where it considers a review appropriate or has reason to suspect non‑compliance. The process permits the licensee to be notified and to make representations as part of the review. The statutory framework also sets out potential regulatory measures that can follow a review, including warnings, changes to licence conditions, suspension, revocation or financial penalties.

The Commission has framed the current action as a review rather than a final determination. The public notice does not identify any final sanction; it records only that the suspension will remain until the Commission is satisfied the business complies with regulatory requirements.

For further context on licence reviews under UK rules see the Gambling Commission's regulatory framework on regulation.

Anti‑money laundering obligations and the limits of the public notice

The Commission's statement links the suspension to anti‑money laundering failings and reiterates that operators must meet AML and counter‑terrorist financing obligations set out in legislation and in the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice. The precise controls or deficiencies identified in the Targetlocal Ltd case are not described in the 21 September notice, and the regulator has not published a detailed breakdown of which controls or customer accounts were implicated.

Because the published notice stops short of listing specific failings, it would be inappropriate to infer details about the underlying transactions, controls or individuals beyond the Commission's statement that enquiries revealed AML failings.

Corporate records and named individuals

Companies House records show Targetlocal Limited as an active private limited company incorporated in November 1991 with a registered office in Swansea and a stated business activity of gambling and betting activities. The Companies House entry names Kenneth Grant Howells as a director and secretary of Targetlocal Limited. The Gambling Commission's public register identifies Ken Howells Sports Betting as the operator's trading name and lists kenhowells.com among the registered domains tied to the licence. Those corporate details are recorded separately from the Commission's regulatory action and do not, in themselves, explain the reasons for the licence suspension.

What happens next for the licence and for customers

The immediate next step is the continuation of the section 116 review. The Commission has stated the suspension will remain until it is satisfied of compliance; it has not published a timescale for the review or a final decision. Following the review and any representations made by Targetlocal Ltd, the Commission may decide on a range of outcomes available under the Gambling Act 2005.

Customers should monitor communications from the operator for account‑specific information. The regulator's notice confirms access to accounts and withdrawals may continue and requires the operator to keep consumers informed about developments affecting them. Operators and advisers managing similar cases will be focused on remediation of AML controls and on the evidence needed to satisfy the Commission that the business meets licence conditions.

Practical takeaways for operators and compliance teams

Operators should note the Commission's public posture: a factual suspension tied to an active review, coupled with an explicit consumer‑access requirement. Firms assessing their own controls will look at AML procedures, recordkeeping, customer communications and evidence of remedial action. Platform, payments and compliance suppliers can expect continued demand for tools that demonstrate transaction monitoring, customer due diligence and audit‑grade reporting to the regulator.

For related reporting on licence actions and market impact see our coverage in news.