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S5278119th CongressWALLET

GHOST Act

Sponsored By: Senator Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

Introduced

Summary

Resellers would have to actually possess tickets before selling them. This bill would bar any reseller from selling, offering, or advertising an event ticket unless the reseller has physical or virtual possession, and it is aimed at curbing speculative sales and transactions made without possession.

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  • Consumers: Would face fewer listings from sellers who do not hold the ticket, because the law targets sales made without actual possession.
  • Resellers: Would be prohibited from selling or advertising tickets unless they hold the ticket. Violations carry civil penalties of at least $15,000 per day and per-ticket fines, including an enhanced $10,000 per ticket for intentional violations.
  • Enforcement and states: The Federal Trade Commission would enforce these rules as unfair or deceptive acts, get rulemaking power, and must create a public complaint website and report to Congress within 180 days and then annually. States could sue under parens patriae to stop violations and obtain damages or restitution.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Large penalties for ticket resellers

This bill would impose large civil penalties on resellers who violate the ban. Penalties would include at least $15,000 for each day a violation continues. It would also add the greater of $1,000 per ticket or five times the total price of the tickets sold or advertised in violation. If a violation were intentional, there would be an extra penalty of at least $10,000 per ticket. These penalties would apply starting on the Act's effective date.

State attorneys general can sue

This bill would let State attorneys general bring parens patriae lawsuits on behalf of their residents for violations. States could seek injunctions, compel compliance, and recover damages or restitution for harmed residents. State investigative powers and ongoing State criminal or civil cases would be preserved.

Ban on selling tickets you don't own

This bill would make it illegal for resellers to sell, offer, or advertise an event ticket unless they actually possess that exact ticket. "Actual possession" would include physical or virtual possession of a ticket issued by the ticket issuer. The rule would apply to anyone reselling tickets who is not the original ticket issuer. The Act would start 60 days after enactment.

Federal Trade Commission enforcement and reporting

This bill would let the Federal Trade Commission treat violations as unfair or deceptive acts and use its full enforcement powers. The FTC would be required to make rules to implement the ban under the Administrative Procedure Act. The FTC would also have to set up a public website to accept complaints within 180 days after enactment and share reports with State attorneys general. The FTC would report to Congress on enforcement within 180 days and then yearly.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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