Pokémon

The Pokémon Company will use facial recognition to combat Pokémon TCG scalpers in Japan

The new system limits customers to one purchase per day as the company steps up efforts to curb resellers.

Update: Jul 27th, 2026 21:56 CEST

The Pokémon Company appears to have found a solution to stop scalpers of the Pokémon Trading Card Game—at least in Japan—even though it may sound controversial.

According to the Pokémon Card Game website, the new way to stop scalpers of the Pokémon Trading Card Game will be through a facial recognition system. Each store will be required to screen every customer to verify that no one has entered the store to make a purchase “more than once in a day.” If they do, those who have attempted to make a purchase will be denied entry for a period of 24 hours. This system will be “applicable to elementary school students and older,” ensuring that even children are not used to exploit the system. An interesting detail is that, according to The Pokémon Company, “Preschoolers cannot enter the store alone. They must be accompanied by a guardian.” Additionally, “If the system detects two or more attempts to enter or receive a numbered ticket, entry will be denied.”

【顔認証システム導入のお知らせ】
ポケモンカードストアで防犯、適切な入店、購入制限の判断を目的とした顔認証システムが導入

今後ポケモンセンターでも導入あるのでしょうか🤔
皆さん的には顔認証システムの導入どう思います？

主なポイント👇
✅小学生以上が対象
✅入店・整理券受取時に顔認証… pic.twitter.com/UWIZwWiKYs
— ポケゲトちゃんねる＠ポケモンカードまとめ (@PokeGetInfoMain) July 26, 2026

The Pokémon Company is working to stop scalpers

This isn’t the only way The Pokémon Company is trying to stop scalpers, who have become a problem in several countries. Just a few months ago, it was proposed in Japan that, starting in August 2026, a system using the My Number Card—the official ID issued by the Japanese government—would be required for anyone wishing to make a purchase. The system that The Pokémon Company plans to implement aims to create a “User Authentication Electronic Certificate” so that each account is linked to a citizen of the country.

Earlier this month, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa mentioned that The Pokémon Company would “take measures” to address both supply bottlenecks and scalpers. Although it’s unclear which specific measures he was referring to, this showed that the issue has reached the highest levels of management with a stake in the franchise. The fact is that, despite printing 10 billion cards last year, demand could not be met.