Gambling anime? Who doesn’t like a good bet? Characters bet with money or their lives in intense situations, which can include playing cards or mahjong against gangsters or destroying the opponent’s mind!
Maybe in the real world, you like to play gambling maybe also play at one of the trusted gambling websites like Bitcasino to get a victory and royal flush? Do you also like anime as you play gambling? It’s time to watch a good gambling anime to take a break from your usual casino games.
Gambling is probably not the most common anime subject, although gambling is generally prohibited in Japan, which doesn’t stop fans from falling in love with high-risk stories. but when it appears, it will make some interesting stories. One of the most popular gambling anime is “Kakegurui” and is still ongoing today from its first appearance in 2017, a series that focuses on wealthy private school students who are involved in the game of great opportunities. While this recent top ranks anime among the best, not everything in the anime world is about gambling. There is also “One Outs”, a psychological thriller about betting large sums of money on baseball, and “Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor”, a show about a directionless man who is suddenly pushed into the world of underground gambling and more.
KAORI Nusantara made a list of anime about gambling. Some of the Anime are older, from modern times but they are inspired by online casinos or good movies about gambling in the past, but we think they all deserve our appreciation.
Which of these gambling anime are you adding to your to-watch list?
Kakegurui (Compulsive Gambler)
Episodes: Ongoing | Studio: MAPPA | Year: 2017
Kakegurui is the latest addition to the anime gambling lineup. It is student centered at the Hyakkaou Private Academy, the Hyakkaou Private Academy is not your ordinary school. This is a place for students from the richest and most politically powerful families in Japan. Here, gambling determines everything, including your social status. During the day, the school offers a standard curriculum, but at night the school turns into a casino. Students bet lots of money – and other odd bets, hoping to get high status in the order of school power. Those who win are treated like gods, while those who lose are hardly considered human.
The whole system was interrupted when one day, a Yumeko Jabami transfer student appeared and challenged the entire hierarchical structure with exceptional gambling skills. The pinnacle of this gambling anime is a psychological battle between students who don’t want to lose everything and become home pets (aka slaves). dirty words, and a little nudity, Kakegurui combines everything we like about the dark side of gambling.
Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
Episodes: Ongoing | Studio: Madhouse | Year: 2007-2008
Many anime fans are already familiar with Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor. This is one of the most popular series on this list, and I can see the reason – this gambling anime is a masterpiece in terms of character interaction, and animation. The story is also good. Our protagonist Kaiji Ito (who is no more than an unemployed alcoholic) has serious problems. A loan shark forced him to repay a former colleague’s debt of 3,850,000 yen. Which, of course, is almost impossible for unemployed Kaiji. That’s why the man was offered an agreement to go on a shady cruise to bet his way out of trouble. If Kaiji wins, his debt is paid off and he leaves the ship with a profit of 20,000,000 yen. If he loses – he must do forced labor for two years. With bets so high, you will witness some of the most intense gambling scenes in anime history. And a lot of heavy psychological tension.
Akagi: Yami ni Oritatta Tensai
Episodes: Ongoing | Studio: Madhouse | Year: 2005-2006
Akagi: Yami ni Oritatta Tensai, translated as: ‘Akagi: Genius descending to Darkness’, is a Japanese manga, written and illustrated by Nobuyuki Fukumoto – writer Kaiji. This manga was first published in 1991 as a spin-off from the work of the previous writer, Ten. There are more than 12 million copies sold in Japan alone! The anime series aired in 2005 and there were two live-action films that were first adapted in 1995 and 1997, and again between 2015 and 2017 as live-action TV dramas. Akagi is probably one of the most successful writers’ creations and we love to share a little about the story! This is a very intense plot, with lots of mini plot-twists in the main storyline but this is what will happen in a few words. One turbulent night, the little gambler, Nangou, would lose money and his life because of Mahjong’s game against the yakuza, when Akagi came, hoping he had deceived the police who were looking for him. Then, he started playing and defeated the yakuza gamblers, freeing Nangou and making lots of money. But the story doesn’t end there … You have to watch the rest to see what happens!
Joker Game
Episodes: 12 | Studio: Production I.G | Year: 2016
Although not centered on gambling, this anime involves a lot of poker. This is a series of eight spies who have undergone rigorous training to become great manipulators. The Joker game is set during the Second World War, which gives many reasons for appearing rough and dark.
Imawa no Kuni no Alice (Alice in Borderland)
Episodes: 3 | Studio: Silver Link., Connect | Year: 2014-2015
Ryouhei Arisu is a high school student who has little or no interest in his daily life. One day, he was shaken from nihilistic depression when a giant fireworks transported him and his friends to a strange world called Borderland. There, the residents are all involved in a high stakes game where participants bet to survive. For the first time in years, he actually began to feel as though his life had meaning.
Death Parade
Episodes: 12 | Studio: Madhouse | Year: 2015
Death Parade offers a truly unique view of the concept of gambling. The participants might think they made the original bet, but the game was just an excuse for Decim to judge them. Decim is the referee in charge of deciding whether souls are reincarnated or eliminated. Through watching how people behave when they think that everything is on the path that Decim understands what kind of people they are, and decides the fate of their souls. But during the series, he began to question the validity of his method.
No Game No Life
Episodes: 12 | Studio: Madhouse | Year: 2014
No Game No Life is not your typical gambling anime. However, there are several Casino games involved. On Earth, Sora and Shiro’s brothers are an accomplished game team known as Blank – they are almost invincible. Apart from improving their skills, they have little hope for a happy life, because they are too afraid to get out, and their skills don’t translate into meaningful things when they are transferred to Disboard land, it changes dramatically. On Disboard, everything is determined through games. including political decisions and ownership of all species themselves. Through a series of bets, Sora and Shiro rise to the top of their new world.
Rio: Rainbow Gate
Episodes: 13 | Studio: Xebec | Year: 2011
“Howard Resort Hotel” is an entertainment destination where people gather from all over the world to achieve great wealth. At the casino is a beautiful woman dealer named Rio Rollins, who is widely known as the “Goddess of Victory”. To get closer to his mother, one of the biggest dealers in history, he struggled to collect legendary cards called “gates”. Those who collected 13 gate cards were given the title of MVCD (Most Valuable Casino Dealer), proof that they were the top dealers. Located in a spacious resort, a pleasant battle begins with rival dealers that will make you relieved! Throw the “highest comedy” and a story that makes you cry when you least expect it, these cute and sexy girls will explode from your screen! With everyone cheering, “Leave it to Rio!”, Lady Luck will also be with you! Less
C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control
Episodes: 11 | Studio: Tatsunoko Production | Year: 2011
This gambling anime series depicts a world called the Financial District. Here, people who are desperate to play games have a chance to get rich. Money is the most important thing in Kimimaro Yoga’s life whether he likes it or not. While he could barely raise enough money to eat, his friends lived in luxury. One day, he got a strange offer from a visitor named Masakaki. Masakaki wants him to come to the Eastern Financial District, a place where he can have as much money as he wants if he is willing to exchange “his future” – whatever that means. He was reluctant to accept and become an Entre, someone who was expected to participate in repeated gambling battles. While the Eastern Financial District is technically part of another dimension, what happens there has more consequences for the real world than Yoga expects.
Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku: The Legend of Koizumi
Episodes: 3 | Studio: TYO Animations| Year: 2010
What if world famous leaders gather to play mahjong – and the loser must do whatever the winner asks, where important political decisions are made through the mahjong game. this is a gambling anime called Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku: The Legend of Koizumi.
This anime uses the Pope, Kim Jong Il, George W. Bush, Vladamir Putin, Junichirou Koizumi, and other real-world figures. and filled with political jokes, excessive humor, and unexpected twists. Because this is a parody of the political climate in 2010, this anime can feel a little out of date for some modern viewers. But if you are too young to know much about politics at the time, this anime has something to teach you – and if you remember, a little explosion from the past never hurt anyone.
One Outs
Episodes: 25 | Studio: Madhouse | Year: 2008-2009
Most anime talk about mahjong, “One Outs” combines sports and gambling in ways that might make you think. The plot revolves around Toua Tokuchi is a professional throwing athlete who spends his time playing “One Outs”, a simplified version of baseball.
This story is about a failed baseball team named Lycaons. Desperate to save the team, Hiromichi Kojima recruited Toua to replace Saikyou Saitama Lycaons, the weakest team in the country. To make things interesting, Toua proposes an unusual contract: Every time Toua wins, the manager must pay him 5,000,000 yen as a prize. But every time Toua lost, he himself had to pay 50,000,000 yen to Saikawa. This put Toua in a strange situation, because, instead of just focusing on the opposing team, he also had to outsmart his own manager. As a result, you will see a lot of planning, strategy, and mind games.
Saki
Episodes: 25 | Studio: Gonzo, Picture Magic | Year: 2009
Gambling can be a bad subject, and because of that a lot of anime about it feels more serious and dramatic. but different from most other gambling anime because anime saki is quite entertaining and fun when watching it.
The story is about a girl named Saki Miyanaga. He hates mahjong because of unpleasant memories from his childhood. However, things changed sharply when a friend invited him to become part of the school mahjong club. a lot of chaos and excitement when he was in the club.
Legendary Gambler Tetsuya
Episodes: 20 | Studio: Toei Animation | Year: 2000-2001
Japan is falling apart after the Second World War, precisely in 1947 is not an easy time to live in Shinjuku. Salaries are very small, many people are not able to meet the basic needs needed to survive. One way is to live a decent life, they turn to gambling to survive.
Young Tetsuya is one of the skilled players who survived illegal gambling that always wins. Unfortunately, one day everything changed until Boushu-san appeared. and beating Tetsuya honestly, Tetsuya realized that he still had a lot to learn about mahjong and become a great mahjong player.
Usogui
Episodes: 1 (OVA) | Studio: Shueisha |
Baku “Usogui” Madarame is a brilliant gambler who uses his own life as a bet. This deadly gambler is monitored by the Kagerou organization to ensure that there is no fraud and debt is paid in every gambling and also as a neutral party.
Mahjong Hishō-den: Naki no Ryū
Episodes: 3 | Year : 1988 – 1990 | Studio: Gainax, Magic Bus
If you are a gambling-themed anime fans who wish to polish the 80’s knowledge of anime, Mahjong Hishō-den: Naki no Ryu is an option. The following three episode OVA Ryuu, also known as the Crying Dragon. Ryuu is talented mahjong player who often take yakuza members. He always uses the same finishing move to defeat his opponents – a step called ron that requires him to wait for his opponents to lay down their tiles.
The Indonesian Anime Times
