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State law going after unfair ticket purchasing

When it comes to seeing a concert or going to a game, buying tickets the day they go on sale is no easy task.

Within minutes or even seconds, they’re swallowed up by individuals who use ticket bots so they can resell them at a higher price. As a result, people are left going to other marketplace sites where tickets are resold for a price much more than they’d like to pay.

The common practice that often plagues ticket buyers is now illegal, as Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation earlier this week to combat unfair ticket purchasing and selling. The law establishes a class A misdemeanor for individuals who use ticket bots to manipulate systems that are designed to limit the number of tickets a person can buy for an event.

Cuomo said unscrupulous speculators with their underhanded tactics have manipulated the marketplace, leaving New Yorkers and visitors alike with little choice but to buy tickets on a secondary market at an exorbitant mark-up price. Legislation that Cuomo signed was spearheaded by Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, state Sen. Andrew J. Lanza, Investigations Committee chairman and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo.

“It’s predatory, it’s wrong and with legislation, we are taking an important step toward restoring fairness and equity back to the multi-billion dollar industry,” Cuomo said.

The tactic used by scalpers and brokers through software known as ticket bots has gone on for several years in New York and the U.S. Before concert-goers or fans can even click to purchase some of the hottest seats, bots gather large scores of tickets within the first minute. Through sophisticated computer programs, scalpers are able to bypass and gather more tickets than the per-fan ticket limit.

New legislation expands the definition of ticket purchasing software to include the wide variety of systems used to quickly amass tickets before the general public gains access.

State Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean, said new legislation is one of the strongest “anti-bot laws” in the nation, as harsh penalties are now imposed for those who use or profit from them.

“Protecting customers from unfair practices needs to be a high priority,” she said following the governor’s signing of legislation. “When speculators use ticket bots to scarf up tickets for major events, everyday consumers lose out. By reducing the prevalence of these practices, we can fight back against ticket price gouging and ensure that everyone has an honest and fair chance to see their favorite sports teams, music performers and other events in person.”

There’s no federal law that goes after those who use ticket bots, but U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and three fellow senators have made it a point of emphasis. Schumer, D-N.Y., introduced legislation this year that would prohibit the unfair practice in similar fashion to the state’s new law. The bill currently sits idle, however.

Companies like Ticketmaster, whose parent company is Live Nation Entertainment, are leading an effort against bots since consumers are becoming frustrated and are forced to other websites to purchase tickets from online scalpers. According to Ticketmaster, around 60 percent of the most desirable tickets for sale are swallowed up by bots.

“These bots have gotten completely out of control and their dominance in the market is driving up prices for music and sports fans as well as tourists and theater-goers,” Schumer said. “By eliminating bots and slapping hackers with a hefty fine, we can better ensure those who want to attend shows in the future will not have to pay outrageous, unfair prices.”

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