As Maine prepares to implement one of the nation’s strictest ticket resale laws, StubHub has begun adjusting its platform to accommodate the state’s new 10% price cap on resold event tickets. The company recently updated its systems to require sellers listing tickets for Maine events to confirm compliance with the upcoming regulations, which take effect September 24, 2025.
Maine Public Law Chapter 354 of 2025 establishes extensive restrictions on ticket resales, limiting markups to no more than 10% above the original purchase price, including all taxes and mandatory fees. This groundbreaking legislation affects all entertainment categories—concerts, sporting events, theater performances, and other live shows—taking place within Maine’s borders.
StubHub’s compliance measures include a new verification step for sellers, though the company acknowledges it cannot independently confirm original ticket prices and must rely on seller disclosures. Sellers are required to possess actual tickets before they can be listed on the platform. This limitation highlights the enforcement challenges that may arise once the law takes effect, despite potential penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.
Sellers must self-certify compliance with Maine’s price cap, revealing inherent enforcement hurdles despite steep financial penalties.
The law addresses several long-standing consumer complaints beyond just pricing. It prohibits speculative ticket sales (selling tickets one doesn’t yet possess), requires transparent disclosure of seat locations, and mandates upfront display of all fees before checkout. These provisions align with StubHub’s existing FanProtect Guarantee and anti-speculative ticket policies. The restrictions aim to create more opportunities for musicians to earn fair compensation from live performances, which represent a critical income stream in today’s music industry.
Maine’s Attorney General will spearhead enforcement efforts, investigating complaints against sellers who exceed the price cap or engage in deceptive practices. The law specifically targets tactics that have plagued the secondary ticket market, including the use of purchasing bots, counterfeit tickets, and misleading websites that mimic official vendors. Under the legislation, consumers are entitled to full refunds for counterfeit or misrepresented tickets. Experts suggest artists could leverage these protections as part of their broader music promotion strategy, ensuring fans have fair access to their shows without facing prohibitive resale prices.
While StubHub has incorporated the necessary compliance mechanisms, the true test will come next fall when the law takes effect. Industry observers note this represents the most aggressive legislative attempt yet to rein in a secondary ticket market often criticized for exorbitant markups, potentially establishing a model for other states considering similar consumer protections.
