Overview

• The FTC alleges Ticketmaster let brokers bypass purchase limits using thousands of fake accounts and its TradeDesk tool to facilitate large-scale resales.
• The agency says mandatory fees added at checkout reached up to 44% and totaled $16.4 billion between 2019 and 2024.
• Regulators cite $82.6 billion in consumer spending on Ticketmaster-distributed tickets in that period and a market share near 80% for major venues.
• The case seeks penalties under the BOTS Act of up to $53,000 per violation along with consumer remedies, with seven states joining the filing.
• The lawsuit proceeds alongside the DOJ’s 2024 antitrust case against Live Nation, following a March executive order by President Trump to strengthen BOTS enforcement.