Yes, ticket scalping is legal in Colorado, but strictly regulated under state and local laws to curb fraud and protect consumers. The Colorado Consumer Protection Act and municipal ordinances impose limits on resale prices, venue-specific rules, and disclosure requirements. Recent 2026 amendments to the Colorado Revised Statutes § 6-1-701 et seq. tighten penalties for deceptive practices, requiring resellers to register with the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) if facilitating over 20 transactions annually.
Key Regulations for Scalping Tickets in Colorado
- Price Caps & Disclosure: Colorado prohibits resale prices exceeding 10% above face value unless the original ticket’s terms permit higher markup. Sellers must disclose the original price, fees, and refund policies upfront (C.R.S. § 40-10-101).
- Venue-Specific Licensing: Municipalities like Denver and Boulder require scalpers operating within city limits to obtain a transient vendor license, renewable annually. Violations trigger fines up to $1,000 per incident.
- Anti-Bot Provisions: Under C.R.S. § 6-1-715, using automated software to circumvent purchase limits or harvest tickets is a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 120 days in jail and $750 in fines. The law aligns with the federal BOTS Act but imposes stricter state-level enforcement.