Understanding Pokémon Center's Two-Tier Verification System
Pokémon Center Online has restructured its lottery entry into a two-tier verification system. Instead of a single application path, there are now two independent verification pathways: an identity-verified tier built on Japan's My Number Card, and a non-verified tier that remains officially open. Pokémon Center has confirmed that users who have not completed identity verification can still enter its lotteries. This page documents how the system works, why it was introduced, and what remains required for buyers outside Japan, with the MEGA "30th CELEBRATION" lotteries as the first documented case.
Last reviewed: August 2026. This is a policy-tracking page, updated as Pokémon Center's verification rules change.
System background
- The problem — High-demand releases, particularly Pokémon Card Game products, became targets of automated and resale-driven buying that priced out ordinary fans.
- The response — Pokémon Center announced an identity verification system as an anti-scalping measure: lottery entry would be tied to a verified individual identity that duplicate accounts cannot replicate.
- The infrastructure — Verification was built on the My Number Card, Japan's national ID, performed through the Pokémon Card Game "Players Club" membership system and the government's Digital Authentication App.
- The split — The system debuted with the Pokémon Card Game MEGA "30th CELEBRATION" lotteries in August 2026, dividing entry into verified and non-verified tiers.
- Current state — Identity verification is optional, and the non-verified tier remains an official entry route. The system first appeared in the MEGA "30th CELEBRATION" lotteries; whether future campaigns use the same verification structure is set by Pokémon Center's lottery rules for each event.
Official statement
Pokémon Center's announcement describes the system as a measure for fair and safe distribution, and states that the majority of winning allocations are prepared for identity-verified users — in its wording, 「当選数の大半を本人確認済みの方の当選分として用意」 ("the majority of winning allocations are prepared as winning slots for identity-verified users"). Specific odds and lottery logic are not published; Pokémon Center's official FAQ states it does not answer questions about how winners are selected.
Officially confirmed: Users who have not completed identity verification can still enter through the non-verified tier.
Interpretation: For overseas applicants without Japanese identity documents, the identity layer is optional; phone verification is the remaining technical requirement before lottery entry.
System architecture: the two tiers
| Verified tier | Non-verified tier | |
|---|---|---|
| Identity requirement | My Number Card + Digital Authentication App via Players Club | None |
| Account requirement | Pokémon Center Online + Players Club accounts | Pokémon Center Online account with phone verification |
| Open to overseas users? | No — My Number Cards are issued to Japan residents | Yes |
Official terminology
Players Club (プレイヤーズクラブ) — The Pokémon Card Game's membership system, where My Number identity verification is performed. Its verification status is applied to eligible Pokémon Center Online lotteries.
My Number Card (マイナンバーカード) — Japan's national identification card, issued to residents of Japan. The identity anchor of the verified tier.
Digital Authentication App (デジタル認証アプリ) — The Japanese government's official app for My Number Card authentication, used to complete Players Club identity verification.
Identity verification (本人確認) — The optional process linking a Players Club account to a verified individual identity via the My Number Card.
Non-verified tier — The official entry path for users who have not completed identity verification, requiring a phone-verified Pokémon Center Online account.
Requirements for overseas buyers
The identity layer is optional, but the underlying account requirements are unchanged. An overseas buyer entering through the non-verified tier needs:
- A Pokémon Center Online account,
- Phone verification to a Japanese mobile number — virtual numbers, VoIP, 050 IP-phone numbers, and most foreign numbers do not complete this step. Need help completing the phone verification step? Pokémon Center Japan phone verification service →
- A Japanese delivery address if the entry wins, as Pokémon Center ships domestically.
After this policy change, the decisive requirement for overseas users is unchanged: it is the Japanese phone number, not identity documents.
FAQ
Why did Pokémon Center introduce identity verification?
As an anti-scalping measure. Pokémon Center describes the system as a way to distribute high-demand products fairly and safely by tying lottery entry to a verified individual identity.
Why is the system built on the My Number Card?
The My Number Card is Japan's national ID card, and verification runs through the government's Digital Authentication App — giving Pokémon Center an identity anchor that duplicate accounts cannot replicate.
Why are there two tiers?
Pokémon Center kept the lottery open to users who cannot or choose not to verify identity. Verified users receive the majority of winning allocations per the official announcement, while the non-verified tier remains an official route with its own allocation.
Does Pokémon Center publish the lottery algorithm or odds?
No. Its official FAQ states it does not answer questions about how winners are selected, and no odds are published for either tier.
Why does the verified tier receive most winning allocations?
Per Pokémon Center's framing, prioritizing verified users rewards accounts tied to a confirmed individual identity — the mechanism that makes scalping through duplicate accounts impractical.
Is identity verification mandatory?
No. Pokémon Center confirmed that users who have not completed identity verification can still enter. The verified tier is optional.
What does the Players Club have to do with Pokémon Center lotteries?
The Players Club is the Pokémon Card Game's membership system, and it is where My Number identity verification is performed. Its verification status is then applied to eligible Pokémon Center Online lotteries.
Where can I find the official announcement?
Pokémon Center publishes system notices in the news section of Pokémon Center Online, and Players Club identity verification announcements appear on the Pokémon Card Game official site. The Last verified date on this page reflects the most recent official information reviewed.
What do overseas users still need?
A Pokémon Center Online account with phone verification to a Japanese mobile number, and a Japanese delivery address in the event of a win. Identity documents are not required on the non-verified tier.
Need help completing the phone verification step? The phone verification required by every Pokémon Center Online account is covered by the Pokémon Center Japan phone verification service →