Ticket touts will be banned from using bulk-buying ticket software under new legislation announced by the government.
The new criminal offence, to be brought forward via the Digital Economy Act, will mean touts will face unlimited fines for using software to buy tickets in greater quantities than permitted by sites.
Matt Hancock, minister for the creative industries, said: 'We’re determined to make sure 2018 is the year we help real fans get the chance to see their favourite music and sports stars at a fair price.
'We’ll be acting to stamp out the growing problem of touts misusing technology to scoop up vast numbers of tickets only to sell them on at rip-off prices.
The government has said that it has notified the European Commission of plans to implement the ban.
The legislation follows news of four people being arrested as part of a ticket tout raid by National Trading Standards (NTS).
The new criminal offence, to be brought forward via the Digital Economy Act, will mean touts will face unlimited fines for using software to buy tickets in greater quantities than permitted by sites.
Matt Hancock, minister for the creative industries, said: 'We’re determined to make sure 2018 is the year we help real fans get the chance to see their favourite music and sports stars at a fair price.
'We’ll be acting to stamp out the growing problem of touts misusing technology to scoop up vast numbers of tickets only to sell them on at rip-off prices.
'Our work, together with improvements by industry, will help make the market more transparent and mean a great year for Britain’s thriving live events scene.'
The government has said that it has notified the European Commission of plans to implement the ban.
The legislation follows news of four people being arrested as part of a ticket tout raid by National Trading Standards (NTS).
