The Pokémon Company is requiring government IDs for card purchases in Japan to fight scalpers
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
The Pokémon Company is introducing a government ID requirement at official Pokémon Centers in Japan to combat rampant scalping and secure physical card inventory for genuine fans.
For years, the Pokémon community has dealt with rampant scalping that empties retail shelves the second a new set drops. According to a report by Polygon, The Pokémon Company is stepping in with a drastic solution by requiring government-issued identification to buy Pokémon cards at official Pokémon Center locations in Japan starting this August. Japanese residents will need to present a My Number Card, which is a national ID, for both purchases and tournament entry. The company promises that personal information will not be stored, framing the move as a way to ensure fair access and safety for genuine fans.
The secondary market for Pokémon cards has exploded into a high-stakes economy, leading to long queues, online botting, and physical altercations at retail locations. Previous attempts by the publisher to fix the issue, ranging from massive print runs that flooded the market to dedicated product vending machines, failed to deter aggressive resellers who still find ways to game the system. Local card shops have even resorted to forcing buyers to rip open packaging at the register just to kill the resale value. Official Pokémon Center drops remain prime targets because they feature exclusive items and sought-after Elite Trainer Boxes that never see reprints.
While this ID mandate is currently limited to Japan, the international gaming community will be watching the results very closely. If this trial run successfully curbs the botting and camping that ruins hobbyist experiences, similar verification steps could eventually find their way to international stores and events. As physical card collecting increasingly mirrors the high-security protocols of digital marketplaces and blockchain economies, publishers are realizing that protecting the player base requires aggressive intervention.
Tags: Pokémon, TCG, Gaming News, Polygon, Collecting
Original article: Polygon