New bill looks to ban ticket bots
Legislation would also limit price online sites can charge for resale
The Ontario government says it has just the ticket to solving the problem of inflated resale prices for concerts and shows.
New legislation, introduced Thursday, will ban the use or sale of ticket bots — software that can quickly scoop up huge numbers of tickets online — and also put a ceiling on what can be charged.
Critics have said the legislation is mostly symbolic, given offshore ticket bot operators are notoriously difficult to track down.
“There will be stronger enforcement and investigatory powers,” said Tracy MacCharles, the minister of government and consumer services.
“We’re going to give the powers to ticket operators to sue bot companies,” MacCharles also told reporters at Queen’s Park.
Attorney General Yasir Naqvi announced the government’s intentions three months ago, saying resale prices would be capped at no more than 50 per cent above the original price and that online sellers would have to disclose all surcharges up front.
“We’re going to give the powers to ticket operators to sue bot companies.” TRACY MACCHARLES MINISTER OF GOVERNMENT AND CONSUMER SERVICES
While reselling tickets is not new, the issue re-emerged after last year’s Tragically Hip concert in their hometown of Kingston, Ont. It sold out within minutes, leaving about two-thirds of fans to turn to online sites where tickets were going for several times their face value.
The government held online public consultations and found an overwhelming majority who wanted bot software to be declared illegal. New Democrat MPP Jennifer French said people are frustrated at trying to get tickets for concerts and other events but being shut out by ticket bots.
“Ontarians want fair and affordable access to entertainment, so the government should fix it. I’m hopeful that they will. I don’t know without seeing the bill that they have,” French said. “We need a mortal portal for regular people.”
Experts, however, have questioned how effective legislation would be, given how wide open the online marketplace is.
StubHub, an online site for people to sell their tickets, said it approves of the legislation — but not limiting resale prices.
“We support legislation inclusive of all ticket marketplaces that puts fans first . . . We’re encouraged by many of (the government’s) proposals, including measures that provide fans with more information and prohibit the use of bots to procure tickets,” said Laura Dooley, StubHub’s senior manager of government relations.
“However, our position remains that price caps displace tickets from secure sources, therefore exposing fans to higher instances of fraud, less transparency around fees, nonexistent customer service and reduced ability for enforcement. We are concerned this policy reverses innovations in the market that serve to protect consumers.”
The new legislation also forces tick- et sellers to publicize how many tickets will be on sale for the concert, show or sporting event, as well as the capacity of the venue.
Resellers have to state the face value of the ticket and the resale price, as well as a “separately itemized list of any applicable fees, service charges and taxes.”
Progressive Conservative government and consumer services critic Jim McDonell said he hopes the new legislation stops the use of bots.
“The people that are hosting these events have set prices and that’s what they’re looking for. It’s not for the resellers to make out like bandits all the way to the bank,” he said.