N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.27 – Commissions to employees of places of entertainment
* § 25.27. Commissions to employees of places of entertainment. No licensee, other person or entity, whether or not domiciled, licensed or registered within the state, shall pay to any officer or employee of any place of entertainment, any commission, gratuity or bonus in connection with the sale, delivery or payment of tickets or in connection with the business being done by such licensee, other person or entity, whether or not domiciled, licensed or registered within the state, in tickets of admission to such place.
Terms Used In N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.27
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Entertainment: means all forms of entertainment including, but not limited to, theatrical or operatic performances, concerts, motion pictures, all forms of entertainment at fair grounds, amusement parks and all types of athletic competitions including football, basketball, baseball, boxing, tennis, hockey, and any other sport, and all other forms of diversion, recreation or show. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
- Established price: means the price fixed at the time of sale by the operator of any place of entertainment for admission thereto, which must be printed or endorsed on each ticket of admission. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Operator: means any person who owns, operates, or controls a place of entertainment or who promotes or produces an entertainment. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
- Place of entertainment: means any privately or publicly owned and operated entertainment facility such as a theatre, stadium, arena, racetrack, museum, amusement park, or other place where performances, concerts, exhibits, athletic games or contests are held for which an entry fee is charged. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
- Ticket: means any evidence of the right of entry to any place of entertainment. See N.Y. Arts and Cultural Affairs Law 25.03
* NB Effective until July 1, 2025
* § 25.27. Unlawful charges in connection with theatre tickets. 1. Any owner, operating lessee, operator, manager, treasurer or assistant treasurer of any theatre wherein public performances are held, or of any stadium, arena, garden or other place of amusement showing sporting events, or his agent, representative, employee or licensee who, if a price be charged for admission thereto, exacts, demands, accepts or receives, directly or indirectly, any premium or price in excess of the regular or established price or charge, plus lawful taxes, as printed upon the face of each ticket or other evidence of the right of entry thereto, whether designated as price, gratuity or otherwise, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. A conviction for each violation hereof shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed one year, or both.
2. The provisions of this section shall also apply to the sale of theatre tickets and tickets for sporting events to persons licensed to resell theatre tickets and tickets for sporting events, pursuant to the provisions of this article.
3. In any prosecution under this section the attorney general shall have concurrent jurisdiction with any district attorney and in any such prosecution he or his deputy shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties which the district attorney would otherwise be authorized to exercise or perform therein.
* NB Effective July 1, 2025