A new law in Washington state to officially ban “ticket bots,” which are used to purchased large quantities of tickets to popular sporting events and concerts, was signed by Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday, said state Attorney General Bob Ferguson.
Ferguson originally proposed the law to ban the computer programming software, often used by scalpers looking to buy the best seats to the event.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s law to ban computer programs designed to buy tickets for popular concerts and sporting events was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday.
| Washington Attorney General
Under the new law, ticket bots are prohibited, and using the software to interfere, evade or circumvent security measures put in play by ticket seller's websites will violate the state's Consumer Protection Act.
“Consumers deserve a fair deal, and we’re taking an important step toward ensuring that they get it,” Ferguson said Tuesday after Inslee signed the bill. “Outlawing ticket bots will keep more of fans’ hard-earned money in their pockets, instead of fattening the wallets of scalpers trying to game the system.”
The bill originally passed the Washington House 98-0 on Feb. 16, and on April 8 the state Senate passed its own version of the bill 49-0. The bills only contained a minor language difference, and the House concurred with the bill shortly after the Senate approved it.