A new guard at the door
The Pokémon Company in Japan has mandated facial recognition for entry into any Pokémon Card Store. Each customer can enter only once per day. The rule excludes preschoolers but requires adult supervision for those under age.
The system records each visitor's face and compares it against previous entries. If it detects a return visit or a duplicate entry ticket, it blocks access. The goal is to slow the hoarding that leaves new players empty-handed.
A growing market, a shrinking chance
Over the past few years, Pokémon cards have become a lucrative trade. New releases often sell out in under a minute, leaving collectors scrambling. The problem extends beyond Japan. In January, armed thieves stormed a new shop and stole over $100,000 in cards. The same desperation has spilled into museums, where scalpers have rushed to secure rare limited-edition cards during events.
Will this work?
The facial recognition system is a first step in Japan. Scalpers may try to bypass it — through fake IDs, proxies, or other methods. But the attempt to control access is clear. The real test will be whether it buys time for regular players to find cards without a line of digital guards at the door.