Papers Please

All Nairn MacKay wanted was tickets to a Johnny Cash tribute show at the Casino Regina in Saskatchewan.

But when the woman refused to give up personal information at the ticket window including her name, phone number and home address, she was refused tickets and left empty-handed.

“All I really wanted to do was go in, give them my money, get my tickets and leave,” MacKay told CBC News.

A casino representative told the CBC the venue does in fact require customers to give personal information before tickets are released – even when purchased in person at the box office. The information is reportedly stored in a database so patrons can be contacted if needed regarding cancellations and upcoming shows.

However, the practice isn’t so unusual in the city. Other venues including Connexus Arts Center and Globe Theatre also apparently require personal information from customers.

Saskatchewan privacy commissioner Gary Dickson told the CBC that the province’s privacy laws don’t apply to private businesses and consumers are right to question when asked for private info.

“When identity theft is perhaps the fastest-growing crime in Saskatchewan, it’s really important to ask questions before surrendering personal information,” he said.

MacKay agreed.

“If it’s more trouble to collect the information, organizations like Casino Regina will stop collecting the information they don’t need,” she said.