Welcome to the world of the Play! Pokémon Grassroots Program! This program provides commercial venues with everything they need to grow their Pokémon community and their Pokémon Trading Card Game business:

• A way to keep regular customers of all ages coming back

• An opportunity to help grow your community by becoming a destination for Pokémon fans

• Access to branded assets, prize support, and tools to create an exciting play environment

Your first step is to sign up for a Pokémon Trainer Club (PTC) account and get a Play! Pokémon Player ID. If you don’t already have a PTC account, please create one.

Becoming a Play! Pokémon Store means you are able to run a Pokémon League as well as several other events that are exclusive to Play! Pokémon Stores, including Prerelease tournaments and more competitive events.

Once your store has been approved, find out how anyone at your store can become an Organizer or a Judge via our Professor Program.

Approval of a store to join our Play! Pokémon Store program does not grant any official affiliation with or license from TPCi.

Play! Pokémon Retail Program |
Store Requirement Checklist

§1. Your location must be a commercial venue that qualifies as a retailer.

• Business address

• Business contact (full name)

• Registration, business license, and/or VAT number

• Has a cashier desk*

• Has product shelving*

• Has a store window*

• Has exterior signage*

• Open to the public during regular daytime hours

• Sells sealed Pokémon TCG products from current or recent expansions

§2. You or a dedicated individual must be specified as the accountable representative of the commercial venue.

• Business email address

  • (Alternatively, the business contact above may provide identity confirmation in writing)

• Successful application for Organizer role with an active Pokémon Trainer Club account and Player ID

• 18 years of age or older

• Ability to pass a background check (where required)

§3. The commercial venue must maintain a family-friendly and safe environment.

• Venue is open to the general public

• Play space is clean and well lit (photo)*

• Has seating for at least 8 players (photo)*

• No demonstration of racism, political extremism, violence, or hate speech at the venue

• No use of drugs within the venue, no consumption of alcohol in the play area

• No signs of illegal activities in the venue

• No firearms, tobacco, or nicotine products sold at the venue

• Venue communicates and applies relevant laws to protect minors

*Photo required (either provided by link to online resource, i.e. store webpage, or provided with application)

§4. The commercial venue must comply with our Terms of Use of participating in the Play! Pokémon Retail Program, including:

• Venue name, logo, branding, online media, marketing, and other commercial activities must not make any infringing or potentially infringing use of Pokémon intellectual property, which includes but is not limited to the Pokémon copyrights and trademarks.

• Venue branding and marketing should not reference Pokémon or the Pokémon intellectual property in a manner that could confuse or mislead a customer regarding the existence of any endorsement, affiliation, license, or other relationship between Pokémon and the venue.

Acceptance into the Play! Pokémon Retail Program does not waive TPCi’s rights to pursue legal or other action if the venue is found to be in noncompliance with the above.

Eligibility criteria may vary based on geographic region. This information is subject to change at any time. Please check back regularly for updates.