Key facts
- The UK government is intensifying work on new laws to stop ticket touts.
- A dedicated 'bill team' is drafting policy for new legislation.
- The government is considering how to prevent touts from operating offshore to bypass new laws.
- New evidence shows touts targeting small venues and listing tickets at significantly over cost price.
- Some tickets were listed speculatively, meaning touts did not possess them at the time of sale.
- A DCMS spokesperson confirmed draft legislation is being brought forward this parliamentary session.
The UK government is intensifying its efforts to combat ticket touting, with sources indicating that new legislation is being drafted to prevent fans from being overcharged for event tickets. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has reportedly assembled a dedicated team to develop and advance these laws through parliament. This renewed focus comes after the proposal was notably absent from this year's King's Speech, raising concerns within the music industry.
Artists including Dua Lipa, Coldplay, and Mike Joyce of The Smiths have been vocal in their support for stricter regulations. Recent research examined 300 events across 13 venues, revealing that tickets were being advertised on resale platforms like Viagogo at significantly inflated prices. Some listings were found to be speculative, meaning touts listed tickets they did not possess, hoping to acquire them after a sale. One example cited was a ticket for Mica Millar's show advertised at a 19,728% mark-up, reaching £5,899.
Research by the music industry group FanFair Alliance suggested that just three touts, based internationally, were responsible for over 75% of the listings examined. Viagogo has disputed this figure, stating the proportion is lower, and maintains its compliance with UK law, prohibiting speculative listings. The government plans to implement tougher penalties for companies that fail to enforce resale rules.
If enacted, these measures would align the UK with Ireland, which outlawed touting in 2021. Currently, while unauthorised resale of football tickets is illegal in the UK, concert and theatre ticket resale is permitted, though individuals have faced prosecution for fraud in rare cases. An estimated £60 million in mark-ups has been lost by fans since Labour first announced its policy, according to O2.