Calling time on ticket touts: Resale price cap proposed by UK government

We’ve all been there. You’re in the queue for tickets. They sell out in seconds –but you find them on Viagogo or StubHub hours later for double or triple the face value.

This practise isn’t new and has been ripping fans off for years, so in a bid to combat this and fulfilling a Labour election pledge the UK government plans to cap resale ticket prices in 2025.

The cap targets the live events industry, including music, sports, comedy, and theatre, responding to complaints about touts bulk-buying tickets and reselling at steep markups.

A public consultation will determine the cap, potentially ranging from the ticket’s face value to 30% above it. Ministers also propose limiting the number of tickets resellers can sell to match the original purchase limits. The consultation will also address dynamic pricing, where ticket prices increase during high demand, highlighted by the recent Oasis reunion ticket controversy.

The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) reports resale tickets are often marked up by over 50%. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated, “We are strengthening consumer protections to stop fans from being ripped off and to ensure money supports the live events sector, not touts.”

A fairer format already operates from platforms such as TicketSwap (where the re-sale values are capped), but this is not standard across the ticketing industry.

Ticket resale platform Viagogo expressed willingness to work with the government and respond to the consultation.

Research estimates ticket touts cost UK music fans £145 million annually. In the US, the Department of Justice sued Ticketmaster parent Live Nation last May to address alleged monopolistic practices.

The full consultation is available here.

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Words Credit: James John / Photo Credit: Warehouse Project