The Pokémon Company in Japan fights scalpers with government ID checks for card purchases

The Pokémon Company (TPC) has announced that it will begin requiring government ID checks before customers can buy Pokémon cards. The move is intended to tackle the scalper problem, as resellers have found ways around the current systems for selling card products. Scalping has become a serious issue in Japan, forcing TPC to take measures to better control sales.

Implementation of the system

In August 2026, a new system will take effect in which customers must use their Japanese My Number Card to authenticate a Players Club account. This account is required to enter lotteries for certain Trading Card Game (TCG) products through the official Pokémon Center website in Japan.

The My Number Card is a form of identification that also serves as a social security number, and it will be scanned through a third-party smartphone app. The app uses the so-called User Authentication Electronic Certificate for added security, without storing the customer’s unique number.

Requirements for customers

Customers are being urged to apply for a My Number Card as soon as possible, since the process can take up to two months. Anyone who still wants to take part in TCG product lotteries or Japanese tournaments in August 2026 will need to submit an application in time. The new requirements are meant to ensure all customers have equal chances and secure access to Pokémon Company services.

Community reaction

The Pokémon community has been split over the measures. Some see them as necessary to combat scalping, while others считают them restrictive and even dystopian, arguing that requiring government ID to buy cards goes too far. Compared with other countries, such as the United States, showing ID to buy something has long been a contentious topic.

Despite privacy and access concerns, The Pokémon Company says it will continue working to address scalper issues. Critics, however, question how effective the measures will be, especially as promises to increase card production have yet to materialize. Local stores have also suffered from the heavy focus on larger retail chains, further limiting product availability for everyday consumers.

The Pokémon Company has also announced that the ID checks will apply to participation in live tournaments, raising additional questions and concerns about why the rules are needed for events that traditionally have nothing to do with scalping.