Article Summary –
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan legislation in Michigan to curb the use of automated bots for bulk purchasing of live event tickets, which has led to inflated resale market prices. The legislation, dubbed the “Taylor Swift” bills, follows issues fans encountered during ticket sales for her Eras Tour, where tickets averaged $3,801 on resale, and allows the state attorney general to fine violators up to $5,000. Michigan joins 13 other U.S. states with similar laws, complementing the federal Better Online Tickets Sales Act, which targets unlawful resale practices but has faced enforcement challenges.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed bipartisan bills on Dec. 23 aimed at tackling the surge in live entertainment ticket resale prices by limiting the use of bots.
Michigan’s Event Online Ticket Sales Act, specifically Senate Bill 158 and House Bill 4262, bans bots from purchasing large quantities of tickets for concerts, sports events, and shows. The legislation empowers the state attorney general to initiate civil actions and impose fines up to $5,000 for violations.
Dubbed the “Taylor Swift” bills after the pop icon whose fans faced challenges buying Eras Tour tickets, the act addresses issues of bots securing tickets, which Pitchfork reported averaged $3,801 each on the resale market in August 2023.
Senate sponsor Sen. Mary Cavanagh from Redford Township emphasized the legislation’s goal of allowing more Michiganders to enjoy live events.
“Bots have exploited consumers by bulk-buying tickets and driving prices up in the resale market, blocking many from the live entertainment experience,” said Cavanagh.
This Michigan law mirrors the Better Online Tickets Sales Act at the federal level, which grants the Federal Trade Commission authority to act against bot users evading ticket purchase limits.
While the federal law began in 2016, enforcement started in January 2021, when the FTC fined three New York ticket brokers over $31 million for using bots to acquire and resell concert and sports tickets at inflated prices. In September 2025, the FTC filed a lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation, asserting violations of the Better Online Ticket Sales Act.
The lawsuit claims Ticketmaster enabled brokers to bypass its own security measures. On Jan. 7, Ticketmaster sought to dismiss the case, arguing the anti-bot law targets resellers, not platforms.
Michigan joins 13 other U.S. states with state-level anti-bot laws.
Rep. Mike Harris, a Republican from Waterford Township, noted, “The Eras Tour ticket fiasco underscored the need for fair access, bringing Michigan residents back to enjoy events at favorite venues.”
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