House passes Matzie bill to protect consumers from ‘speculative ticketing’
Would ban deceptive practice in which resellers list event tickets they don’t yet have
Rep. Robert F. Matzie June 4, 2025 | 2:56 PM
HARRISBURG, June 4 – Pennsylvania consumers are one step closer to protection from an unfair and unscrupulous sales practice after a strong bipartisan majority of the PA House today passed state Rep. Rob Matzie’s bill to ban speculative ticketing.
Matzie, who is chairman of the House Majority Caucus, said he introduced H.B. 463 to eliminate a practice in which ticket resellers list event tickets for sale before even having those tickets in hand.
“People give up their hard-earned money to buy tickets so they can enjoy special shows and events with friends, family, and loved ones,” said Matzie. “They have a right to assume the seller has those tickets in hand. When it turns out that the seller never had them and was unable to get them, it’s the consumer who loses. At best, they may get their money back. At worst, they lose their ticket money and any other expenses, like travel and lodging, they laid out.
“A sales transaction between a buyer and seller should never be based on a gamble that the seller will be able to obtain the item for sale. We don’t allow that to happen with other consumer goods, and we shouldn’t let it happen with ticket sales. It’s very simple – if you don’t have it, you can’t sell it. I’m pleased that a strong bipartisan majority of the House sided with Pennsylvania consumers today by passing my bill.”
Matzie said speculative ticketing also harms venues, which lose credibility with the public, and small businesses such as restaurants and parking garages, which lose out on expected revenue.
Matzie introduced an earlier version the bill during the 2023-24 legislative session, which passed 201 to 2 but never received consideration in the Senate.