{"id":997238,"date":"2020-07-29T13:09:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-29T05:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/geetests.com\/article\/what-is-ticket-scalping-why-prevent-ticket-scalping"},"modified":"2025-09-15T14:25:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T06:25:30","slug":"what-is-ticket-scalping-why-prevent-ticket-scalping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/en\/article\/what-is-ticket-scalping-why-prevent-ticket-scalping","title":{"rendered":"What is ticket scalping? Why should you prevent it?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"vgblk-rw-wrapper limit-wrapper\"><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Did you know that 4 out of 5 event tickets are purchased by bots every day?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">The entertainment industry has a lot of vulnerabilities. One of them is ticket scalping. This type of bot attack allows online platforms to acquire a large number of tickets and resell them at higher prices.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Unregulated price inflation leads to customer complaints. Complaints eventually lead to reputation loss and public relations crises. To understand the nature of ticket scalping, let&#8217;s take a closer look at it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong class=\"ql-size-28px\">What Is Ticket Scalping?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/geetests.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/sign-scaled.png\" alt=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong class=\"ql-size-22px\">Ticket Scalping Definition<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Ticket scalping (aka ticket touting or ticket reselling) is an example of a sophisticated bot attack. It is aimed at instant mass acquisition of tickets to resell them at a higher price and generate a profit.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Resellers use scalping bots (aka ticket bots) to acquire large amounts of tickets. After that, they resell them at inflated prices. As a result, customers are left with no alternative but to purchase these tickets at inflated prices. The New York State Attorney General has provided <\/span><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/ag.ny.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/reports\/Ticket_Sales_Report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>several startling examples<\/u><\/a><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">: a single bot purchasing over 1,000 concert tickets in just one minute, two bots snapping up more than 15,000 tickets in a single day, and ticket prices being inflated by as much as 7,000% on resale platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong class=\"ql-size-22px\">Who Uses Ticket Scalping?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Ticket scalping isn&#8217;t exclusive to resale platforms. Different individuals could use scalping bots depending on their needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Ticket brokers<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Individual scalpers<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Hospitality agencies<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Corporations<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Criminals<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">They use bots to <\/span><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.geetest.com\/en\/article\/price-scrapping-damages-your-business\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>scrape event data and ticket prices<\/u><\/a><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">, continuously scan seat map inventories for newly released or premium seats, and instantly purchase available tickets to resell them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong class=\"ql-size-28px\">How Does Ticket Scalping Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Scanning ticketing platforms for hot events<\/strong><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">: Scalpers are usually appealed to several specific ticketing industry characteristics, such as availability of tickets and prices, and limited availability of tickets for certain hot events.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Getting as many accounts as possible<\/strong><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">: Scalpers would use bad bots to create fake accounts or take over existing accounts. Take this example, <\/span><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2017\/digital\/news\/ticketmaster-hamilton-prestige-entertainment-renaissance-ventures-1202578292\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>a ticket broker used 9,047 separate accounts to make 313,528 ticket orders over the course of 20 months<\/u><\/a><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Deploying scalping bots to automate mass purchases<\/strong><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">: During ticket sales, scalpers leverage bots to rapidly purchase large quantities of tickets, outpacing loyal fans and circumventing per-customer limits by using multiple browsers. This strategy allows bot operators to secure hundreds of tickets as soon as they become available.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Reselling tickets at inflated prices<\/strong><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">: Scalpers quickly resell tickets through social media, specialized websites, and classified ads. Despite high markups, loyal fans are likely to buy these tickets because they are eager to attend the event.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><strong class=\"ql-size-28px\">The Impact of Ticket Scalping Bots<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong class=\"ql-size-22px\">Ticket Scalping Is Bad for Business and Economics<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/geetests.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/530884792-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Mass purchases prevent customers from being able to acquire tickets directly from the vendor for events, leading to a significant loss of clientele.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Tickets sold at inflated prices cause discontent among the customers and lead to a public relations crisis.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Vendors keep selling tickets at low prices aiming to sell as many tickets as possible relying on profits from food and merchandise.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">The absence of ticket reselling policies allows scalpers to put any prices approved by the market.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Uncontrollably high ticket prices create customer outflows.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">More details here: <\/span><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/theconversation.com\/the-economics-of-ticket-scalping-83434\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>The economics of ticket scalping<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><strong class=\"ql-size-22px\">Is Ticket Scalping Legal?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">The legitimacy of the ticket scalping situation is different across the world. Every country implements its policies to handle scalpers. Here are some examples.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">USA<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">In the US, different states apply different policies to manage scalpers and resellers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">New York the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law limits the ticket&#8217;s reselling price to $5 or 10% (whichever is greater) of the ticket&#8217;s face value.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In New Jersey, this limit goes to $3 or 20% of the ticket price (whichever is greater). (2013 New Jersey Revised Statutes \u00a7 56:8-26 \u2013 56:8-38)<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Delaware prohibits reselling tickets at a higher price than their face value on the day before or during an event.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In Hawaii, Indiana, Maryland, Arkansas, and New Mexico reselling tickets for more than their face value is illegal. (Hawaii Revenue Statute \u00a7 440-17, Indiana Code \u00a7 25-9-1-26, Maryland Code \u00a7 43-318, Arkansas Code \u00a7 5-63-201, New Mexico Statutes \u00a7 30-46-1)<\/p>\n<p>In California, Louisiana, and North Carolina, ticket scalping is illegal without documented permission from the venue owner or operator (California Policy Center \u00a7 346, Louisiana Revised Statutes \u00a7 4-1, North Carolina General Statutes \u00a7 14\u2011344)<\/p>\n<p>In Illinois, selling tickets anywhere except the box office of the venue is prohibited. (720 Illinois Compiled Statutes 375 \u00a7 1)<\/p>\n<h4><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Canada<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Quebec&#8217;s Bill 25 prohibits brokers from reselling a ticket at a higher price than its face value. To resell tickets, they need to receive documented permission from the original vendor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">In Ontario, reselling tickets above the face value is completely illegal due to the Ticket Speculation Act. and even punishable.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Australia<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">In Australia, the <\/span><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nsw.gov.au\/news\/new-laws-crack-down-on-ticket-scalping\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>New South Wales government prohibits scalpers<\/u><\/a><span class=\"ql-size-16px\"> from reselling tickets at a price 10% higher than the face value of the ticket.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><strong class=\"ql-size-28px\">How to Prevent Ticket Scalping?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">The ticket bots need to pass several layers of gateways:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Account registration;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Account login;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Order check-out page;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Payment page;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Deploying human verification, which can distinguish bots from genuine human users, to these sensitive gateways can detect and filter out these automated programs.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong class=\"ql-size-22px\">Traditional CAPTCHA (like ReCAPTCHA)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.geetest.com\/en\/article\/What-is-captcha\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>CAPTCHA<\/u><\/a><span class=\"ql-size-16px\"> was originally designed to help us distinguish bad bots. However, with the growth of the Internet, traditional CAPTCHA is not effective enough.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Advantages<\/strong><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Image rotation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Orientation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Recognition<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Disadvantages<\/strong><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Can be beaten by modern sophisticated bots with image recognition technologies<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Can be beaten by <\/span><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.geetest.com\/en\/article\/captcha-solving\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>CAPTCHA farms<\/u><\/a><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Poor user experience and unfriendly for admins<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong class=\"ql-size-22px\">Full-Stack Bot Management Solution<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">A full-stack bot management solution is a comprehensive and effective strategy for addressing bot threats. However, its configuration and management can sometimes be complex and costly.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Advantages<\/strong><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Constantly monitoring your website traffic to detect bots<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Smooth user experience with less friction<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Disadvantages<\/strong><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Paid and very expensive<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Installation and management can be complex<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong class=\"ql-size-22px\">GeeTest CAPTCHA | Advanced AI-based CAPTCHA<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.geetest.com\/en?gclid=CjwKCAjwmf_4BRABEiwAGhDfSTQqbHiaEjpyMOZ2VfjDg4dyZZFFwt_sl8rLlzkfhA8982jr96KF0RoCwu8QAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>GeeTest<\/u><\/a><span class=\"ql-size-16px\"> is the world&#8217;s leading enterprise-grade bot management solution provider. With its <\/span><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.geetest.com\/en\/adaptive-captcha\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>advanced Adaptive CAPTCHA<\/u><\/a><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">, which ensures both ease of use and security in every interaction, enterprises can prevent various frauds and threats such as Ticket Scalping, Web Scraping, Credential Stuffing, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Advantages<\/strong><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Deep Machine Learning analysis and AI-powered back-end engine ensure Adaptive security strategies, proactive defense before attackers, providing 7-layer dynamic security protection with up to 4374 security strategies per cycle<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Ease-of-use design with customizable <\/span><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.geetest.com\/en\/article\/captcha-test-for-fun\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>fun captcha tests<\/u><\/a><span class=\"ql-size-16px\"> ensures low friction, offers the best reporting system and user experience<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Intelligent and modular operating systems ensure real-time risk detection and settings at a glance<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">3-Step Installation, 0.5 days integration for each business event<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong class=\"ql-size-16px\">Disadvantages<\/strong><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Paid after free trial<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><strong class=\"ql-size-28px\">Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Why do you need to take measures to prevent scalping bots?<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Managing ticket scalpers is crucial for long-term success and the reputation of your business<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Preventing ticket scalping will help ticket price regulation in the overall market<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Stop customers&#8217; outflow<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">It is imperative to take measures and stop scalpers and resellers from mass purchasing your tickets. Analyze your needs and options and take serious measures right now.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/geetests.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Advanced-CAPTCHA-4.gif\" alt=\"\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">Learn more about how GeeTest offers an enterprise-grade bot management solution as an <\/span><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.geetest.com\/en\/article\/superior-recaptcha-alternative-to-prevent-spam-and-bots\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>alternative to traditional captcha<\/u><\/a><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">. <\/span><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.geetest.com\/en\/Register_en?utm_source=blog&amp;_ga=2.127182670.290875273.1721613139-2123982037.1719468445&amp;_gac=1.148105925.1721384981.CjwKCAjwmf_4BRABEiwAGhDfSTQqbHiaEjpyMOZ2VfjDg4dyZZFFwt_sl8rLlzkfhA8982jr96KF0RoCwu8QAvD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Register<\/u><\/a><span class=\"ql-size-16px\"> or try the <\/span><a class=\"ql-size-16px\" style=\"color: #0066cc;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.geetest.com\/en\/adaptive-captcha-demo?utm_source=blog\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Demo of GeeTest Adaptive CAPTCHA<\/u><\/a><span class=\"ql-size-16px\">!<\/span><\/div>\n<p><!-- .vgblk-rw-wrapper --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know that 4 out of 5 event tickets are purchased by bots every day? Want to know why? Get in and read!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":996664,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[94],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-997238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-botpedia"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=997238"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997238\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":997716,"href":"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/997238\/revisions\/997716"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/996664"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=997238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=997238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=997238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}