Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jul 15, 2025

UK Government Proposes Cap on Resale Ticket Prices to Combat Touts

Public consultation launched to address inflated resale ticket prices and enhance consumer protection in the live events sector.
In a decisive move to protect consumers from exorbitant ticket resale prices, the UK government has announced plans to cap the price at which tickets for live events can be resold.

This development aims to address long-standing issues in the live events industry, where tickets are often purchased in bulk by resellers and sold at highly inflated prices, much to the frustration of genuine fans.

The cap will apply to tickets across various live events, including music concerts, sports events, comedy shows, and theatre performances.

This initiative comes in response to widespread consumer complaints, with reports indicating that resale tickets can sell for as much as six times their original face value.

The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) has conducted analyses revealing that tickets are typically marked up by over 50% on resale sites.

Fans of artists such as Coldplay and Taylor Swift have frequently encountered situations where tickets sell out within minutes, only to reappear at exorbitant prices on resale platforms.

A public consultation will seek input from stakeholders on the specifics of the cap, considering options ranging from limiting resale prices to the original ticket cost, to allowing a markup of up to 30%.

Additionally, the government is exploring new legal obligations for resale platforms to ensure transparency and accuracy in ticket information.

Trading Standards and the CMA are poised to enforce these regulations.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed the government's commitment to "strengthen consumer protections, stop fans getting ripped off, and ensure money spent on tickets goes back into our incredible live events sector." This aligns with the government's broader efforts to enhance consumer rights and prevent unfair practices in the marketplace.

Included in the consultation process is a call for evidence on dynamic pricing, a system that adjusts prices based on demand, often leading to higher costs for consumers at peak times.

This initiative seeks to assess whether the current ticketing system adequately protects fans from these increasingly common strategies.

The music industry has met this announcement with cautious optimism.

UK Music, representing the sector, has expressed support for a clear pricing cap.

Artists, including renowned DJ Fatboy Slim, have welcomed the move, viewing it as a positive step toward empowering fans.

Ticket resale platforms have had mixed reactions.

Viagogo and Ticketmaster have indicated their willingness to participate in the consultation, with Ticketmaster highlighting its existing cap on resale prices.

Both companies recognize the need for a balanced approach that safeguards consumers without stifling market operations.

Campaign groups like FanFair Alliance advocate for stronger measures, pointing to Ireland's successful ban on ticket touting as a model for effective regulation.

Sharon Hodgson, an MP active in this campaign, encourages all affected by inflated prices to engage with the government's consultation process.

The proposals represent a significant effort by the UK government to tackle issues within the ticket resale market.

As the consultation process unfolds, stakeholders across the industry will be keenly watching to see how these proposed changes are implemented and their potential impact on ticketing practices.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
×