The British government on Wednesday proposed legislation that would make it illegal to resell tickets for entertainment and sports events for more than their original face value. According to a government news release, the proposed rules would reduce the average cost of resold tickets in Britain by 37 pounds (about $49), and save consumers there an estimated £112 million ($147 million) a year. The rules would also make it easier for actual, human fans — not scalpers or the automated bots they use — to get the tickets they want, the government said. “For too long, ticket touts have ripped off fans, using bots to snap up batches of tickets and resell them at sky-high prices,” Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, said in a statement. “Our new proposals will shut down the touts’ racket and make world-class music, comedy, theater and sport affordable for everyone.”

Source: The Times November 19, 2025 18:39 UTC