The Rise of Ticketmaster Bots: A Threat to Fans
The global online ticketing market size is expected to hit $68 billion by 2025, which means ticket scalpers are making more profit than ever on snapping up lucrative tickets to resell on the secondary market. That’s especially true of events that are considered high-profile, high return on investment events—like an Oasis reunion.
Scalpers score tickets at face value and then resell them for a significant markup, or cause mayhem by hoarding inventory to jack up those secondary ticketing prices. The result for fans is the same—a massively frustrating experience for those who just want to listen to music.
Bots as a Service: Making Scalping Easier Than Ever
This ease of access has made it easier for scalpers to buy up tickets and resell them at inflated prices. In the UK, the National Trading Standards (NTS) e-crime unit has cracked down on scalpers using bots, calling their tactics “multiple deceitful and fraudulent tactics.” These touts used bots as a service to acquire tickets from primary sellers and resold these tickets for up to 500% above the original cost. The NTS says these scalpers “shamelessly exploited people longing to see their music idols.”
The Frustration of Fans and the Rise of Counter-Bots
Despite serious jail time for these offenders, bots as a service make it so anyone who is serious about buying more tickets than allowed can bypass those limits. And they’re available online enough that general concertgoers are seeking them out in an effort to fight bots with bots.
In a thread posted on reddit, one person comments: “I’m fucking tired of getting shut out of shows! How do I become a ticket bot? I want to buy as many tickets as possible and fucking give them away so these fuckers take a bath on their cash grab. Fuck AXS, Fuck Ticketbastard. I really miss camping out overnight to buy paper tickets.”
This frustration highlights the growing problem of bots in the ticketing industry. Fans are increasingly frustrated by the lack of access to tickets, and many are resorting to desperate measures to secure tickets for themselves and their friends.
The Future of Ticketing: Fighting Back Against Bots
The rise of bots in the ticketing industry is a serious problem that requires a concerted effort to address. Ticketmaster and other primary ticketing companies need to invest in more robust bot detection and prevention technologies. They also need to work with secondary ticketing platforms to crack down on the sale of tickets obtained through botting.
The NTS is investigating a new wave of fraudulent activity, with some scammers using bots to exploit the demand for Taylor Swift tickets. These scams highlight the need for consumers to be aware of the risks of buying tickets from unauthorized sellers, particularly those offering tickets at a significantly discounted price. The safest option is to buy tickets from reputable primary sellers and to be aware of the signs of potential scams.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a fair and equitable ticketing system that makes it possible for fans to attend events without having to worry about bots or scalpers. It is essential to educate consumers about the dangers of botting and to provide them with the tools they need to protect themselves from falling prey to these scams. With increased awareness and more effective preventative measures, the hope is to create a more transparent and fair ticketing environment that benefits both fans and artists alike.
