Ontario has imposed a potential first penalty on a ticket reselling platform under the province’s anti-scalping legislation, which is being tested as resellers seek to sell tickets for upcoming events like the Toronto International Film Festival.
According to the province’s consumer protection website, SeatGeek Canada was fined $25,000 in late August, marking the first known financial penalty for a ticket seller under the law enacted in April. The fine breakdown includes a $10,000 penalty for selling a ticket above face value, $5,000 for failing to disclose the original ticket price, and an additional $10,000 for allegedly facilitating a transaction without proof of the original price.
Cristian Buzo Tingarov, a representative for Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Stephen Crawford, declined to specify the event related to the fines and did not confirm if more fines would be issued.
“All ticket sellers in Ontario are required to adhere to the legislation prohibiting ticket resale above face value,” Tingarov stated in an email, warning of fines up to $250,000 and public disclosure for violators.
SeatGeek’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Joe Freeman, did not indicate whether the company intends to pay the fines or contest them. Although SeatGeek has advised its third-party sellers on the law, Freeman highlighted the challenges in confirming the original ticket value, particularly for sellers lacking access to this information.
StubHub Canada similarly argued that it is difficult to ascertain original ticket prices, especially for season ticket packages, and emphasized the need for cooperation with the original ticket platform to comply with the law.
Fans have reported premium ticket prices for Toronto International Film Festival screenings on various resale platforms, with StubHub noting limitations in confirming original ticket prices and expressing commitment to resolving compliance issues with the government.
Vivid Seats also faced scrutiny for listings above reported prices, with a spokesperson emphasizing their efforts to comply with Ontario’s ticket resale regulations and engage with officials to ensure effective implementation.
The province previously sent warnings to 27 ticket resale websites, including StubHub and Vivid Seats, regarding compliance checks. StubHub was added to the consumer beware list for alleged non-compliance, while Vivid Seats reported progress in addressing identified issues and ongoing discussions with the province to meet regulatory requirements.