The term “Gambling anime” sure sounds interesting. But what exactly is it and how do you actually define it? In our case, gambling means playing a game by placing a bet and taking a risk in hope of a desired result.
Gambling in anime is pretty exceptional because it can provide excitement without you actually losing money. In this world where great minds battle for high stakes, we brought you a list of the best gambling anime you can ever find and some of them are even available on Netflix!
Best Gambling Anime Recommendations!
10. Rio: Rainbow Gate!
The story takes place in the “Howard Resort Hotel” where people from all around the world gather to grab fortunes. Rio is the most sexiest dealer in the whole Casino and known as “Goddess of Victory.”
The one who can gather 13 gate cards from her will be given the title of the most valuable casino dealer. Hence, the game between the gamblers begins while they try to win these gate cards.
Firstly, fanservice should never be an aspect to judge a certain anime. That’s because some of my favorite anime like Fire Force and Food Wars are judged way too much just based on Fan Service.
This anime has been on the same ship but if you see it the other way, it is pretty entertaining. It also depends on how much you like gambling stuff in anime to actually enjoy this one.
9. Dorei-ku: The Animation
When her best friend’s boyfriend, Yuuga Oota dumps her for a man, Eiya Arakawa suggests meeting him in persona nd somehow they both discover their intellects. He introduces her to a game with Slave Control Method concept.
In this game, when two players enter a duel, the devices influence the loser to bend to the will of the winner. Although seems entertaining at first, soon Eiya finds herself entangled in a more dangerous game than she could ever imagine.
First things first, this anime has a pretty cool concept but also a few plot holes and way too many characters. Since it has its own uniqueness in executing the concept in such a good way, we can let these small mistakes slide.
There is a lot of ecchi and that’s why the reviews on the anime are not that good. I’m a kind of person who finds positive even in a worst-rated anime. So, obviously, I enjoyed this anime thoroughly.
8. Mardock Scramble
To stop the unstoppable and unkillable enemy, you need some who’s life no longer has a meaning and knows the methods of the enemy better than anyone. That’s how Rune Balot was reborn as a Cyborg.
When she was alive, she was given everything by one person, and later when she has come to know of his shady things, she was murdered. Now as a female cyborg, she only exists for one reason: to track him down and bring him to justice.
Mardock Scramble is not an anime series but a trio of anime movies. Judging from the synopsis, it doesn’t seem like a gambling anime at all. Well, it isn’t but here, gambling of minds plays the key role.
So many lives are at stake, the villain is unstoppable with his tricks and it only gets tougher to beat him. It’s more of an action sci-fi anime with a few mind games in it.
7. Akagi
On a stormy night, a desperate man finds himself in a tough situation by playing Mahjong with the Yakuza people. If he loses the game, his death is inevitable, and just when he was about to lose hope, a teenage boy makes his entry.
Drenched in rain, the boy is allowed to watch the game between them, and soon, he offers to play in place of the desperate man. After his first taste of Mahjong that night, the Legend is born who later gets entangled with the underworld for money and reputation.
Seriously, Akagi is one of the manliest shows I’ve come across. The quality of the show reminds me of Death Note as it is pretty solid and has the feel of originality. Seinen fans would enjoy the first half of the series without limits.
Well, the second isn’t bad but it just dwells away from the whole concept of the anime but you’ll enjoy it thoroughly. If you’re aren’t a person who gets bothered by the slow pace, it will become one of the best gambling anime you’ll ever see.
6. Legendary Gambler Tetsuya
The story takes place in the year 1947 and the people of Shinjuku are left with little money and no food. To avoid this crisis, most of them resort to gambling and it seems like the only way to survive.
Tetsuya spends his time wiping the floor at Mahjong parlors but when he meets Boushu-san who is intensely skilled in gambling, he discovers his skills. Does he have what it takes to become a legendary gambler?
The most interesting part of the anime is the main character Tetsuya. He is an excellent gambler and throughout the story, his character development is excellent as he tries to play against others.
If you can understand the finer aspects of cheating, I’d say, this show is absolutely yours. It is very fun to watch due to numerous facts and a combination of good concepts and awesome execution.
5. No Game No Life
Sora and Shiro are two siblings as well as an unbeatable duo in any kind of game. They are also known as “BLANK” in the gaming community and when they defeat an anonymous person in a game of chess, they get transported to another world.
In this world, everything is decided by games whether they be gambling or action-packed ones. Could it be an any better world for gamers?
No Game No Life is not completely a gambling anime but every game is at high stakes in this anime. It almost gives you the same feeling as if you’re watching a gambling anime.
So, if you’re looking for some good anime about gambling with a little ecchi scenes, then this one is a must-watch.
4. Kakegurui
Hyakkou Private Academy is an institution where you get trampled if you’re weak. The wealthiest of wealthy students are not determined by athletic prowess or book smarts but by beating your opponent.
Is there any better way to hone those skills than gambling? The winners live like kings and the losers stay losers forever. Then, Yumeko Jabami enrolls into the academy to teach these kids what real gambling looks like.
If you’re looking for a gambling girl anime rather than a usual gambling anime, you’ve stumbled upon the perfect one. This anime is a bit weird because you’ll come across a few erotic scenes.
But that’s just as fan service and the whole anime comes with amazing twists and turns. It wouldn’t be fair to say that’ll you’ll be wanting to know what happens next at the end of every epsiode.
3. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
Kaiji Itou spends his days drinking and when he gets cheated by his former co-worker, he can’t pay the debts he owns to his friend. Then he is offered a shady deal to participate in illegal gambling on a ship.
Although it seems like an easy way to earn money, it is just a new beginning of hell in his life. Watch how Kaiji gets through mind games, cheating, and deceit while the anime tells the human capabilities when their backs are against the wall.
Watching Kaiji can actually put you in an intense spot where you can’t afford to take breaks between episodes. The anime’s premise is so heated and just by watching it, you’ll feel pretty much stressed out.
The games are smart and intriguing while being dangerous on the other end. Literally, a single false step for our main characters puts in a never-ending fight & misery. If you’re into intense gambling anime shows, then this one is for you.
2. Death Parade
Death Parade story takes place neither in heavean nor in hell. When someone dies, they are sent to a place known as Quindecim and they had to follow a simple rule: if you win the games, you live and if you lose, you gone for good.
Decim is the bartender and he isn’t just to serve but to judge who gets to live. To him, the decisions were always easy until one day he met a mysterious woman whose fate seemed impossible to judge.
This one is an odd ball anime which you can’t out in a specific genre. The animation is what makes it truly an anime because MADHOUSE nailed it as usual. Often, it feels nothing in this anime is right.
Everything is unsual and impressive in this anime and the reason it is on the list is because everything is decided by high stakes games. So, if you’re looking for a good gambling anime, go for it.
1. One Outs
Baseball legend Kojima have won all the awards he can except for one: The Championship. To make his dream come true, he opens a training camp in Okinawa region.
There he meets Toua Tokuchi who plays baseball as gambling. He’ll join on one condition: instead of salary, he’ll receive five million yen for each out and lose fifty million if he loses a point.
Gambling in Baseball? Sure sounds interesting, doesn’t it? A mastermind MC with insane baseball skills and trust me, this anime is not like anything you’ve seen until now.
Even though you know nothing about baseball, you’ll love everything about it. You’ll probably binge-watch the entire anime in a day and feel empty for finishing it too soon.
Conclusive Thoughts!
To be honest, I didn’t watch enough gambling anime to make this list and that’s why it was tough. But somehow we managed to pull off this list containing these amazing anime series.
If you have been watching these anime about gambling for a longtime, you might find a few new ones on the list too. So, we hope you enjoyed the article and if you have queries, feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
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