Targetlocal’s Remote License Suspended by the Gambling Commission

Targetlocal Ltd, which trades as Ken Howell’s Sports Betting and runs Kenhowells.com, has had its combined remote operating license suspended in Great Britain by regulator the Gambling Commission for suspected anti-money laundering failings.

The suspension follows enquiries made by the Commission, which is now carrying out a review of Targetlocal’s license under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005.

The suspension will remain in place until the Commission is satisfied the business has addressed its concerns and made itself compliant with the regulations. Specific details of the offences were not published by the Commission.

Kenhowells.com currently appears as normal to visitors and does not mention the suspension. The suspension does not prevent Targetlocal from allowing consumers to access their accounts and withdraw funds.

Targetlocal can still be contacted through its website. The Commission has also made clear to Targetlocal it is expected to treat its players fairly and keep them fully informed of any developments which should impact them.

License breakdown

Targetlocal, based in Swansea, Wales, is licensed in four separate strands. Its suspended combined remote license encompasses remote casino, remote general betting standard real events, and remote general betting standard virtual events. However, its non-remote general betting standard license remains active and is not suspended.

Targetlocal’s non-remote license has been active since 2009, but it expanded to online operations much more recently, with the remote real event license going live in July 2023, and the remote virtual event and remote casino licenses having been live since July 2024. Two men both named Kenneth Howells are listed as company directors on Companies House.

A similar tale

The case bears similarities to the recent license suspensions of BresBet and Bet St George, which announced earlier this month they had shut down after both operators’ licenses were suspended by the Commission for suspected social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.

The suspension was announced by the Commission in August, although once again, specific details of the alleged offences were not confirmed. The suspension was set to remain in place until the Commission was satisfied both licensees had addressed any issues and showed they are compliant.

However, both operators, which are linked to the same ownership, have decided to surrender their licenses. Both could still be liable to enforcement from the Commission if it finds both operators guilty of the alleged offences.

All players who have an account with Bet St George have been encouraged to get in touch and reclaim their funds by the end of the month.

A busy time for the Commission

The Commission has been very active when it comes to fines and suspensions for licensees recently. In August, QuinnBet was fined £609,104 after an investigation by the Commission revealed anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures. QuinnBet will pay the money as part of a settlement with the Commission.

Two days earlier, adult gaming centre (AGC) operator Holland Park Leisure was fined £150,000 for failing to comply with a self-exclusion requirement.

Holland Park Leisure, which runs three AGCs in Leicester, will have to undergo a third-party audit to review its policies, procedures and controls.

In July meanwhile, live casino supplier Evolution reached a £4.75 million settlement with the Commission as a result of its game content being found to have been offered in the UK without a license.

The license review was initiated by the Commission in December 2024, finding Evolution’s content was supplied illegally via two operators across six websites.