Philippines pushes to penalise ticket scalping with new senate bill
The Anti-Ticket Scalping Act enforces strict punishments for unauthorised ticket resales over 10% of the original price
In response to the rise in ticket scalping in the Philippines, Senator Mark Villar filed Senate Bill No. 2873, the Anti-Ticket Scalping Act, announced December 9, 2024.
The bill’s Explanatory Note states that it “aims to protect consumers from exploitation and guarantee fair access to events of their favourite artists or performers”.
In 2024 alone, there were at least 154 concerts, with revenue from music events in the country that keeps on rising.
The growing popularity of concerts reflects Filipinos’ rising appetite for recreational activities, contributing to the local economy.
“We filed this bill to stop or suppress the worsening incidents of scalping, which take advantage of concertgoers or avid fans. The practice of reselling concert and event tickets at an inflated price by scalpers is no longer reasonable,” Villar said.
The proposed law addresses gaps in current regulations, which are limited to cities like Pasay and Quezon City.
It prohibits unauthorised selling, hoarding, or reselling of tickets at more than 10% above the original price—a threshold subject to review by implementing agencies.
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Large-scale scalping operations will face strict penalties. First offences carry fines of PHP100,000 and/or six months imprisonment, while repeat violators face fines of up to PHP500,000 and imprisonment of up to three years.
Corporations involved in scalping will also face accountability, with directors and employees held liable.
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The bill also empowers government agencies such as the Department of Justice, Department of Trade and Industry, and the Philippine National Police to act against scalpers without requiring a formal complaint.
As part of preventive measures, event organisers and ticketing platforms will be required to post reminders against scalping and implement internal policies to prevent it.
[Via: Asia News Network]
