Fan Fury Over Touts Ends: New Price Cap Rules

New regulations have been introduced to make it illegal to resell tickets for live events at a profit, aiming to end disruptive touting practices. The government confirmed plans to prohibit the resale of tickets for concerts, theatre, comedy, sport, and other live events for more than their original cost. This initiative addresses concerns about consumers being priced out by touts who often use bots to buy tickets in bulk for significant mark-ups.

The proposed rules define face value as the original price plus essential fees, capping service charges to prevent loopholes. Individuals will be restricted from reselling more tickets than they were permitted to purchase initially. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated the government is 'putting fans first' by shutting down this 'racket' and making events affordable for everyone.

Businesses found to be in violation of these regulations could face fines up to 10% of their global turnover, enforced under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. While some platforms like Viagogo expressed concerns about price caps pushing consumers to unregulated sites, government analysis indicates these measures could save fans around £112 million annually, with a projected reduction of £37 in the average ticket price on the resale market.