The Pokemon Company Considering Using Government ID Authentication In Japan To Fight TCG Scalpers

The Pokemon Company has announced they are considering a very extreme measure to combat Pokemon TCG scalping in Japan.

The announcement was made on the official Japanese Pokemon TCG Trainers Website, and details a plan to use My Number Cards as a form of identity authentication for Japanese Trainer Club accounts. The My Number Card is a form of official ID issued by the Japanese government.

Players will need to use a smart device to scan the IC chip of their My Number Card to authenticate their Trainer Club account, which will be required to participate in priority product lotteries, the sale of certain products from the Pokemon Center Online store, as well as participation in certain official tournaments and events held in Japan. The idea is to “provide all customers with equal opportunities” and ensure they can enjoy Pokemon “safely and securely”. It is likely that this refers to combatting card scalping as well as cheating in tournaments by using a “stand-in” participant.

However, unlike many other countries, the My Number Card is not a compulsory piece of identification for Japanese citizens. The Pokemon Company is hoping to launch this new system by August 2026, and recommends that players apply for a My Number Card as soon as possible, given that it takes about 1 to 2 months to apply for one.

If this system is introduced, it may present a significant barrier to entry for players in addition to serving as defense against scalpers. The effectiveness of this measure however will remain to be seen.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.