The UK government has announced plans to cap ticket resale prices at 30% above face value in a significant bid to tackle ticket touting and restore fairness for fans.

This policy marks a major shift in addressing a problem that has plagued the live entertainment industry for years, with resale prices often skyrocketing to many times the original ticket value.

Under the proposed legislation, tickets for concerts, festivals, and sporting events could no longer be resold for more than 30% above their original price.

While this cap may curb some of the extortionate prices seen on secondary markets, many are questioning whether it goes far enough. A 30% markup on a £100 ticket means a tout could still pocket £30 in profit, not including platform fees, which are often added on top. For many fans, the prospect of paying £130, or more, for a ticket sold out within minutes feels like a compromise, not a solution.

The challenge of enforcement also looms large. The new cap relies heavily on resale platforms adhering to the rules, but questions remain over how the government plans to ensure compliance.

Will there be fines or penalties for sellers who violate the cap? How will platforms monitor and verify ticket resale prices? Without robust oversight, there’s a risk the secondary market could exploit loopholes, continuing to overcharge fans while staying within legal grey areas.

Critics argue that the 30% figure may have been set too high to appease resale platforms and event organisers, who have been accused of profiting from inflated resale prices themselves.

Others are concerned that touts may pivot to selling entire packages, including travel or merchandise, to bypass the cap entirely. Meanwhile, fans are left wondering why resale prices can’t simply be capped at face value, as seen in some European countries.

While the proposed ticket resale cap is a step toward curbing exploitation in the secondary market, it fails to address a major player in the pricing problem: primary sellers like Ticketmaster and their controversial “dynamic pricing” models.

Dynamic pricing allows ticket prices to fluctuate based on demand, often pushing prices sky-high before fans even have a chance to purchase them. Critics argue that this practice, which can see tickets for major events soar to hundreds or even thousands of pounds, is just as damaging as touting.

By focusing solely on the resale market, the legislation overlooks the need to regulate these primary ticket giants, whose practices contribute significantly to the affordability crisis for fans. Without tackling this issue, the reforms risk leaving a glaring loophole that keeps live events out of reach for many.

To truly combat ticket touting, many believe more sweeping reforms are needed. Measures like banning bulk purchasing by bots, increasing transparency in original ticket sales, and limiting the number of tickets any individual can buy could further reduce the secondary market’s influence.

Additionally, incentivising event organisers to partner with ethical resale platforms, where tickets can only be resold at face value, may offer a more sustainable long-term solution.

For now, the announcement is a promising first step toward fairer ticket pricing, but fans will be watching closely to see how effective the cap proves to be in practice. Without stricter regulations and a willingness to address the root causes of ticket touting, this policy risks being little more than a well-intentioned but insufficient gesture.