The Pokemon Company is considering a measure in Japan that would require a government-issued ID card for certain TCG purchases on the Pokemon Center website, as well as product lotteries. The trading card game has been a major part of the Pokemon franchise from the very beginning, and has continued to draw interest from fans and collectors around the world for the past three decades.
High interest and product shortages have been a recurring problem since the original Pokemon TCG Base Set came out in 1996. However, the last few years have seen these problems exacerbated by resellers. Card stores have taken measures to combat Pokemon card scalpers, and The Pokemon Company has also been looking for ways to make sure products end up in the hands of fans.
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Using a Government ID to Buy Pokemon Cards
The Pokemon Company has laid out a potential verification system for multiple activities related to Pokemon cards, including lotteries, events, and the sale of products on the Pokemon Center website. The proposal was shared on the Pokemon TCG’s official Japanese website, and lays out exactly how this would all work. Essentially, the country’s government-issued My Number card would be scanned on a smartphone, in order to accurately identify the Player’s Club account. The idea is that this could prevent scalpers from using multiple accounts or bots for purchases. It would also help to prevent issues at in-person events.
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At this time, it’s unclear if The Pokemon Company will actually go through with this measure, but My Number verification could begin starting in August. That will likely depend on public reception to the idea, and this won’t stop Pokemon card scalpers in North America, or other regions. However, it’s clear that The Pokemon Company is looking for multiple ways to combat the problem. Production of Pokemon cards has ramped up over the years, but it’s clear that more needs to be done.
Card scalpers represent an existential threat to the Pokemon TCG. Pokemon cards can go for huge amounts on eBay, and when it’s happening with newer products, that means they aren’t ending up in the hands of real fans. When disappointed collectors are unable to get Pokemon cards, they could move on to other options like Lorcana, or Magic the Gathering, and they might even lose interest in the franchise as a whole. Even though products are selling out, that’s not necessarily a good thing for The Pokemon Company, and it’s easy to see why there’s a desperation to get the scalper problem under control.
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In addition to keeping fans happy, The Pokemon Company also has to think about the companies that it regularly partners with. Fights have broken out over Pokemon cards, and when it happens in a McDonald’s, Walmart, or Target, it could make those companies rethink stocking TCG products. With all that in mind, it makes sense that The Pokemon Company is considering drastic measures to get the problem under control, but it remains to be seen how the public will react, and just how much these measures might actually help.
Source: Automaton