SPRINGFIELD – As ticket-buying becomes more competitive, State Senator Steve Stadelman is working to strengthen consumer protections in the ticket sales marketplace, prevent the use of bots from buying up tickets and crack down on deceptive online purchasing practices.
“Fans should have a fair shot at buying tickets at the advertised price without competing against bots or being misled by deceptive sellers,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This legislation increases transparency and helps protect consumers from unfair practices in the ticket marketplace.”
As artificial intelligence proliferates in the ticket sales marketplace, consumers are increasingly forced to compete against automated bots that bypass ticket limits, deceptive resale websites that appear to be officially affiliated with artists or venues, and hidden ticket inventory that is withheld from public sale without disclosure. Existing federal protections address some of these issues, but gaps in enforcement and transparency continue to frustrate consumers when attempting to purchase event tickets.
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman passed legislation through the Senate to increase transparency in the digital marketplace by requiring online sellers to provide disclosures, helping ensure consumers understand exactly what they are purchasing.
“Travelers shouldn’t be surprised by hidden fees or incorrect bookings when making a hotel reservation,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “Illinois is leading the way in protecting consumers from being misled and misinformed by requiring clear disclosures from third-party booking services that they’re not directly making a reservation at the hotel.”
Many consumers use third-party hotel booking services and assume they are booking directly with the hotel, only to discover unexpected fees, errors or other issues after the transaction is complete. Current law does not require these services to disclose that they are independent from the hotels they list, leaving travelers potentially unware that they are not booking directly with the property.
SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman passed legislation through the Senate to increase transparency in the digital marketplace and help consumers understand exactly what they are purchasing.
“Consumers shouldn’t have to dig through fine print to understand what they are buying,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “Clear disclosures help build trust and prevent misunderstandings down the line.”
As digital goods like movies, music, apps and e-books become more common, many consumers are misled into thinking they fully own what they purchase – when in reality, they are often agreeing to limited-use licenses that can be revoked or restricted. These terms are frequently buried in fine print or unclear language, leaving buyers unaware of key limitations until after the transaction is complete.
CHICAGO – State Senator Steve Stadelman joined the Ravinia Festival Association, elected officials, and entrainment venues at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago on Monday to outline legislation aimed at protecting consumers from deceptive practices in the ticket resale market by banning speculative ticketing.
“Consumers should never be put in a position where they are paying for something that doesn’t even exist,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “This legislation ensures that when a ticket is listed for sale, the seller actually has it in their possession. This measure is about honesty, transparency and protecting people from being taken advantage of.”
Through House Bill 4984, Stadelman is working to strengthen consumer protections by prohibiting ticket resellers from listing or selling tickets unless they have actual or constructive possession of those tickets at the time of the listing. The measure targets speculative ticketing, a practice in which sellers advertise tickets they do not yet own, often before tickets are officially available.
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