Ontario has taken action against a ticket reselling platform, potentially issuing the first fine under the province’s anti-scalping law. SeatGeek Canada was fined $25,000 in late August, marking a significant development as resellers attempt to offload tickets for upcoming events like the Toronto International Film Festival.
The fine breakdown includes a $10,000 penalty for selling a ticket above face value, $5,000 for failing to disclose the original ticket purchase price, and another $10,000 for facilitating a transaction without proof of the original price. While the event linked to the fines remains undisclosed, questions regarding further fines from the province were not answered by Ontario Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Stephen Crawford’s spokesperson, Cristian Buzo Tingarov.
SeatGeek’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Joe Freeman, did not confirm whether the company intends to pay the fines or challenge them. Despite efforts to inform third-party sellers about the law, SeatGeek is seeking guidance on compliance with the regulations from the province. Freeman highlighted the difficulty in verifying the original ticket value, especially for sellers like season ticket holders who lack access to this information.
Similarly, StubHub Canada raised concerns over ticket listings for TIFF screenings exceeding reported prices, emphasizing the challenge of confirming original ticket prices without access to the primary seller’s data. The company emphasized the need for collaboration with the government to resolve issues related to verifying ticket prices.
Vivid Seats also faced scrutiny over listings that appeared above face value, with a spokesperson affirming ongoing dialogue with the Ontario government to ensure compliance with the new ticket resale framework. The company emphasized the necessity of clear guidance and industry-wide cooperation to meet legislative requirements effectively.
Following warnings to 27 ticket resale websites, including StubHub and Vivid Seats, about non-compliance with the law, the province initiated inspections, signaling potential enforcement actions for those failing to cooperate. While StubHub was added to the consumer beware list, Vivid Seats indicated progress in addressing identified areas of non-compliance and ongoing efforts to meet the province’s obligations.