GHOST Act

This legislative proposal, titled the Guaranteeing Honest Ownership in Secondary Ticketing Act or GHOST Act, aims to curb speculative ticket sales in the event ticketing market. Its central provision makes it unlawful for any reseller to sell, offer for sale, or advertise an event ticket unless they are in actual possession of that ticket, meaning they physically or virtually hold a ticket issued by the original ticket issuer. The bill grants significant enforcement powers to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) , treating violations as unfair or deceptive acts under existing law. The FTC can initiate civil actions to seek appropriate relief and impose substantial civil penalties, including a minimum of $15,000 per day for violations, plus additional fines based on the number or total price of tickets involved. Intentional violations face even higher penalties, starting at $10,000 per ticket. Beyond federal enforcement, the bill also empowers State attorneys general and other authorized State consumer protection officers to bring civil actions on behalf of their residents. These State actions can seek injunctions, compel compliance, and obtain damages or restitution for affected consumers. Furthermore, the FTC is mandated to establish a public complaint website for reporting violations and to submit annual reports to Congress on enforcement activities.