New York Legislature Passes Bill That Makes Using Ticketing Bots Illegal

There’s good news for New York live music fans who have had the frustrating experience of battling bots to try to score tickets to high-demand shows. Today, the state’s legislature passed a bill that will now make the use of ticket bots illegal as a Class A misdemeanor crime publishable by up to one year in prison and/or a fine, according to a report from Gothamist.

Gothamist notes the bill still needs to be signed into law by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, but unlike past attempts to reel in the secondary ticketing market, the law would “up the civil penalties and expand to apply to anyone who knowingly resells tickets that a bot initially purchased.” The sponsor of the bill, Bronx Assemblymember Marcos Crespo, said in a statement:

New Yorkers have been dealing with this frustrating ticket buying experience for too long. Countless have lost opportunities to experience the richness of our arts and entertainment industry because there are those willing to circumvent by using automated software to deprive the average consumer of access to entertainment venues. The top music, theatre and athletic talent of our nation have priced their events at levels affordable to the mass public. With this bill becoming law, we will ensure the prices to see such talent will be within reach of all New Yorkers.

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman recently released a report on a three-year study that found “ticketing is a fixed game” and still has his eyes on additional laws that aim to get more tickets into fans hands at face value. Watch comments from State Senator Daniel Squadron about the bill: