Ontario and New York Take Different Approaches to Ticket Resale Prices

Governments on both sides of the border are once again grappling with a persistent feature of the modern live-event economy: the rapid resale of tickets at prices far exceeding their original cost.

Ontario’s recently proposed amendments to its ticketing laws, introduced in advance of upcoming FIFA World Cup matches in Toronto, represent one of the most direct regulatory responses to date. The proposal would prohibit the resale of tickets above their original all-in purchase price, including fees and taxes, and would authorize penalties of up to $10,000 for violations.