Bait-and-Switch Pricing: Old Trick, New Consequences
Hidden Charges Imposed by Casinos and Hotels on Initial Prices Can Longer Remain Concealed
Author: Grant Mitchell - Date: 05/13/2025
In the ever-competitive world of consumer goods, there's a shady practice that consumers should beware of - bait-and-switch pricing. Once widespread, this trick involves luring customers in with attractive prices for goods or services, only to reveal a higher price at checkout. Thankfully, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is on the case, rolling out new regulations to squash this devious scheme.
Grant Mitchell, a former Virginia Tech grad, ex-NCAA track & field athlete, and sports gambling enthusiast, zeros in on the latest updates in the sports betting industry. After breaking into the pro ranks in 2021, Mitchell has earned a stellar reputation, collaborating with big names like Forbes and VSiN. When he's not crunching numbers, this sports betting maestro can be found exercising, taking city strolls, or catching the big game of the day.
Mitchell's latest reports touch on the FTC's new crackdown on misleading pricing. The FTC Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, implemented on May 12, 2025, targets businesses that resort to bait-and-switch tactics, particularly within the live-event ticketing and short-term lodging industries. The rule enforces transparency by requiring companies to disclose all mandatory fees upfront, thus minimizing instances of shady pricing strategies.
While the new rule currently does not encompass travel and sports betting, it reflects the FTC's broader push to combat deceptive pricing practices across different sectors. The rule is a significant step forward in promoting fair and transparent pricing for consumers. If you're keeping tabs on developments in other industries, know that California and other states are introducing or considering similar measures to address hidden fees.
Stay tuned for more updates from Grant Mitchell as he continues to provide up-to-the-minute coverage in the sports betting world. If the FTC expands its focus to travel or sports betting, you'll be among the first to know. In the meantime, keep a keen eye on the checkout prices—just to be safe!
- In the sports betting industry, Grant Mitchell, a former NCAA track & field athlete and experienced betting enthusiast, is reporting on the FTC's new crackdown on deceptive pricing practices, particularly in the live-event ticketing and short-term lodging industries.
- The FTC's new rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees, implemented on May 12, 2025, requires companies to disclose all mandatory fees upfront, thus minimizing instances of bait-and-switch tactics.
- Although the new FTC rule does not currently cover travel and sports betting, it reflects the FTC's broader push to combat deceptive pricing practices across various sectors, including finance and the industry.
- As the sports betting industry evolves, online casinos offering progressive jackpots and games like blackjack might consider adopting transparent pricing strategies, aligning with the FTC's efforts to promote fairness, avoid suspicion, and attract more enthusiastic players, such as those interested in Las Vegas-style gambling experiences at their fingertips.
