Proposal for Regulating Sports Card & TCG Breaking Activities

Updated: May 21, 2025

Industry Reform: Building a Healthier Hobby

The sports card and collectibles hobby has undergone a massive transformation in recent years—but that evolution hasn’t come without consequences. What began as a fun, community-driven pursuit has increasingly mirrored the structure and psychology of traditional gambling. Breaks. Razzes. FOMO-fueled purchases. Hidden odds. Zero safeguards. For many, the line between collecting and compulsive behavior is no longer just blurry—it’s vanished entirely.

At Collectors MD, we believe in preserving the joy of collecting while protecting those who participate in it. That means pushing for industry-wide reform, demanding accountability from the platforms that profit off our passion, and advocating for tools that prioritize transparency, responsibility, and mental health.

Disclaimer: This is a hypothetical proposal. Nothing within this page has been officially implemented. It is a public proposal intended to raise awareness and inspire industry stakeholders to consider these regulatory measures. Collectors MD is advocating for these practices in hopes that they will be adopted by platforms, breakers, and industry leaders to promote fairness, transparency, and consumer protection in the hobby.

Introduction

The sports card and Trading Card Game (TCG) collecting hobby has experienced explosive growth in recent years, with “live card breaking” (or just “breaking”) becoming a dominant activity. Breaking involves sellers opening sealed boxes or packs of cards live on various platforms and selling individual cards to participants. While this practice has introduced excitement and community engagement to the hobby, it has also led to significant concerns about fairness, transparency, and consumer protection—particularly when it comes to repacks, which are not produced by licensed manufacturers and lack standardization, transparency and oversight. However, this proposal is not limited to repacks alone, as even manufacturer-sealed products can be subject to questionable practices in the live breaking experience.

Collectors MD, a movement dedicated to promoting responsible collecting and protecting consumers, is proposing a set of regulatory measures to ensure the integrity, fairness, and transparency of breaking activities across all major platforms.

Objectives

• Ensure Fairness and Transparency: Protect consumers by enforcing clear, honest, and ethical practices in all breaking activities.

• Prevent Fraud: Establish standards to prevent deceptive practices, manipulation, and unethical behavior.

• Standardize Practices: Create a consistent set of guidelines for all breakers, ensuring that participants have a clear understanding of the process.

• Consumer Protection: Safeguard consumers, including minors and vulnerable individuals, from exploitative or predatory practices.

• Responsibly Breaking Messaging: Promote “Responsible Breaking” or “Responsible Ripping” messaging throughout the industry, encourage participants to collect with intention and maintain healthy habits, and provide a clear call-to-action: “If you or someone you know is struggling with compulsive spending behaviors, please reach out to Collectors MD for support.”

Scope

These regulatory measures should apply to all major platforms where breaking occurs, including but not limited to:

• Fanatics Live

• Whatnot

• eBay Live

• Loupe

• Instagram Live

• Facebook

• YouTube

Hobby Guardrails: Our Reform Framework for Breaking Platforms

Breaking, in its current form, mimics high-risk gambling behavior—and it’s almost entirely unregulated. Here’s what needs to change:

1. Licensing, Registration, & Age Verification

• Require all breakers to obtain a license through a recognized Card Breaking Commission.

• Platforms hosting breaking activities must register and comply with established regulatory standards.

• Mandatory age verification (18+) for participation in breaks.

• Parental controls for minor accounts, preventing access to breaking streams.

2. Transparency in Pricing, Odds, & Formats

• Clear display of break prices and total cost per spot.

• Explicit disclosure of odds for pulling specific cards, with clear explanations of how those odds are calculated.

• A breakdown of all costs associated with the break, including shipping, fees, and handling.

• Clear explanation of break types (Random Team, Pick Your Team, Random Division, etc.).

• Detailed descriptions of how breaks are conducted, including any randomization processes.

3. Spending Limits, Self-Exclusion, & Transaction History

• Implement user-defined spending limits (daily, weekly, monthly).

• Self-exclusion options for users who wish to restrict themselves from participating in breaks for a set period.

• Real-time spending tracking with clear notifications to users.

• Users can access their full transaction history at any time.

4. Responsible Gaming Warnings & Support Resources

• Prominent display of responsible collecting/gaming messages.

• Links to support organizations like Collectors MD, Problem Gambling Helplines, or local support services.

• Mandatory acknowledgment of responsible gaming terms before joining a break.

5. Verified Randomization & Recordkeeping

• Utilize third-party services (like Random.org) for randomizing teams, players, or divisions in breaks.

• All randomizations must be recorded, publicly visible, and stored for user review.

6. Real-Time Receipts & Break Recording

• Automated issuance of digital receipts for each break purchase.

• Require that the entire breaking process is live-streamed and recorded for accountability.

• Clear records of all purchased spots, cards received, and final outcomes.

7. Platform Accountability & Moderation Tools

• Platforms must monitor and enforce compliance with regulatory standards.

• Users must have access to report suspicious activities or unethical conduct.

• Platforms must have a dedicated team to investigate and address user complaints.

• Clear escalation process for unresolved disputes.

8. Ban on Conflicts of Interest & Unlicensed Gambling

• Ban on “Razzes” or other unlicensed gambling formats.

• Prohibit platform owners or employees from participating in their own breaks.

• Clear penalties for dishonest behavior, including misrepresentation of products or altering outcomes.

9. Education, Awareness, & Community Training

• Regular educational content for users, explaining the risks of compulsive collecting.

• Access to workshops, webinars, or guides on responsible collecting habits.

• Highlight success stories of collectors who maintain healthy collecting habits.

10. Financial Safeguards & Encryption Standards

• Adhere to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols.

• Secure user payments with industry-standard encryption.

11. Refunds & Dispute Resolution

• Clear refund policies for canceled breaks or damaged products.

• Neutral third-party mediation for unresolved disputes between users and breakers.

12. Audit & Compliance Enforcement

• Regular audits of breaking platforms and breakers to ensure ongoing compliance.

• Breakers and platforms must maintain accurate records and be subject to random inspections.

• Non-compliance should result in fines, suspensions, or license revocation.

Benefits Of Regulation

• Enhanced Consumer Confidence: Participants will have greater trust in the integrity of breaks.

• Market Integrity: Standardized practices will enhance the credibility of the hobby.

• Fraud Prevention: Regulatory oversight will deter unethical practices.

• Industry Growth: Clear guidelines will foster a healthier, more sustainable market.

Implementation Plan

• Stakeholder Consultation: Collect feedback from collectors, breakers, platforms, and industry experts.

• Regulatory Framework Development: Design detailed regulations and guidelines based on stakeholder input.

• Education and Training: Provide training programs for breakers and platforms to ensure compliance.

• Enforcement: Gradually roll out the regulations, allowing platforms and breakers time to adapt.

Promoting Responsible Collecting: An Industry Shift

Responsible breaking isn’t just about compliance—it’s about changing the culture. Collectors MD encourages breakers to lead by example, providing white-glove service to their customers, promoting responsible spending habits, and ensuring that every participant feels valued.

Breakers who adopt this approach will be seen as pioneers of industry reform. Customers are financially, mentally, and emotionally impacted by reckless breaking practices, and the industry has a responsibility to protect them.

Co-Branded Initiatives for Responsible Breaking

• Collaborative Messaging: Breakers can subtly promote responsible collecting through consistent messaging, social media posts, and direct customer interactions.

• Co-Branded Break Stands and Mats: Breakers can integrate Collectors MD and “Rip Responsibly” branding on their setup to visibly promote responsible collecting.

• Educational Content: Share tips, stories, and reminders to help collectors enjoy the hobby without falling into destructive habits.

These changes aren’t just possible—they’re necessary. We owe it to ourselves, to future collectors, and to the integrity of the hobby. Reform starts with awareness, grows through action, and becomes real when we all commit to doing better.

Want to get involved? Share this page. Join our movement. Help us hold the industry accountable.
https://collectorsmd.com/industry-reform/

We’re kicking off our first post on Mantel with a straight-up heater!

This first-on-print /35 booklet from 2024 National Treasures features the blazing-hot prospect James Wood, and it was pulled live in a break during our Saturday Night Fever edition of the JWV show. His market is on 🔥 right now, and this card is a certified centerpiece—one of those pulls you just don’t forget. Big congrats to the lucky collector who landed this monster.

What a way to make our Mantel debut!

Only 2 teams left!

Close for: $175!

It’s almost Bowman Season!!!

2 cases (1 Jumbo + 1 Hobby)!

Claim your spot now!

Full Case 4 Boxes!

Breaks Sunday!

Claim in comments!