Why "Authorised Agents" Are the Future of Ticketing (And Completely Legal)
The UK government is finally cracking down on ticket touts. The headlines are everywhere, and for good reason. But in the chaos of the announcement, a lot of event organisers and promoters are asking the same panicked question:
"Is paying someone to sell my tickets illegal now?"
Let's cut the noise. The answer is no.
There is a massive difference between an authorised ticket agent vs ticket tout. Understanding this distinction isn't just about staying out of trouble—it’s the key to unlocking massive, risk-free growth for your events.
Here is the reality of the new landscape.
The Fear: "Did the Government Just Ban My Reps?" 🚫
If you run street teams, student reps, or affiliate networks, you might be sweating. You pay a commission to people to sell tickets. Is that scalping?
Absolutely not.
The ban targets unauthorised resale. This means people buying your tickets, stripping the inventory from the market, and flipping them on third-party sites for inflated prices without your permission.
They are leeches. You hate them. Fans hate them. The law now hates them.
The Law: Authorised Ticket Agent vs Ticket Tout
To navigate this, you need to know who is on your team and who isn't.
- The Ticket Tout (Illegal/Restricted): An outsider who buys stock to create artificial scarcity and resells at a markup. They hijack your pricing strategy and steal your customer data.
- The Authorised Agent (100% Legal): A rep, ambassador, or platform acting on your behalf. They sell primary inventory at the price you set.
Paying a commission to a rep to sell your tickets is standard industry practice. It’s how tickets have been sold for decades. The new laws protect this relationship by punishing the people trying to exploit it.
The Benefit: Why Agents Are Your Secret Weapon
Now that we know it’s legal, why should you double down on the authorised agent model?
Because the "black market" offers you nothing. When a tout sells a ticket, you lose the data, you lose the upsell, and you lose control of the brand narrative.
When you use authorised agents (like the network we build at TicketPlug), you win:
- Price Control: You set the price. No one gets ripped off.
- Data Ownership: You know exactly who is walking through the door.
- Brand Safety: Your tickets are sold by people who actually care about the event—fans, friends, and trusted reps.
The Future is Social (And Authorised) 📱
The old way of fighting touts was trying to ban resale entirely. The new way is rendering them obsolete by using network effects.
By empowering your fans to become authorised agents, you flood the market with legitimate, fair-priced tickets within their own social circles. You aren't just selling a ticket; you are activating a sales force.
- No upfront cost.
- Zero risk.
- Infinite organic reach.
Ticket scalping relies on scarcity and anonymity. TicketPlug relies on community and transparency. The law is finally catching up to what we’ve known all along: The best way to sell a ticket is through a human connection, not a faceless bot.
Stop Stressing. Start Selling.
The law is on your side. It’s time to take back control of your inventory and empower your real fans to fill the room.
Ready to build your authorised sales force?