FTC Probes Whether Ticketmaster Does Enough To Stop Resale Bots (reuters.com)

(Monday September 15, 2025 @11:30PM (BeauHD) from the cease-and-desist dept.)

The FTC is [1]investigating whether Ticketmaster is doing enough to prevent bots from illegally reselling tickets on its platform , with a decision on the matter coming within weeks, according to [2]Bloomberg (paywalled). Reuters reports:

> The 2016 law prohibits the use of bots and other methods to bypass ticket purchase limits set by online sellers. As part of the probe, FTC investigators are assessing whether Ticketmaster has a financial incentive to allow resellers to circumvent its ticket limit rules, according to the report. A settlement is also possible, Bloomberg reported. If the FTC pursues a case and Live Nation loses, the company could face billions of dollars in penalties, as the law permits fines of up to $53,000 per violation.

[1] https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/ftc-probes-whether-ticketmaster-does-enough-stop-resale-bots-bloomberg-news-2025-09-15/

[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-15/ftc-probes-whether-ticketmaster-does-enough-to-stop-resale-bots

when ticket master resells an ticket they make X3 (Score:2)

by Joe_Dragon ( 2206452 )

when ticket master resells an ticket they make X3 the fees!

Re: when ticket master resells an ticket they make (Score:2)

by Z00L00K ( 682162 )

I wouldn't be surprised if it's revealed that it's ticketmaster or the developers of their platform that's behind the bots just to line their pockets. It woukd be easy to create a backdoor for your bot to grab tickets before start of sales if you have developed the system.

Re: (Score:2)

by fahrbot-bot ( 874524 )

> I wouldn't be surprised if it's revealed that it's ticketmaster or the developers of their platform that's behind the bots just to line their pockets.

Related Rick and Morty - er, Summer ...

> Rick: Well, obviously, Summer, it appears the lower tier of this society is being manipulated through sex and advanced technology by a hidden ruling class. Sound familiar?

> Summer: [Gasps] Ticketmaster.

Tored (Score:2)

by registrations_suck ( 1075251 )

This whole problem is so easily solved. I'm tired of reading about all this bullshit they do EXCEPT solve the actual problem.

We're talking about a cartel. (Score:3)

by PubJeezy ( 10299395 )

We're talking about a cartel.

Cartel - A cartel is an association of independent firms or nations that collude to restrict competition and control prices for a product or service.

All of these resale businesses are clearly part of Ticketmaster's business model. They are beholden to them and exist for their benefit. They run conventions where they all get together and describe their collusion against the customer (https://www.thestar.com/news/investigations/we-went-undercover-as-ticket-scalpers-and-ticketmaster-offered-to-help-us-do-business/article_475cbd40-6c6b-555f-83a3-7d225694669d.html).

I sincerely believe that the word "cartel" has been so heavily associated with the beheadings and airline bombings of transnational drug operators so we'd stop associating it with the market manipulating scumbags in our economy. America has a Cartel problem.