How does DICE work? DICE is a mobile-first ticketing app where you discover events, buy tickets in the app, and get in with a phone-locked QR code — no PDFs, no printouts, no screenshots. If a show sells out, you join a waitlist for returned tickets at face value; if you can’t go, you return your ticket through the waitlist and get refunded when another fan buys it. There’s no resale above face value, ever.
Think of DICE as two things in one: a gig-discovery feed and a ticketing system built to kill scalping. Here’s the full buyer’s walkthrough, step by step.
For the trust verdict instead, see is DICE legit?
How DICE Works: The Short Version
- Download the app (iOS/Android) and create an account with your phone number.
- Discover events in a personalised feed — sync Spotify or Apple Music and DICE recommends gigs based on your taste.
- Buy in the app or on dice.fm. You can browse and pay on the website, but your ticket lives in the app.
- On show day, activate your ticket (usually ~2 hours before doors) and show the live QR code at the gate.
- Sold out? Join the waitlist. Returned tickets go to waitlisted fans first-come, first-served, at face value.
Step 1: Download the App and Set Up Your Account
DICE is available on iOS and Android. Sign up with your phone number — your number is your identity on DICE, and it’s also how ticket transfers work later. You’ll need the app installed to use any ticket you buy: the QR code is never emailed or downloadable.
Step 2: Discover Events
DICE started as an event-discovery app, and it shows:
- A personalised feed of upcoming gigs, club nights and festivals in your city.
- Spotify and Apple Music integration: connect your streaming account and DICE surfaces shows by artists you actually listen to.
- Curated, hand-picked events — DICE works directly with venues, promoters and festivals (Alexandra Palace, Rough Trade, Sónar, Newport Jazz & Folk and others), so the catalogue is quality-filtered rather than exhaustive.
Step 3: Buy Tickets
Tap an event, choose your ticket tier and check out. A few things to know:
- You can buy on the app or the website, but the ticket itself only exists in the app.
- Pricing is transparent — what you see at checkout is what you pay. DICE historically charged no booking fees, though booking fees have since been introduced on some shows and vary by event and region.
- Tickets are sourced directly from the promoter/venue — you’re buying primary tickets, not resale.
- Your ticket won’t be visible right away. It becomes accessible in the app before the event — typically you can activate it around 2 hours before showtime.
Step 4: Use Your Ticket on Show Day
- Charge your phone. This is the single most important DICE tip — no phone, no ticket.
- Activate your ticket in the app before you reach the door (usually available ~2 hours before the event).
- Show the live QR code at the gate. Only the live, in-app QR is accepted — screenshots, email confirmations and printouts are not valid.
- The QR displays for a limited time window around entry, which is what makes it unshareable and unscammbable.
How the DICE Waitlist Works
For sold-out shows, DICE runs a waitlist instead of a resale market:
- Join the waitlist for the event (it’s free).
- When a ticket holder returns their ticket, it’s offered to waitlisted fans on a first-come, first-served basis — at face value, never marked up.
- This is DICE’s anti-scalping engine: supply flows from fans who can’t go directly to fans who want to go, with DICE in the middle.
How to Transfer or Return DICE Tickets
- Transfer to a friend: open the app, tap the ticket icon, select the event, press “Send ticket to a friend,” and pick them from your phone contacts — they need a DICE account registered with that number. Transfers only work between DICE accounts, which keeps tickets away from resellers. Redeemed tickets can’t be transferred.
- Can’t go? Return via the waitlist: offer your ticket up to the waitlist for a sold-out event; when another fan buys it, you get refunded.
- Cancelled event: DICE texts you and issues an automatic full refund to your original payment method — no request needed.
- Rescheduled event: your ticket stays valid for the new date; if you can’t make it, request a refund.
DICE Fees and Refunds at a Glance
| What to know | |
|---|---|
| Booking fees | No hidden fees; historically fee-free, but booking fees now apply on some shows — check the checkout total, which is always shown up front. |
| Cancelled events | Automatic full refund to original payment method. |
| Rescheduled events | Ticket valid for new date, or request a refund. |
| You can’t attend | Return via waitlist → refunded when resold. (Policy is event-dependent — check the event FAQ.) |
| Resale above face value | Not possible on DICE. There is no secondary market. |
Tips for Using DICE
- Join waitlists early — first-come, first-served means position matters.
- Keep the app updated and stay logged in; your ticket only exists inside it.
- Bring ID if the venue requires it, and arrive a little early — activating the QR at the door with a crowd behind you is stressful.
- Never buy “DICE tickets” from anyone outside the app. They can’t be transferred as files or screenshots, so any such offer is a scam.
- Comparing mobile ticket apps? See how Gametime tickets work for the other major app-first option.
FAQs
How does DICE work for buying tickets?
Download the app, discover events in your personalised feed (or sync Spotify/Apple Music for recommendations), buy in the app or on dice.fm, then activate your phone-locked QR ticket ~2 hours before the show and show it at the gate.
Do I need the DICE app to use my ticket?
Yes — mandatory. DICE tickets exist only as QR codes inside the app. There are no PDFs, email tickets or printouts, and screenshots are not accepted at the door.
How does the DICE waitlist work?
For sold-out events, join the free waitlist. When ticket holders return their tickets, they’re offered to waitlisted fans first-come, first-served, at face value — never above it.
Can I transfer DICE tickets to a friend?
Yes, via the in-app “Send ticket to a friend” feature — pick them from your phone contacts and they must have a DICE account registered with that number. Redeemed tickets can’t be transferred, and transfers can’t happen outside the app.
Can I sell DICE tickets for more than face value?
No. DICE has no secondary market and doesn’t allow resale above face value. You can return tickets via the waitlist and get refunded when another fan buys them.
Does DICE charge fees?
DICE shows the full total up front with no hidden fees. It historically charged no booking fees, but booking fees have since been introduced on some shows and vary by event and region.
What happens if my DICE event is cancelled?
You get a text notification and an automatic full refund to your original payment method — no refund request required.
