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Bill

SB 3602

PROHIBIT TICKET PURCHASE BOTS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Steve Stadelman

Illinois bill prohibits automated ticket-buying software to prevent reseller scalping and protect consumers from inflated event ticket prices.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · SB 3602

Legislative bill overview

SB 3602 seeks to prohibit the use of automated bots to purchase event tickets in Illinois, targeting resellers who use software to buy tickets in bulk before legitimate consumers can access them. The bill aims to protect consumers from inflated prices caused by ticket scalping operations that rely on automation technology.

Why is this important

Ticket-buying bots create significant market distortion, allowing resellers to monopolize inventory and resell tickets at markups of 200-500% or more. This directly impacts consumers' ability to afford entertainment, sports, and cultural events at reasonable prices, and has become a widespread practice across major ticketing platforms.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation and enforcement challenges: Determining what constitutes a "bot" versus legitimate automated purchasing (e.g., accounts with saved payment information) and enforcing penalties across interstate commerce could prove technically difficult
  • Ticketing platform responsibility: Unclear whether primary liability falls on bot users, software developers, or ticketing companies themselves for failing to implement adequate anti-bot protections
  • Free speech and technological concerns: Questions about whether prohibiting certain software tools raises constitutional issues or unfairly targets legitimate automation technologies with dual uses

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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