What to know
- Ontario is increasing the maximum fine for repeat ticket-scalping offences from $10,000 to $25,000, effective June 10.
- The province will also be able to publicly identify businesses fined for illegally reselling tickets above face value.
- Premier Doug Ford says the crackdown is aimed at preventing consumers from being “gouged” by resellers charging many times the original ticket price.
- While many Ontarians have welcomed the tougher penalties, others argue the government should focus on issues such as crime, car thefts and road safety.
Heads up: if you’re caught reselling tickets for above face value, you could be fined up to $25,000.
After recently cracking down on ticket reselling, Ontario is taking things one step further and upping the consequences for those caught reselling event tickets for more than they were originally purchased for.
“We’re more than doubling penalties on ticket scalpers to $25,000 to put them on notice,” the Premier posted to X on Thursday.
“If you break the law and rip people off, there will be consequences.”
Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Ford said that his government has been working as quickly as “Grease Lightning” to get this done.
“We’re the only jurisdiction in Canada that is doing this,” Ford shared. “We want the average person to be able to go to venues, sports venues, concerts, without being gouged.”
“Some of these resellers are gouging people 10, 20 times the cost of a ticket. This is such a great thing for the people of Ontario, that they can actually go to an affordable concert or an affordable sports venue.”
“This is a massive win for the people of Ontario.”
Read More
In a release, the province explained that as of June 10, those who violate the Ticket Sales Act, 2017, by reselling event tickets above their original price will be subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 for repeat offenders, up from the current limit of $10,000. Non-compliant businesses can already be subjected to compliance orders and/or charges that could result in significant court-ordered fines of up to $50,000 for individuals and $250,000 for corporations.
The new rules also allow officials to publicly identify businesses that have been fined for selling tickets at elevated prices. Provincial officials say that together, these new, enhanced enforcement tools will protect families and consumers from exploitative resellers. The goal is to ensure more Ontarians have the opportunity to attend concerts, festivals, games and other live events at an affordable price.
Read More
This comes after the 2026 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario included a ban on the resale of tickets for more than they are actually worth.
“Live sporting events create unforgettable experiences for fans, families and communities,” Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden said in a statement, adding that these measures will help ensure tickets are available to the people who want to be at these events, rather than being snapped up by unfair pricing gouging.
Online, some people are in support of the new measures.
“Honestly, super based. Hope this can get extended to other [forms] of scalping,” one X user shared. “It’s easily one of the scummiest industries around at the moment without any penalties.”
“Long overdue. Finally some real consequences for those scalper bots ruining the game for actual fans,” another person commented.
While others feel the province should prioritize different issues.
“But if you want to speed in school zones and threaten the safety of our kids, go right ahead [because] we’ve removed speed cameras which have proven to be the best deterrent,” one X user shared.“How bout we double sentencing for violent offenders? Do something of relevance,” another person commented.
