TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the Sports Industry Development Act on Friday (Dec. 15), introducing severe penalties for ticket scalping.
The revised law imposes fines on scalpers of 10 to 50 times the ticket's face value. It also penalizes the resale of complimentary and promotional tickets, with fines up to NT＄18,000.
The use of ticket-buying bots, a major issue in event ticketing, will now result in up to three years' imprisonment and fines up to NT＄3 million. These measures aim to curb the widespread practice of reselling tickets at exorbitant prices, locally known as "huangniu" — Yellow Cow.
The amended law also encourages public reporting of scalping activities by ensuring whistleblower anonymity and offering potential rewards for their contributions. These protections extend to legal proceedings, safeguarding the whistleblower's identity.
Initiated by the Legislative Yuan Education and Culture Committee, these updates follow similar anti-scalping measures in the cultural and creative sectors. The focus on sporting events reflects the legislature's commitment to ensuring equitable access to entertainment and sports for Taiwanese fans.
