A torn concert ticket with a red "BANNED" stamp over it, set against a blurred background of the UK Houses of Parliament.
Reselling Tickets for Profit to Be Outlawed in UK Government Crackdown
The UK government has announced sweeping new legislation that will outlaw the resale of tickets for profit, marking a significant crackdown on ticket touting practices that have plagued the live events industry for years.
Complete Ban on Profiteering
Under the proposed legislation, individuals and businesses will be prohibited from selling tickets at prices exceeding their original purchase value. This represents a stricter approach than previously considered options, as the government had initially consulted on allowing ticket resales at up to 130% of face value before opting for a complete ban on profiteering.
Key Provisions of the Legislation
The new measures will address several critical issues in the secondary ticket market:
Bot Prevention: The legislation specifically targets the use of automated "bots" that purchase large quantities of tickets for immediate resale, a practice that has been a significant concern for both artists and consumers.
Platform Accountability: Resale platforms will be held legally accountable if sellers on their sites violate the new regulations, creating a system of shared responsibility for compliance.
Service Fee Caps: While platforms will be permitted to charge service fees for legitimate resales, these fees will be capped at a level yet to be determined by regulators.
Industry and Artist Support
The government's decision has been influenced by strong advocacy from prominent artists including Radiohead, Dua Lipa, and Coldplay, who have consistently called for measures to curb ticket touting and protect genuine fans from inflated prices.
Implementation Timeline
The proposed legislation is expected to be included in next year's King's Speech, with enforcement responsibilities assigned to the Competition and Markets Authority. The government aims to implement these changes to ensure fair access to live events and prevent exploitation by ticket touts.
Banking Sector Concerns
While the government and consumer advocacy groups support these measures, some financial institutions have expressed concerns. UK Finance, representing major banks, warns that strict price caps might drive ticket resale to unregulated platforms, potentially increasing the risk of fraud and reducing consumer protections.
The crackdown represents one of the most significant interventions in the secondary ticket market in recent years, aiming to rebalance the system in favor of genuine fans rather than professional resellers.
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