No, scalping tickets is generally illegal in Spain under the Ley de Ordenación del Comercio Minorista (LOCMI) and regional statutes, with penalties reaching €600,000 for systematic violators. The Ley de Consumidores y Usuarios (LCU) further restricts speculative resale by requiring event organizers’ consent. Since 2023, the Agencia Española de Consumo, Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición (AECOSAN) has intensified enforcement, particularly for high-demand events like concerts or sports, aligning with EU digital market regulations.
Key Regulations for Scalping Tickets in Spain
- Primary Prohibition: LOCMI (Art. 56) bans resale of tickets at prices exceeding face value without explicit authorization from organizers, classifying such acts as unfair commercial practices.
- Regional Variations: Catalonia’s Decreto 150/2017 and Madrid’s Ley 11/2021 impose stricter caps (e.g., 10% above face value) and mandatory registration for secondary sellers, enforced by local consumer protection agencies.
- Digital Enforcement: AECOSAN’s 2026 compliance framework mandates event platforms (e.g., Ticketmaster, Eventbrite) to implement anti-scalping algorithms, blocking bulk purchases or flagging suspicious activity under Spain’s Ley de Servicios Digitales (LSD).
Violations trigger administrative sanctions under the Ley General para la Defensa de los Consumidores y Usuarios, with repeat offenders facing criminal liability for fraud under the Código Penal (Art. 251). Organizers retain discretion to void scalped tickets, and buyers may recover costs via civil claims.