The Pokemon Company is introducing a mandatory facial recognition system in its Japanese card stores in an effort to curb the rampant issue of scalping. This measure is designed to create a safer shopping environment for enthusiasts and deter resellers who have significantly impacted the hobby's accessibility.
Under the new guidelines, adult shoppers and children of a certain age will be required to undergo a facial scan to gain entry to a Pokemon Card Store. Customers will be limited to one entry per day. The system is designed to detect if the same person has attempted to enter the store more than once in a single day or has received multiple entry tickets. If such activity is detected, entry will be denied.
Preschool-aged children are exempt from the facial scan requirement but must be accompanied by a guardian to enter. These new rules are currently exclusive to Japanese Pokemon card shops.
The practice of scalping Pokemon cards has escalated in recent years, coinciding with the trading card game's rising popularity throughout the 2010s. This surge has made it increasingly difficult for regular players to acquire cards, as new stock is often bought up immediately by scalpers aiming to maximize their inventory. The issue has also contributed to an increase in burglaries targeting collectibles shops worldwide, with several high-profile incidents involving stolen Pokemon card collections.
One notable event occurred in January when thieves, armed with guns and hammers, raided a newly opened Pokemon store and made off with over $100,000 worth of merchandise. The demand for rare Pokemon cards has also led to chaotic situations, such as an incident during a Pokemon promotion at Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum where scalpers attempted to seize all available 'Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat' cards.