Finally, after years of ticket scalping and ticket bots worsening the state of the live music industry, a country has responded. Ireland has passed legislation banning ticket scalping (defined as reselling tickets for more than face value) and ticket bots.
Quick disclosure: the legislation won’t ban ticket scalping from all events, just live music and sporting events at “designated venues” holding 1,000 or more attendees. The Cabinet of the Irish government passed the legislation, which still needs to be passed by the Dáil Éireann branch of the Irish government.
The legislation also bans the use of ticket bots outright. Ticket bots are often used by ticket scalpers to quickly snatch up tickets to scalp. So, this ban puts a significant dent in scalpers’ methods. Venues will have to apply for designation under the new legislation, and the Irish government’s standing Minister for Business will also be able to apply the legislation to specific venues to protect consumer interests.
Ireland, we tip our hat to you. Hopefully our American institutions can make similar moves to fight scalpers and bots in the future.
H/T: The Irish Times