Ontario has taken steps to penalize a ticket reselling platform under the province’s anti-scalping legislation. SeatGeek Canada has been fined $25,000 in late August, marking a potential first for ticket sellers facing financial consequences since the law was enacted in April.
The fine breakdown includes $10,000 for selling a ticket above face value, $5,000 for failure to disclose the original purchase price, and another $10,000 for facilitating a transaction without proof of the original price. Questions about the specific event linked to the fines and potential future penalties remained unanswered by Cristian Buzo Tingarov, a representative for Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Stephen Crawford.
SeatGeek’s response regarding the fines remains unclear, with Vice President of Government Affairs Joe Freeman neither confirming payment nor suggesting a legal challenge. While SeatGeek has advised third-party sellers about the legislation, obtaining guidance on compliance with the regulations from the province has been a priority.
The challenge of verifying the original ticket value has been highlighted by both SeatGeek and StubHub Canada, citing limitations in accessing this information from sellers, especially season ticket holders. StubHub emphasized that the lack of pricing information on certain tickets, potential receipt tampering by resellers, and the need for data from the original platform pose obstacles to confirming prices and complying with the law.
Vivid Seats, another ticket resale platform, defended its actions, stating ongoing dialogue with the Ontario government and efforts to align with the new ticket resale framework. The company emphasized the need for clear industry-wide guidance to ensure compliance and effective implementation of the legislation.
In response to the province’s inspections for non-compliance, both StubHub and Vivid Seats have been under scrutiny, with StubHub added to the consumer beware list for alleged lack of compliance. Vivid Seats reported progress in addressing areas of non-compliance identified by the government, aiming to achieve full compliance while engaging in discussions with authorities to meet their obligations.