Trump Orders Crackdown on Ticket Price Fraud, Targets BOTS Act Enforcement

On March 31, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at curbing ticket price fraud in live entertainment events. The order directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to collaborate with Attorney General Pam Bondi to ensure that the music and entertainment industries comply with competition laws, with the goal of maintaining price transparency throughout the ticket purchasing process. The order calls for stricter enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales (BOTS) Act, a 2016 law that allows the FTC to take action against individuals and companies that use bots to buy and resell concert tickets in bulk.

The issue of ticket price fraud gained significant attention during Taylor Swift's "Reputation" tour in 2022, when resale prices soared to tens of thousands of dollars. The exorbitant prices sparked strong opposition from lawmakers against Ticketmaster, the largest ticketing website and concert promoter in the U.S., who accused the company of monopolistic practices.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice and 30 state attorneys general filed an antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, Ticketmaster's parent company, alleging that the company abused its dominant market position to harm American fans. The lawsuit highlighted concerns about the lack of competition in the ticketing industry and the impact on consumers.

Live Nation issued a statement expressing support for efforts to reform ticket resale practices. The statement read, "Scalpers and bots prevent fans from buying tickets at prices set by the artists. We thank President Trump for addressing these issues. We support any meaningful resale reforms, including strengthening enforcement of the BOTS Act and limiting resale prices."

The executive order was signed in the Oval Office, with rock musician Kid Rock in attendance. The order aims to reform the ticketing management of live performances in the U.S., targeting intermediaries who inflate prices and engaging in the resale of tickets. The order instructs Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to ensure that scalpers comply with all regulations set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

This move by the Trump administration is seen as a significant step towards addressing the long-standing issue of ticket price fraud and ensuring that consumers have a fair and transparent ticket purchasing experience. The order underscores the administration's commitment to protecting consumers from unfair practices and promoting competition in the ticketing industry.