GHOST Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
- Committees
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Aug 6, 2026
Bottom line
The GHOST Act aims to protect consumers from deceptive ticketing practices by banning the speculative sale of event tickets, imposing substantial penalties for violations, and enhancing federal and state enforcement capabilities.
What it actually does
This bill prohibits ticket resellers from selling, offering for sale, or advertising event tickets unless they are in actual physical or virtual possession of those tickets, a practice known as speculative ticketing. It grants enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and State Attorneys General, allowing them to impose significant civil penalties for violations and requiring the FTC to establish a public complaint website.
Proponents argue
Supporters argue that speculative ticketing harms consumers by creating uncertainty, leading to inflated prices, and sometimes resulting in tickets that never materialize, thus this bill provides essential consumer protection and transparency in the secondary ticket market by ensuring advertised tickets genuinely exist.
Opponents contend
Opponents, if any, might argue that such prohibitions could stifle competition in the secondary market, potentially limiting consumer choice or making it harder for legitimate resellers to operate efficiently, though direct opposition to banning speculative sales specifically is less common given the consumer protection focus.
The bill is concise and easily understandable, allowing readers to quickly grasp its core provisions and implications without extensive legal background.
Section 1
Short Title
This section establishes the official short title of the Act as the "Guaranteeing Honest Ownership in Secondary Ticketing Act" or the "GHOST Act," providing a common reference name for the legislation.
Supporters argue
A clear short title helps in public communication and legislative tracking of the bill.
Critics contend
No specific opposition is typically raised against short titles, as they are administrative.
Section 2
Definitions
This section defines key terms used throughout the Act, such as "actual possession" (physical or virtual possession of an event ticket issued by a ticket issuer), "Commission" (Federal Trade Commission), and "reseller" (a person engaged in the resale of event tickets that is not the original ticket issuer). It also incorporates definitions for "event," "event ticket," and "ticket issuer" from the Better Online Ticket Sales Act of 2016.
Section 3
Ban on Speculative Ticketing
This core provision makes it unlawful for any ticket reseller to sell, offer for sale, or advertise an event ticket unless they are in actual possession of that ticket. This directly targets "speculative ticketing," where resellers list tickets they do not yet own, often at inflated prices, hoping to acquire them later.
Section 4(a)
Federal Trade Commission Enforcement
This section grants the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) authority to enforce the prohibition on speculative ticketing. Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive acts under the Federal Trade Commission Act, allowing the FTC to bring civil actions, seek equitable monetary relief, and impose significant civil penalties. It also mandates the FTC to create a public complaint website and submit annual enforcement reports to Congress.
Section 4(b)
State Enforcement Powers
This section empowers State Attorneys General, or other authorized State consumer protection officers, to bring civil actions in federal court on behalf of their residents. They can seek injunctions, compel compliance, and obtain damages or restitution for violations of the Act, complementing federal enforcement efforts.
Section 5
Effective Date
This section specifies that the Act will take effect 60 days after its date of enactment, providing a grace period for businesses to adjust their practices before the prohibitions and enforcement mechanisms become active.