UKGC Suspends Ken Howell’s Online Licence Over AML Failings
United Kingdom.- 23 September 2026 | www.zonadeazar.com The UK Gambling Commission has suspended the combined remote operating licence held by Targetlocal Ltd, which trades as Ken Howell’s Sports Betting and operates kenhowells.com.
The action followed regulatory enquiries that identified anti-money laundering, AML, failings within the business.
Immediate Suspension
The suspension took effect immediately.
It applies to operating licence 000422-R-336567-002, covering the company’s remote gambling activities.
Activities Covered
The suspended combined licence includes:
- Remote casino.
- Real-event betting.
- Virtual-event betting.
Targetlocal cannot continue offering those online activities under the licence while the suspension remains in force.
Section 116 Review
The Gambling Commission has also opened a formal review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005.
The procedure enables the regulator to assess whether a licensee continues to satisfy the requirements attached to its operating authorisation.
AML Failings Identified
The Commission confirmed that its enquiries revealed anti-money laundering shortcomings.
It has not publicly disclosed detailed information regarding:
- Specific failed controls.
- Individual customers involved.
- Transactions under review.
- Financial values.
- Internal procedures affected.
The precise nature and scale of the issues therefore remain undisclosed.
Suspension Until Compliance Is Restored
The remote licence will remain suspended until the Commission is satisfied that the business is compliant.
No public timetable has been provided for reinstatement.
Operator Working to Resolve Issues
Ken Howell’s Sports Betting told customers it is working to resolve the matter as a priority.
The operator will need to address the regulator’s concerns during the licence-review process.
Customers Retain Account Access
The suspension does not prevent consumers from logging into their accounts.
Customers must continue to be able to access relevant information while the regulatory action is ongoing.
Withdrawals Remain Available
Consumers are also permitted to withdraw funds.
The Commission’s action therefore does not freeze customer balances.
Fair Treatment Requirement
The regulator has explicitly told Targetlocal that it remains expected to treat customers fairly throughout the suspension.
Consumer-protection duties continue even though new online gambling activity is suspended.
Customers Must Be Kept Informed
The operator must also keep customers fully informed about developments affecting them.
This includes information relating to:
- Account access.
- Withdrawals.
- Licence status.
- Service availability.
Retail Licence Unaffected
The regulatory action applies only to the remote business.
Targetlocal’s General Betting Standard Non-Remote licence remains active.
Land-Based Operations Can Continue
The suspension therefore does not automatically close the company’s physical betting operation.
Retail activity remains subject to its separate non-remote authorisation.
Remote and Non-Remote Licensing
Great Britain’s gambling framework distinguishes between online and land-based activities.
Remote gambling requires specific licences, while physical premises operate under separate non-remote permissions.
The current action affects only the remote side.
Remote Casino Activity
The Commission’s public register shows Targetlocal’s remote casino activity as suspended.
That authorisation had been active since July 2024.
Real-Event Betting
The General Betting Standard – Real Event Remote permission is also suspended.
That category covers online betting on real-world events.
Virtual-Event Betting
Targetlocal’s General Betting Standard – Virtual Event Remote activity is likewise suspended.
The regulatory action therefore covers all three remote activities recorded under the combined licence.
AML as a Regulatory Priority
Anti-money laundering remains a major area of regulatory scrutiny across the British gambling market.
Operators are expected to maintain effective systems covering:
- Source-of-funds risk.
- Suspicious activity.
- Customer risk profiles.
- Transaction monitoring.
- Ongoing risk management.
No Final Outcome Yet
The suspension does not represent publication of the final outcome of the licence review.
The regulator has identified AML failings serious enough to justify immediate action, but its wider assessment remains ongoing.
Potential Regulatory Outcomes
A licence review can ultimately result in a range of measures depending on the findings.
These may include additional conditions, regulatory penalties, amendments to a licence or decisions concerning its future status.
No final determination has yet been announced in this case.
Industry Context
Great Britain operates one of the world’s most established remote-gambling regulatory systems.
AML controls, consumer protection and compliance with licence conditions are central to the Gambling Commission’s enforcement work.
The Targetlocal action demonstrates that those obligations apply across operators regardless of scale.
Next Steps and Impact
The Gambling Commission will continue reviewing Targetlocal’s licence under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005.
The company will need to demonstrate that identified compliance deficiencies have been addressed before full online operations can resume.
Until then, the remote licence remains suspended, customers can access accounts and withdraw their funds, and Ken Howell’s Sports Betting’s non-remote licence remains unaffected.
Editó: @fonta
