Illicit traders aim to purchase event tickets using automated programs
Tackling Ticket Scalping: Eventim's Fight Against Bots
In the world of live entertainment, ticket scalping has long been a contentious issue. Eventim, the second-largest ticket provider globally, is no stranger to this challenge. The company, which sells tickets for concerts, theater performances, and sporting events, has been at the forefront of combating ticket scalping, particularly through the use of technology.
Recent reports suggest that bots and scalpers can account for as much as 95% of website traffic during ticket sales, severely limiting access for genuine fans. These automated systems, designed to bulk purchase tickets, enable scalpers to acquire a large share of tickets within seconds, causing high demand and inflated resale prices.
To counteract this, Eventim, like other major ticket vendors, employs several technological measures. Advanced bot-detection systems, identity verification, and CAPTCHA challenges are among the tools used to prevent scalping. Comparable platforms, such as Eventbrite, combine these measures with machine learning and real-time monitoring to flag and block suspicious bulk purchases during high-demand sales.
The company's efforts to combat scalping are exemplified by its own platform, Fansale. Designed to operate at cost, Fansale provides a legitimate avenue for ticket resale, aiming to protect consumers from the issues of usury, abuse, and fraud that can occur on unauthorized secondary markets.
Policy approaches have also proven effective in reducing scalping for large events. Real-name registration systems, for instance, have been successful in some regions. The BOTS Act, reinforced by a 2025 executive order in the United States, makes it illegal to use bots to bypass security or purchase limits on event tickets. However, the law's enforcement is complicated by jurisdictional and technological challenges.
Despite these efforts, enforcement gaps and sophisticated scalper tactics mean that scalping continues as a significant problem requiring ongoing technological and regulatory innovation. Eventim, under the leadership of CEO Klaus-Peter Schulenberg, born in Bremen, continues to lead the charge, reporting millions of bot requests during major onsales and building its own platform, Fansale, to combat these issues.
It's worth noting that in Germany, the practice of reselling entrance tickets, known as "ticket scalping," is generally allowed. Eventim, however, operates venues, including the Waldbühne in Berlin, and can prohibit commercial resale of tickets where applicable.
In conclusion, the fight against ticket scalping using bots is an ongoing battle in the live event markets. Eventim, with its technological defenses and policy advocacy, is a key player in this battle, working to ensure that more tickets remain available for genuine fans.
The following strategic measures in cybersecurity technology are employed by Eventim to tackle ticket scalping by bots, such as advanced bot-detection systems, identity verification, CAPTCHA challenges, machine learning, and real-time monitoring. Additionally, the cyberspace of sports events, like other major live events, continues to be a significant battleground requiring ongoing technological and regulatory innovation to combat scalping.
