Ticket Sales
The Ticket Sales Act applies to businesses that sell and resell tickets to live events in BC. The goal of this law is to provide greater transparency and accountability in the tickets sales industry and to ensure you know what youâre buying when you purchase a ticket to a live event.
The law sets out what ticket information must be given to you when you purchase a ticket, and when you might be entitled to a refund. The law only applies to tickets that were purchased after the Ticket Sales Act came into force on July 1, 2021.
Read the Ticket Sales Act.
Read the Ticket Sales Regulation.
- Primary ticket seller = a venue owner, promoter or agent of either. For example, Rogers Arena or Ticketmaster
- Secondary ticket seller = a person who engages in the business of selling tickets that were originally sold by a primary ticket seller
- Secondary ticketing platform = a website or online service that facilitates the sale of tickets by ticket sellers (other than primary ticket sellers)
It can sometimes be difficult to know which type of business you are dealing with. If you aren’t sure, you can file a complaint with us so we can assess it.
The law does not apply to private consumer-to-consumer sales. For example, if you buy your tickets from a person on Craigslist or Marketplace who is not normally in the business of ticket-selling, the law wouldnât apply.
- Kindergarten-Grade 12 schoolsâ and post-secondary institutions, including those operated by First Nations
- places of public worshipâ
- places owned or operated by local government entities such as municipalities, regional districts, and park boards, or by self-governing First Nations
- movie theatres already licensed with us
This is not the full list. For a complete list of exemptions, read the Ticket Sales Regulation.
- what information needs to be given before and after you buy a ticket
- when consumers are entitled to a refund
- a ban on selling tickets that a business doesn’t actually own or control
- a ban on mass-ticket-buying software (aka âbotsâ)
The law does not cover ticket prices or availability.
- the total price of the ticket
- an itemized list of any fees, service charges, and taxes
- the face value of the ticket (if it is a secondary seller)
- the price listed in Canadian Dollars, unless it specifies a different currency
- the location of the seat or standing area (if applicable)
- whether there are any restrictions on your ability to transfer the ticket to other people
- any applicable terms and conditions
- he face value of the ticket
Secondary ticket sellers and secondary ticketing platforms must also ensure the face value of the ticket is made available to you before you buy it. Primary ticket sellers can include this information after you have made the ticket purchase.
The information needs to be clearly listed or displayed.
- the event is cancelled before the ticket can be used
- the ticket you bought doesnât give you admission to the event
- your ticket is counterfeit
- the ticket doesnât match the description
If the ticket is cancelled because the primary seller indicates that it was purchased using a âbotâ, you also have some refund options.
If you think you are entitled to a refund, you should first make a request to the company you bought your ticket from. If they do not issue you a refund and you bought your ticket with your credit card, request a refund from your credit card provider. If that doesn’t work, you can submit a complaint to our office.
However, if you buy a ticket from a primary ticket seller, the Ticket Sales Act does not offer the same protections or refund guarantees if the event is cancelled.
It can be difficult to know when bots have been used. If you have evidence to suggest bots were used, you can submit a complaint to our office.
- first, follow up with the ticket seller to try and resolve the issue
- keep copies of all your purchase documents and correspondence
- submit a complaint form to us and attach all relevant documents
If the issue does not fall under our authority, we will try our best to guide you in the right direction.
Read our consumer tips on ticket sales.