The UK government prohibits the resale of tickets above their original price.

The British government has announced new regulations prohibiting the resale of tickets for shows at a price higher than the original issue price. The measure, promoted by the Departments of Trade and Culture, aims to curb abuses in the secondary market and make live entertainment more affordable.

The announcement on November 19th stipulates that any resold tickets must be limited to the original face price plus unavoidable fees, such as handling charges, and sets penalties of up to 10% of global revenue for platforms that fail to comply. According to the government, this regulation could save fans £112 million annually and release approximately 900,000 additional tickets into the primary market.

The initiative comes after years of growth in practices such as bulk buying via bots and immediate resale with margins exceeding 50% or even up to six times the original value, as noted by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The measure has been met with support from both the cultural sector and fans, and could become an international benchmark for transparency in the live entertainment market.

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