Technology / 02.02.18

Despite Bans, Ticket-Buying Bots Still Snag the Best Seats

Access Staff

Original article published on Stateline (02/02/18) by Rebecca Beitsch

Bans on the use of ticket-buying Internet software by federal and state governments have made little headway, with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission having yet to bring any enforcement action against brokers. Meanwhile, only one out of 13 states outlawing ticket bots seems to have reached a settlement with resellers. The New York Attorney General's Office estimates tickets are resold on the secondary market at an average markup of 49 percent, which can go even higher for major events. Advocates contend the bans can still deter reselling, especially when criminal penalties are imposed. "Even if it's difficult to enforce, you can put a dent in it by making it illegal and hopefully deter people," notes Sen. John Kavanagh (R-Ariz.). However, consumer proponents say ticket vendors are not making enough of an effort to report problems to enforcement agencies, particularly because their internal data would be the first to spot purchases that deviate from the typical purchasing algorithm. "Really, the companies that spot and know a bot is being used are the primary ticketers," says John Breyault with the National Consumers League. "That's typically going to be Ticketmaster." Some ticket-selling firms also own the online reseller markets and get a piece of each sale, and Breyault thinks state laws could bolster the federal ban by instituting tougher penalties or mandating that sellers report suspected bot use.

Read the full story on the Stateline website.

Tags: Ticketmaster , Reselling , Regulations , News , Secondary Ticketing