MAIN Event Ticketing Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
Strengthens the BOTS Act by expanding prohibited automated ticketing conduct involving online ticket issuers and ticket marketplaces, aiming to curb software-based ticket hoarding and resale manipulation.
Who Benefits and How
Concertgoers, sports fans, theater patrons, and other live-event consumers benefit if stronger BOTS Act language reduces automated mass purchases that drive up prices or shut ordinary buyers out. Online ticket issuers and ticket marketplaces benefit from clearer federal rules against bots that bypass purchasing limits or access controls. Artists, venues, and event promoters benefit if tickets are more likely to reach real fans.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Ticket brokers using automated software face higher enforcement risk. Bot developers and resale operators that bypass online ticket controls may face FTC or state enforcement. FTC enforcement staff and state attorneys general must apply the revised BOTS Act language. Ticket platforms may need to improve monitoring and evidence collection.
Key Provisions
- Amends the Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016.
- Expands covered conduct involving online ticket issuers and ticket marketplaces.
- Strengthens prohibitions on automated circumvention of ticket purchase rules.
- Supports enforcement against bot-enabled ticket hoarding.
- Protects consumers seeking face-value access to live-event tickets.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Strengthens the BOTS Act by expanding prohibited automated ticketing conduct involving online ticket issuers and ticket marketplaces, aiming to curb software-based ticket hoarding and resale manipulation.
Key Policy Areas
Consumer Protection, Live Events, Ticketing
Primary Purpose
Strengthens the BOTS Act by expanding prohibited automated ticketing conduct involving online ticket issuers and ticket marketplaces, aiming to curb software-based ticket hoarding and resale manipulation.
Policy Domains
House resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Concertgoers
- Sports fans
- Ticket consumers
- Online ticket issuers
- Artists
- Venues
Identified Costs
- Ticket brokers
- Bot developers
- Resale companies
- Federal Trade Commission
- State attorneys general
- Ticketing companies
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
ReportedReported by Mr. Cruz, with an amendment
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. …
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz …
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported …
Mrs. Blackburn (for herself and Mr. Luján) introduced the following …
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, …
Introduced in Senate
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Concertgoers, FTC enforcement staff, Sports fans
Positive-direction: Concertgoers, Sports fans
Negative-direction: FTC enforcement staff
Online ticket issuers, Ticket brokers
Positive-direction: Online ticket issuers
Negative-direction: Ticket brokers
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "commission"
- → Federal Trade Commission
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology