Blumenthal Bill to Crack Down on Unfair Ticket Bots Passes Commerce Committee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today announced a bipartisan bill he introduced to crack down on unfair ticket scalping passed the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The Better Online Ticket Sales Act, also known as the BOTS Act, will ban “ticket bots” that intentionally bypass security measures on online ticketing websites to outprice individual fans.

“This critical bill is now one step closer to cracking down on unfair ticket bots that sweep up tickets and squeeze out fans,” Blumenthal said. “Parasitic special software, known as ‘ticket bots,’ devours tickets at high-speeds—making it impossible for ordinary consumers to see their favorite band or hometown sports team at a reasonable price. This ticket scalping hurts Americans’ pocketbooks and crushes people's dreams to see their favorite artist perform live or cheer on their home sports team. By banning certain ticket bots, this bipartisan bill will help ensure consumers have fair access to the events they want to see.”

At a Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection hearing last week, Ranking Member Blumenthal emphasized the urgent need for bipartisan legislation to crack down on unfair ticket scalping. Jeffrey Seller, the producer of hit Broadway musical Hamilton, testified at the hearing about how this critical bill would help prevent the widespread scalping of tickets to the popular show. The hearing also included testimony from the Big 12 Commissioner and representatives from StubHub and Ticketfly, who joined Seller in support of the bill.

“In one of my favorite shows of all time, Hamilton, my favorite number is called, ‘The Room Where It Happens,’” Blumenthal said at the hearing. “All that fans want is to be in the room where it happens. And what this bill does is give them fair access to be in that room—whether it is a sports stadium, a music venue, or a show like Hamilton.”

Tickets for popular events with high demand sell out almost immediately after they become available, leaving average consumers often unable to purchase tickets directly from a primary ticket vendor. Instead, consumers are forced to purchase from a third party through a ticket resale platform, where they can often expect to pay prices many times the ticket’s face value.

One of the chief reasons for this lack of ticket availability has become the use of “ticket bots” – inexpensive software programs that automatically locate and purchase large quantities of tickets offered for sale online through primary ticket vendors such as Ticketmaster. In a matter of seconds, third-party brokers using ticket bots can purchase hundreds or thousands of tickets, thereby squeezing out consumers. Blumenthal introduced the bill with Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) in July to help put an end to this growing practice.

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