Ontario Ramping Up Financial Penalties to Crack Down on Illegal Ticket Resellers
Province increasing administrative penalties up to $25,000
The Voice of Canada
As part of its plan to protect Ontario consumers and families, the government intends to implement new financial enforcement measures against businesses and individuals who violate the Ticket Sales Act, 2017, by reselling event tickets above their original total purchase price. The new measures, which come into force June 10, 2026, will increase the maximum amount of financial administrative penalties to up to $25,000 for repeat offenders from the current limit of $10,000 and allow the designated director under the Act to publicly identify ticketing businesses against whom the ministry has initiated enforcement action. Together these new and enhanced enforcement tools will protect families and consumers from exploitative resellers who artificially drive up ticket prices and help ensure more Ontarians have the opportunity to attend premier live events across the province.
“We’re delivering on our promise to bring in bold enforcement measures that crack down on resellers who exploit fans and drive up costs for families,” said Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement. “By increasing penalties and holding offenders publicly accountable, we’re helping ensure Ontarians can attend the events they love without needing to worry about being ripped-off by exploitative resellers.”
Following up on action taken in 2026 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario, to ban the resale of tickets above their original purchase price, the government is strengthening enforcement by increasing administrative penalties to a maximum of $25,000 for businesses that fail to comply with the law. Effective June 10, 2026, new and higher administrative penalties will be implemented under the modernized Ticket Sales Act, 2017, which will provide the designated director under the Act with another enforcement tool to use against those contravening the Act.
In addition to new and increased administrative penalties, non-compliant businesses can already face compliance orders and/or laying of charges that could, if found guilty, result in significant court-ordered fines of up to $50,000 for individuals and $250,000 for corporations.
“Live sporting events create unforgettable experiences for fans, families and communities,” said Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport. “These measures will help ensure tickets are available to the people who want to be in the stands cheering on their favourite teams and athletes, rather than being snapped up by unfair pricing gouging.”
Together with the ticket resale price cap, these measures will help address long-standing concerns about inflated resale ticket prices and other practices in the ticket resale market that negatively impact Ontario fans and consumers.
Also effective June 10, 2026, information about compliance and enforcement actions taken against individuals and ticket businesses will be published on the Consumer Beware List.
Quick Facts
- An administrative penalty — designed to promote compliance — is a financial penalty that may be imposed or issued by a government agency or regulator to a ticket business for breaking prescribed provisions under an Act. This civil sanction — which is subject to an appeal — differs from a court-ordered fine that is imposed by a judge or court after a conviction is rendered following a prosecution.
- The resale ticket price cap makes it illegal to either make available for sale or facilitate the resale of tickets for more than the total all-in cost of the original ticket, including all the fees, service charges and taxes paid on that original ticket, plus fees, service charges and taxes on the resale. The price cap applies to anyone who resells a ticket and to any platform that facilitates a resale to an event in Ontario.
- Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement officials recently inspected 27 major secondary ticketing platforms for compliance with requirements under the Ticket Sales Act, 2017, and are pursuing enforcement actions where appropriate, including issuing some compliance orders to date.
