Status checked on 22 September 2026: the UK Gambling Commission has suspended Targetlocal Ltd’s combined remote operating licence 000422-R-336567-002. Targetlocal trades as Ken Howell’s Sports Betting and operates kenhowells.com. The suspension covers remote casino, real-event betting and virtual-event betting while the Commission conducts a review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005. The regulator cited anti-money-laundering failings, but its notice does not establish that money laundering was committed by the operator or any customer.
The suspension does not prevent Targetlocal from allowing customers to access their accounts and withdraw funds. This does not guarantee uninterrupted access, immediate payment or exemption from legitimate verification checks. Use the official website, preserve your account and transaction records, request a withdrawal without further gambling, and make a formal complaint if an access or payment problem remains unresolved.
What has happened to the Ken Howells online licence?
On 21 September 2026, the UK Gambling Commission announced the immediate suspension of Targetlocal Ltd’s combined remote operating licence. Targetlocal is the legal licence holder; it trades as Ken Howell’s Sports Betting and runs kenhowells.com. The affected permissions are remote casino, general betting on real events and general betting on virtual events.
The Commission said its enquiries revealed anti-money-laundering failings and that it had opened a licence review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005. This is a suspension during a regulatory review, not a revocation, permanent closure or final determination. No reopening date has been announced, and the notice does not prove that the operator or its customers engaged in money laundering.
The [live Targetlocal licence summary](https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register/business/detail/422) currently marks all three remote activities as suspended. It lists 18 September 2026 in their “To” column, although the suspension announcement is dated 21 September; that discrepancy should not be interpreted without clarification from the regulator. Targetlocal’s separate non-remote general betting standard licence remains active and is not affected. Our [licence and enforcement-check guide](/casino-guides/licence-check-first-enforcement-check-second-how-uk-players) explains why both the public register and current enforcement notices should be checked.
Can you still log in and withdraw your money?
The [Commission’s suspension notice](https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news/article/suspension-of-licence-targetlocal-ltd) says the suspension does not prevent Targetlocal from allowing customers to access their accounts and withdraw funds. It also says the operator is expected to treat consumers fairly and keep them informed about developments that affect them. In practical terms, the suspension leaves a route for account access and withdrawals rather than requiring those functions to be shut down.
That wording is permission, not a guarantee. It does not promise that every customer can log in immediately, that every withdrawal will be paid at once or that account-specific checks will be waived. It also does not explain how open bets, bonus balances, particular payment methods or pending transactions will be handled. Ask the operator for written instructions about your own account instead of guessing or gambling to try to change the balance.
Go directly to [kenhowells.com](https://www.kenhowells.com/) by typing the address into your browser. Avoid login or document-upload links sent through unsolicited emails, text messages, advertisements or social-media accounts. Check the exact domain and secure connection before entering account details.
What to save before requesting a withdrawal
Before changing anything, take dated screenshots of the available cash balance, any separately displayed bonus or restricted balance, pending withdrawals, unsettled bets, transaction references and account notices. Download the account statement, deposit and withdrawal history, betting or gaming history, and any available verification records. Preserve relevant terms, payment confirmations, previous document-upload receipts, support chats and emails. Our [account-suspension evidence checklist](/safety/casino-closed-or-suspended-your-uk-account-after-a-win-what) covers the records worth keeping.
Request the amount shown as available for withdrawal through the normal cashier. Save the amount, payment method, date, confirmation screen, reference number and subsequent status changes. If the cashier is unavailable, contact the operator through its official website and ask in writing how to request the return of withdrawable funds. Keep the support ticket number and every response.
Do not make another deposit, place additional bets, open another account or gamble to satisfy a condition you assume applies. Do not repeatedly cancel and resubmit a pending withdrawal unless the operator provides a clear, account-specific reason. These actions can complicate the record and expose more money while the regulatory position remains unsettled.
How to handle login problems or verification requests
If you cannot log in, try the password-recovery and contact routes on the official website. Record the date and time of each attempt, the exact address used, the error shown and any support reference. Ask how you can obtain your account history and submit a withdrawal request if normal access cannot be restored. Do not post account details or identity documents publicly.
Legitimate identity, payment-source, fraud-prevention or anti-money-laundering checks may still take place. The Commission’s [verification guidance](https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-and-players/guide/age-and-id-verification) says an operator may sometimes require information at withdrawal to meet a legal obligation, although it should not delay checks it could reasonably have completed earlier. Ask for a written list of the required documents and the reason for the request.
Confirm any request through your authenticated account or a contact route on kenhowells.com, then use only a verified, secure upload facility. Do not send a passport, driving licence, bank statement or payment-card image to an unverified email address, messaging account or social-media profile. Keep the request and upload confirmation with your other evidence.
How to escalate an unresolved access or withdrawal problem
Start with Targetlocal’s published complaints procedure. State clearly that you are making a formal complaint, identify the account and disputed amount, provide a short dated timeline, list the relevant transaction references and explain the resolution you want. Attach or index your evidence, then retain the complaint, acknowledgement and case number. The [withdrawal-delay complaints guide](/safety/casino-complaints-withdrawal-delay) provides a practical evidence and escalation checklist.
If an eligible dispute is still unresolved after eight weeks, or the operator sends an earlier final or deadlock response, you may be able to take it to the operator’s named Alternative Dispute Resolution provider. ADR is an independent service that is free for the player, but the provider decides whether the dispute falls within its scope. Complete the operator’s complaint process first and use the provider it identifies rather than assuming that one service handles every gambling dispute.
The Gambling Commission does not decide individual transactional complaints or recover a customer’s balance. It may use reports as intelligence about wider compliance concerns, but reporting the matter to the regulator does not replace the operator complaint and ADR route. Court action may be another option in some circumstances, but seek independent legal advice before pursuing it. This article provides general information, not legal advice.
Protect yourself while the review continues
The licence position can change during the Commission’s review. Recheck the [official suspension notice](https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/news/article/suspension-of-licence-targetlocal-ltd) and [live public register](https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register/business/detail/422) before acting on the status described here. The [UK player-safety checklist](/country-guides/uk-online-casinos-player-safety-checklist) and [iGaming Centre UK licence overview](https://igamingcentre.com/licenses/united-kingdom) provide further context for checking a UK-facing operator.
Do not try to recover a delayed balance by depositing, raising stakes or chasing losses elsewhere. If the uncertainty is causing financial pressure, distress or loss of control, stop gambling and consider a time-out, blocking tools or self-exclusion. See the [responsible-gambling tools guide](/safety/responsible-gambling-tools-online-casinos), the [Commission’s self-exclusion guidance](https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-and-players/page/self-exclusion) and [iGaming Centre’s responsible-gambling resources](https://igamingcentre.com/responsible-gambling) for support. Gambling is 18+ only.
Useful iGaming Centre links
Official context
FAQ
Can I still access my Ken Howells account and withdraw?
The Gambling Commission says the suspension does not prevent Targetlocal from allowing account access and withdrawals. This is permission rather than a guarantee of immediate access or payment, so use the official website and ask for account-specific instructions in writing.
Can Targetlocal still ask for verification documents?
Legitimate identity, payment-source, fraud-prevention or anti-money-laundering checks may still apply. Confirm the request through your authenticated account or an official kenhowells.com contact route and use only a verified, secure upload facility.
What should I do if access or payment remains unresolved?
Make a formal complaint to Targetlocal first. An eligible dispute may be referred to the operator’s named ADR provider after eight weeks or an earlier deadlock response; reporting the issue to the Gambling Commission does not replace that route.
