Ontario has reportedly issued a fine against a ticket reselling platform under the province’s anti-scalping law. SeatGeek Canada has been fined $25,000 for various violations related to ticket resale. This marks the first known instance of a fine being imposed on a ticket seller under the anti-scalping law established in April.
The fine breakdown includes a $10,000 penalty for selling a ticket above face value, $5,000 for not disclosing the original ticket purchase price, and an additional $10,000 for allegedly facilitating a transaction without proof of the original price. Ontario Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery spokesperson Cristian Buzo Tingarov did not provide details about the event linked to the fines or whether more fines will be issued.
SeatGeek’s vice-president of government affairs, Joe Freeman, has not confirmed whether the company will pay the fines or challenge them. While SeatGeek has informed third-party sellers about the law, they are seeking guidance from the province on compliance procedures. Freeman highlighted the challenges in verifying the original ticket value, especially for sellers like season ticket holders who may lack access to this information.
StubHub Canada similarly argued that they face difficulties confirming original ticket prices and complying with the law due to the lack of pricing information on certain tickets. They emphasized the need for data from the original ticket platform to validate prices. StubHub expressed commitment to working with the government to address unresolved issues regarding proof of original ticket prices.
Vivid Seats, another ticket resale platform, has also faced scrutiny for listings above face value. A spot at the premiere of “Fjord” was listed for $933, and a ticket to the debut of “Rapinoe” was priced at $483. Vivid Seats spokesperson Julia Young stated that the company is actively engaging with the Ontario government to ensure compliance with the new ticket resale framework.
In response to potential non-compliance, Ontario has sent warning letters to 27 ticket resale websites, including StubHub and Vivid Seats. These businesses were notified of upcoming inspections to assess compliance with the anti-scalping law. StubHub was added to the consumer beware list for alleged lack of compliance, while Vivid Seats reported progress in addressing non-compliance areas identified by the government. Discussions between Vivid Seats and the province are ongoing to meet regulatory obligations.