Sports booking bot activities drop as new anti-touting measures begin

Two new anti-touting measures for public sports facility bookings take effect today, with officials reporting a sharp decline in suspicious system logins this morning. 

Under the new rules, the use of computer programs or bots to book venues on the SmartPLAY system is now prohibited, with violations resulting in an immediate 360-day account suspension without prior notice.

Speaking on a radio program, Director of Leisure and Cultural Service Manda Chan Wing-man reported a significant decline in system logins during peak booking hours of 7am to 7.30am compared to last week.

She stated that by analyzing vast amounts of past transaction data, the department can now identify non-human booking patterns, such as an account operating five or more devices simultaneously within seconds.

"This is an ongoing battle of attack and defense," Chan stated, expressing confidence in the department in distinguishing between regular users and touts.

She reaffirmed that users mistakenly flagged could appeal and have their accounts reinstated after verification.

Highlighting a shift in scalpers moving into providing "booking services" with citizens' account information–a service technically not illegal--Chan explained the new penalty could discourage the use of the service by directly suspending the client's account.

Separately, hirers now booking indoor basketball or volleyball courts must provide the details of two other users and with at least one of them present to sign for the court.

Chan noted that this action aims to increase the complexity and cost for touts–an approach based on the successful model used for grass football fields, which requires multiple user details for booking.

She added that the loophole allowing free walk-on use of no-show basketball and volleyball courts has also been closed, as scalpers were found to be abusing the system to use the facilities for free.

Chan affirmed that the department will continually review the effectiveness of these measures and leverage more advanced technologies, including AI, to ensure fair access to public sports facilities. 

When asked about additional penalties for violators after their suspension ends, she stated that the current 360-day suspension is a significant deterrent but that the department is open to strengthening measures if necessary.