Ontario has potentially issued its inaugural penalty against a ticket resale platform under the province’s anti-scalping legislation, which is currently undergoing scrutiny as resellers aim to offload tickets for upcoming events like the Toronto International Film Festival.
SeatGeek Canada was reportedly fined $25,000 in late August, marking the first instance of a ticket seller facing financial consequences under the ticket resale law enforced in April. The province’s consumer advisory website indicated that SeatGeek was the sole entity fined for ticket sales violations.
The fine details reveal that SeatGeek was penalized $10,000 for purportedly selling a ticket above its face value, $5,000 for failing to disclose the original ticket purchase price, and an additional $10,000 for allegedly facilitating a transaction without providing proof of the original price.
Cristian Buzo Tingarov, a spokesperson for Ontario Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery Stephen Crawford, declined to comment on the specific event associated with the fines or whether more penalties would be issued.
“All ticket vendors in Ontario are obligated to comply with legislation prohibiting ticket resale above face value,” Tingarov stated via email. “Violators could face fines up to $250,000 and public disclosure.”
Regarding the fines, SeatGeek’s Vice President of Government Affairs Joe Freeman did not confirm whether the company intends to pay the penalties or contest them. While SeatGeek has notified third-party sellers on its platform about the law, Freeman mentioned that the company is seeking guidance from the province on compliance procedures.
Freeman highlighted the challenge of verifying the original ticket value, particularly with sellers like season ticket holders who lack access to such information. He emphasized that independent platforms such as SeatGeek have limited means to authenticate the initial purchase price of tickets.
StubHub Canada echoed similar sentiments when questioned about TIFF screenings listed on its site, arguing that some tickets, especially those acquired as part of a package deal, lack visible prices. StubHub emphasized the need for data from the original ticket vendor to ascertain prices and adhere to the law.
The company underscored unresolved issues concerning the evidence sellers should provide to validate a ticket’s original price and reiterated its commitment to collaborating with the government to address these matters.
TIFF listings above reported prices have also appeared on Vivid Seats, with one platform offering a spot at the premiere of “Fjord” for $933 and a ticket to the debut of “Rapinoe” for $483. Vivid Seats stated they are actively engaging with the Ontario government to align with the new ticket resale regulations.
In late April and early May, the province notified 27 ticket resale websites, including StubHub and Vivid Seats, about potential non-compliance inspections as per the new law. Subsequently, StubHub was added to the province’s consumer alert list for alleged non-compliance, while Vivid Seats reported progress in rectifying identified issues with the government’s assistance.