Ontario issues $25,000 fine to SeatGeek under new ticket resale law

Ontario has issued a $25,000 fine to ticket resale platform SeatGeek Canada, potentially marking the first financial penalty under the province’s new anti-scalping law.

The Canadian Press states that, the fine includes penalties for allegedly selling a ticket above face value, failing to disclose its original purchase price and facilitating a sale without proof of the ticket’s original price.

The province introduced the legislation in April, banning the resale of tickets above face value. Businesses that violate the rules can face fines of up to $250,000.

Ticket resale platforms including SeatGeek, StubHub and Vivid Seats say they are working with the government to comply but face difficulties verifying the original prices of tickets, particularly those bought as packages or season tickets.