Ontario has reportedly issued its first fine against a ticket reselling platform under the province’s anti-scalping law. SeatGeek Canada was fined $25,000 in late August, making it the first known case of financial penalties being enforced since the law was enacted in April. The fine breakdown includes $10,000 for selling a ticket above face value, $5,000 for failing to disclose the original purchase price, and another $10,000 for facilitating a transaction without proof of the original price.
The Ontario Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery spokesperson, Cristian Buzo Tingarov, declined to provide details on the event linked to the fines or whether more fines would be issued. The law prohibits ticket resale above face value, with potential fines of up to $250,000 for violators.
SeatGeek’s response to the fines remains uncertain as their vice-president of government affairs, Joe Freeman, did not confirm if they would pay or contest them. The company has been warning sellers on its platform about the law but is seeking guidance on compliance from the province. SeatGeek faces challenges in verifying ticket values, especially for season ticket holders who may lack access to original face values.
StubHub Canada made similar arguments regarding Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) screenings listed on its platform, with tickets priced significantly above face value. TIFF did not comment on the pricing discrepancy. StubHub emphasized the difficulty in confirming original ticket prices without data from the primary seller, citing unresolved issues in compliance with the law.
Vivid Seats, another resale platform, also faced scrutiny for listings above reported prices during member sales. The company defended its compliance efforts, stating ongoing dialogue with the Ontario government to align with the new ticket resale framework. The province had previously sent compliance letters to 27 ticket resale websites, including StubHub and Vivid Seats, warning of potential enforcement actions for non-compliance.
Despite these efforts, both companies continue to engage with authorities to address compliance requirements under the province’s ticket resale legislation.