California bans speculative ticket sales, limits ghost tickets

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed bipartisan Assembly Bill 1349, targeting “ghost tickets”—resale listings for tickets sellers do not yet own or have a legal right to receive. The law also bars software used to evade ticket limits, queues and presales, and allows misdemeanor charges and penalties for violations. Newsom urged lawmakers to revisit the measure, saying its exemptions may give some sellers an uneven advantage; critics say resale marketplaces such as StubHub could benefit, though the law still restricts them from knowingly or recklessly facilitating speculative sales and requires reasonable prevention measures. The bill’s author said speculative listings can mislead fans with inflated prices and leave buyers or venues without tickets.