Selling Reservations on the Black Market Is Now Illegal in New York

Reservations in New York may soon be a little bit more accessible.

On Thursday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill that makes selling reservations on the black market illegal, Eater reported. The Restaurant Reservation Anti-Piracy Act, which initially passed this summer, is the first such legislation in the United States.

“We’re putting an end to the predatory black market for restaurant reservations—protecting consumers and businesses, and giving everyone a chance to get a seat at the dinner table,” Hochul said in a statement obtained by Eater. “New York is home to some of the best restaurants in the world, and whether you’re returning to your favorite local spot or trying out the latest in fine dining, you deserve a fair system.”

As reservation books have largely gone online, it’s become easier and easier for people to snap up a number of tables at hot spots and then sell them to willing diners, Eater noted. Some people have made thousands of dollars selling reservations that would have otherwise been free, and the bill is seeking to go after those bad actors, rather than official companies that work with restaurants to offer coveted tables. Back in 2022, for example, the group #FreeRezy was hoping to monetize its dispersal of reservations to mostly finance bros in the city.

The buying and selling of reservations has created an untenable conundrum in the restaurant industry, as it basically becomes a pay-to-play scheme just to get a table at an in-demand spot. With reservations selling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars, those with the means are shelling out just to spend even more money on the meal itself.

“New Yorkers should not have to pay shady middlemen just for the right to a dinner reservation,” Alex Bores, a New York assemblymember who backed the bill, said over the summer, according to Eater. “With this legislation, we are ensuring that families can celebrate a graduation, anniversary, or birthday without a $250, $500, or even $1,000 cover charge. We also protect restaurants from increased cancellations and protect workers from lost tips. A true win-win-win.”

If you’re looking for a table at Carbone or Coqodaq in the near future, your chances of getting in may have just gotten a little bit better.

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