The UK government is set to introduce a sweeping ban on reselling tickets for profit, a landmark move that delivers on a key Labour manifesto pledge following a plea from major artists.
A Victory for Music Fans
Under the new plans, both professional touts and ordinary consumers will be prohibited from charging more than the original face value of a ticket. This decisive action comes after ministers had previously considered allowing a markup of up to 130% during a consultation period.
The crackdown follows a powerful intervention from dozens of world-renowned artists. Just last week, stars including Coldplay, Radiohead, and Dua Lipa issued an open plea to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him to stop what they described as the "pernicious" practices of ticket touts.
How the New Legislation Will Work
The new laws, which could be announced in next year's King's speech, will fundamentally reshape the secondary ticket market. Sellers will be legally bound to the price they originally paid.
While resale platforms will be permitted to add service fees on top of this face value price, these extras will also be capped. The specific limit for these service charges is yet to be finalised.
The legislation casts a wide net, extending its governance to social media sites to prevent them from becoming unregulated hubs for potentially fraudulent tickets. Furthermore, sellers will be banned from offering more tickets for an event than the maximum number allowed by the original box office, a common tactic used by large-scale touts.
Consequences for the Resale Industry
Resale platforms will face significant legal pressure under the new regime. They will be held legally liable if sellers using their sites fail to comply with the law, with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) tasked with enforcement.
This raises serious questions about the future of major for-profit platforms like Viagogo and StubHub in the UK market. Their business models, which rely heavily on taking a cut from substantial ticket mark-ups, may become unsustainable.
In contrast, face-value exchange services like Twickets and Ticketmaster's own resale system are already established and align with the new regulatory environment. The Guardian's previous investigations have repeatedly exposed how prolific touts have exploited fans by mass-purchasing tickets and selling them at huge profits.
This long-awaited crackdown represents a major shift in the UK's ticketing landscape, prioritising fan access over tout profits.
