Sponsors (2)
The bill increases fairness and data security for ticket buyers by curbing bots and improving enforcement, but it imposes significant compliance costs, enforcement risks, and burdens—especially on small ticketing businesses—that could raise prices and reduce competition.
Consumers will have a better chance to buy event tickets at face value because the bill reduces automated bot purchases.
Customers' personal and payment data will be better protected because ticket issuers must implement technical security safeguards, reducing risk of data breaches.
Consumers gain clearer enforcement avenues and transparency because the FTC will issue guidance and collect reports that help detect and address circumvention of ticketing controls.
Ticket issuers will face higher compliance costs to design, implement, and update technical safeguards, which could lead to higher ticket prices for consumers.
Smaller ticketing businesses and third-party vendors will bear outsized administrative and contracting burdens to meet the new requirements, risking market exit or reduced competition.
Violators face substantial civil penalties (at least $10,000 per day plus per-violation fines), exposing issuers and vendors to the risk of heavy fines that could be financially crippling.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Expands the BOTS Act to ban automated ticket-buying circumvention and requires ticket sellers to implement and update access controls and security safeguards.
Official title: To improve online ticket sales and protect consumers, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 8, 2025 by Diana Harshbarger · Last progress April 8, 2025
Makes it illegal to use automated software to buy event tickets in ways that break posted purchasing rules, and requires online ticket sellers to install and maintain technical and administrative protections to stop bots and protect customer data. The bill expands the BOTS Act’s prohibited conduct and creates affirmative obligations for ticket-issuing websites and services to implement access controls, security measures, and vendor safeguarding practices.