Massachusetts Bans Digital Ticket Resale: A Ticketmaster Power Grab?
A new Massachusetts law grants ticketing companies like Ticketmaster greater control over ticket resales, restricting fans’ ability to transfer tickets to platforms other than the original point of purchase. This measure, included in the state’s Economic Development Bill, aims to curb ticket scalping by limiting the use of bots and other tactics employed by professional brokers. Consumer advocates oppose the law, arguing it harms consumers and inflates prices by forcing resales through the original vendor, often at a reduced value. Ticket resellers, such as StubHub, have criticized the law as anti-competitive.
John Q. Hosedrinker