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The Pokémon Trading Card Game has long been a favorite target for scalpers, people who buy up as many packs as they can just to resell them at higher prices. Official Pokémon Center stores and other retailers have tried different ways to stop this over the years, like peeling the plastic wrap off sealed booster boxes at checkout so they can’t be passed off as new, or making buyers answer quiz questions about Pokémon before they’re allowed to purchase.
Now The Pokémon Company is trying something new: facial recognition. The technology is being rolled out at official Pokémon Card stores to help enforce purchase limits.
Here’s the problem it’s meant to fix. Many stores hand out numbered tickets that tell customers when they’re allowed to enter and buy. Some buyers have reportedly been following the rules on their first visit, then leaving, grabbing a fresh ticket, and hoping staff won’t notice them coming back for a second round later the same day. With facial recognition in place, the system flags anyone who shows up twice or grabs more than one ticket in a day, and an alert pops up on screen so staff can turn them away.
Scalping has been a persistent headache for collectors and casual fans alike. A recent collaboration with the Amsterdam Museum, for example, sold out almost as soon as it launched.
A notice posted on the Pokémon Card website explains the reasoning behind the new system, saying it’s meant to keep shopping safe, prevent crime, and make sure entry and purchase rules are followed. According to the notice, anyone of elementary school age or older will need to go through facial recognition to get a numbered ticket. Younger children don’t need to be scanned, but they can’t enter alone and must be with a parent or guardian.
The notice also touches on privacy, stating that the facial data and visit records collected will only be used for their intended purpose and will be deleted after a set period of time. Customers who don’t want to go through facial recognition, or who don’t agree to the store’s rules, won’t be given a ticket or allowed inside.
Whether the system actually cuts down on scalping in a meaningful way remains to be seen, but for now it marks one of the more high tech steps taken yet in the ongoing effort to keep Pokémon card sales fair for everyday fans.
