8 min article

Event tickets policy

Reselling tickets to events like concerts, plays or sporting occasions is generally allowed on eBay, provided you comply with the relevant laws. Please read our full policy guidelines for more details. It is your responsibility to ensure that the sale of your item complies with all relevant laws.

This policy was updated on 18 December 2023. Our policy guidelines have not changed, but the information about activity that doesn't follow this policy has been updated for clarity.

What is the policy?

Generally, you can resell tickets to entertainment events – including sporting events, concerts and plays – on eBay. However, when you list a ticket on eBay, you're responsible for making sure that selling your item doesn't violate any applicable laws.

Make sure that you follow the specific guidelines for ticket resale – including resale pricing – in the event's location. In particular, ACT, Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria have specific laws regarding the resale of tickets for certain events. You can see a summary of these regulations in Additional information.

Listings for tickets to free events and "declared events" in Victoria are not allowed.

Advice for cancelled or postponed events

If you bought a ticket to an event and

  • The event was cancelled: Contact your seller for more information about what to do next
  • The event was postponed: Wait for rescheduling information. Make sure you keep your tickets. Your original tickets will still be good for the new date

If you sold a ticket to an event and

  • The event was cancelled: In some cases, you can get a refund from the ticket outlet automatically. In other cases, you may have to return the tickets. Please refund your buyer(s) and ask that they return the tickets to you
  • The event was postponed: If a buyer opens a case for a ticket refund, we encourage you to work with the buyer to resolve the issue. If the event is rescheduled, you may be able to get a refund from the ticket outlet, or you can relist the tickets

For more details on getting a refund, contact the ticket outlet where you originally purchased your ticket.

Allowed

  • You can resell most event tickets as long as you make sure that your listing and the transaction don't violate any laws
  • No matter where you live or on which eBay site you're registered, listings for events that take place in regulated locations must follow the laws for that location
 

Restricted

Make sure that you comply with all applicable laws and regulations when reselling your tickets. This particularly includes but is not limited to the following requirements set out by various local laws:

  • Major events in ACT
    Tickets to "major events" in ACT may only be sold on eBay by authorised sellers.
  • Sporting or entertainment events in New South Wales
    Tickets to sporting or entertainment events in New South Wales that are subject to a resale restriction may be sold on eBay, provided that the advertised price of the ticket is no more than 10% above the original ticket price (to account for incurred transaction costs). The item description must include the original supply cost of the ticket and specific seating or location details for the ticket.
  • Events at Stadiums Queensland venues
    Tickets to events at Stadiums Queensland - opens in new window or tab venues may be sold on eBay, provided that the cost of the ticket is no more than 10% above the original ticket price.
  • Sporting or entertainment events in South Australia
    Tickets to sporting or entertainment events in South Australia that are subject to a resale restriction may be sold on eBay, provided that the advertised price of the ticket is no more than 10% above the original supply cost of the ticket. The item description must include the original supply cost of the ticket and specific seating or location details for the ticket.
 

Not allowed

  • Free events and charity events
    eBay may prohibit tickets to major charity events and events where all tickets are free to the public. Event organisers concerned about preventing the sale of tickets to particular events must notify eBay at least one month in advance of the tickets being made available to the public. Contact us for an application form
  • Declared events in Victoria
    Tickets to declared events - opens in new window or tab in Victoria may not be sold on eBay.

Activity on eBay is required to follow this policy, the eBay User Agreement and all applicable laws, as well as respect the rights of third parties. If it doesn't, eBay may take action consistent with applicable laws and the eBay User Agreement, and may even be legally required to do so. Such actions may include, as an example only: Removing the listing or other content, issuing a warning, restricting activity or account suspension.

 

Additional information

eBay has provided the information on this page to assist you in trading lawfully on eBay. eBay is not in any position to assess a particular ticket's original price and whether it is subject to the law and/or to terms and conditions that makes its sale unlawful. You are responsible for ensuring that your transaction is lawful.

Here is a summary of the existing legislation for events in specific states. These laws apply to ticket sales both within and outside the state in question. If you have any questions regarding your rights to sell a ticket to an event in one of these states, anywhere else in Australia, or overseas, you should contact the ticket issuer or the relevant government department, and/or consult with a lawyer.

Australian Capital Territory

The ACT government prohibits scalping of tickets to any event declared as a "major event". It is unlawful to on-sell (or offer for sale) tickets above their original sale price unless you have been given written permission to do so by the event organiser.

For more information and to understand which events have been declared, see the Major Events Act 2014 - opens in new window or tab.

 

New South Wales

The NSW Government prohibits scalping of tickets to events in New South Wales. It is unlawful to on-sell (or offer for sale) a ticket to any sporting or entertainment event staged in New South Wales at a price above the original ticket price plus transaction costs, if the ticket is subject to a resale restriction (section 58B - opens in new window or tab). Transaction costs include booking fees, ticket delivery fees and credit card surcharges and are capped at a maximum of 10% of the original ticket price.

A resale restriction is a term or condition of a ticket that limits or prohibits resale of the ticket (including any term or condition that provides for the ticket to be cancelled or rendered invalid if it is resold).

A ticket resale advertisement (section 58F - opens in new window or tab) must also specify:

  • The original supply cost of the ticket and
  • Specific seating or location details for the ticket (such as seating area, row number and seat number)

For more information, see the Fair Trading Amendment (Ticket Scalping and Gift Cards) Act 2017 - opens in new window or tab or visit the NSW Fair Trading - opens in new window or tab website.

Major events in NSW

It is also an offence under section 41 of the Major Events Act 2009 - opens in new window or tab to sell or attempt to sell a ticket for admission to certain declared major events at the location of such major events. Major events are declared by regulation including the March 2018 regulation - opens in new window or tab.

 

Queensland

The Queensland Government has declared various stadiums, centres and complexes to be a major sports facility (Declared Facility) under the Major Sports Facilities Act 2001. It is unlawful to on-sell (or offer for sale) a ticket to any event staged at one of these Declared Facilities at a price greater than 10% above the original ticket price.

Note: Buying tickets to events at a Declared Facility from anyone other than the event organiser or an authorised ticket agent is also unlawful if the purchase price is greater than 10% above the original ticket price.

For more information and to ascertain which facilities are Declared Facilities, see part 4A of the Major Sports Facilities Act 2001 - opens in new window or tab, the Stadiums Queensland - opens in new window or tab website or the Queensland Government Ticketed Events Consumer Rights - opens in new window or tab page.

 

South Australia

The South Australian Government prohibits scalping of tickets to events in South Australia. It is unlawful to on-sell (or offer for sale) a ticket to any sporting or entertainment event staged in South Australia at a price that exceeds 110% of the "original supply cost" if the ticket is subject to a resale restriction. The "original supply cost" is the amount the ticket was sold to the first purchaser by an authorised seller excluding any transaction cost. "Transaction cost" includes booking fees, ticket delivery fees and payment surcharges.

A resale restriction is a term or condition of a ticket that limits the circumstances in which the ticket may be resold or prohibits the resale of the ticket (including any term or condition that provides for the ticket to be cancelled or rendered invalid if it is resold).

A ticket resale advertisement (section 37F - opens in new window or tab) must also specify:

  • The original supply cost of the ticket and
  • Specific details of the seating or location details for the ticket (such as seating area, row number and seat number)

For more information, see the Fair Trading Act 1987 - opens in new window or tab or visit the South Australian Government - opens in new window or tab website.

 

Victoria

The Victorian Government may apply strict requirements around the sale and distribution of tickets to specific ("declared") events. For more information, see Part 9 and Part 9A of the Major Events Act 2009 - opens in new window or tab or the Sport and Recreation Victoria - opens in new window or tab website.

Tickets to declared events - opens in new window or tab may not be sold on eBay.

 

Western Australia

The Government of Western Australia prohibits scalping of tickets to events in Western Australia. Restrictions on ticket resale under the Ticket Scalping Act 2021 apply to tickets for Western Australian events first sold on or after 10 September 2021 and have a resale restriction.
These laws prohibit anyone from reselling a ticket to an event for more than the original price plus 10 per cent. Advertisements for resale tickets must specify the original cost of the ticket and a resale price that is no more than 10 per cent above the original cost. The advertisement must also include any bay, row or seat number that applies to the ticket.

For more information, see the Ticket Scalping Act 2021 (WA) or visit the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety website.

 

Tip
Visit Seller Help to find details of any policy issues with your account or listings, and get the information you need to quickly resolve them.

Why does eBay have this policy?

eBay encourages all ticket sellers to follow the guidelines and laws for ticket sales.

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