NSW ticket resale laws come into effect with maximum $22,000 penalties

New ticket resale laws have today come into effect in NSW that make it illegal to re-sell a ticket for an event for more than 10% above the original price.

An individual faces a maximum penalty of $11,000 for selling over that threshold, while organisations can be hit with up to $22,000 in fines.

Introducing the reforms, NSW Minister for Better Regulation Matt Kean said the law is aimed at “stamping out dodgy price gouging practices”.

Minister Kean advised “we know ticket scalping is a huge problem in NSW, and I’m sick of consumers being taken for a ride by shameless shonks looking to make a quick buck.

“These laws create a level playing field so genuine fans can buy tickets to concerts and sporting events without being slapped with hugely inflated re-sale prices.”

The reforms follow more than 1000 complaints to NSW Fair Trading last financial year.

Ticket resale advertisements are now required to include the ticket’s original cost, a re-sale asking price below the cap and seat details including bay, seat or row numbers.

Any advertisement for tickets with an asking price over 110% of face value is prohibited.

Adding that “these reforms are about putting consumers first, and ensuring that ordinary fans can get a fair go in the marketplace”, Minister Kean said the reforms also mean:

• If a ticket is sold above the 10% re-sale cap, the event organiser may cancel the ticket, and refuse entry to the person who holds it;
• Ads are required to include the original cost of the ticket, a re-sale asking price below the mandated cap, and the seat details including the bay, seat, or row number; and,
• Ads that offer tickets for more than the permissible re-sale price are prohibited.

Primarily aimed at ticket resellers such as Viagogo, the Switzerland-based company has argued that “sellers set their own prices, which may be above or below the original face value”.

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Image: The new legislation is designed to halt ticket scalping such as that which impacted Adele's 2017 concerts at Sydney's ANZ Stadium. Image courtesy of ANZ Stadium.

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