Whether it’s quitting a stable job to chase a dream or putting your heart on the line in a relationship—we’ve all taken a gamble. The thrill you feel when you take such gambles is unmatched. Gambling anime take this feeling of thrill and crank it up to 100—one wrong move, and it’s game over!
There aren’t that many gambling anime, but the ones that are out there always have a cool story. Whether it’s money, pride, or even their own lives on the line, these characters go all in. And it makes for some serious entertainment. If you’ve never watched a gambling anime, you’re missing out on a lot. They can be more nail-biting than the most epic battle anime. Whether you enjoy gambling or not, you’re going to love our selection of the five best anime about gambling.
5. Legendary Gambler Tetsuya
Legendary Gambler Tetsuya is the most underrated gambling anime on this list. Set in post-WWII Japan, this series sends you into the underground Mahjong parlors of Shinjuku. Unlike some other well-known Mahjong series like Akagi or Saki, Tetsuya adds a darker and more realistic layer to the gambling scene.
Tetsuya follows Asada Tetsuya as he learns all about professional gambling and, more than that, how to cheat. The story is about cheaters navigating a dirty world where only the clever survive. As Tetsuya face-offs against various opponents, each skilled in their own brand of deception, he learns and grows into a gambler who believes, “It’s only cheating if you get caught.”
Here’s what one review said about the anime: “The writer has done a great job of developing the characters and you can feel their hope and despair as they try to make ends meet. However, there are lighter moments to enjoy in the story and The Legend of the Gambler: Tetsuya is a fascinating read and watch.”
4. Death Parade
In the afterlife, there’s no heaven or hell—only a bar where you gamble with your soul at stake. Welcome to Death Parade, where Decim, the calm and mysterious bartender, serves up more than just drinks. The stakes are ultimate: they’ll be reincarnated or sent to the void—essentially erased from existence. The deciding factor? Simple games like darts or bowling. And the twist? These participants are already dead, and they don’t even know that they died. Through these simple games, their darkest secrets and true natures are revealed.
Believe it or not, Death Parade was originally a short film called Death Billiards. But it quickly evolved into this 12-episode masterpiece filled with tension, dark humor, and psychological mind games. The series brilliantly blends mystery, drama, and deep philosophical questions about life, death, and morality, all wrapped in the guise of casual games.
Visually, Death Parade offers a compelling aesthetic that contrasts the dark, moody atmosphere of the bar with the vibrant intensity of the games. One element that pops out in the series is its soundtrack, particularly the upbeat and deceptively lighthearted opening theme, which contrasts sharply with the darker tones of the show itself. Even if you somehow don’t end up watching the anime, we’d recommend you to go watch the OP; it’s pretty rad.
3. Kakegurui
Kakegurui takes the concept of high-stakes gambling and elevates it to the next level. It’s set within the elite Hyakkaou Private Academy, where success depends on only one thing—gambling. Instead of traditional academics, students rise in rank by winning outrageous bets. Losers fall into debt and are branded as “house pets,” forced to serve the elite.
The show is a wild ride, with characters who are just as twisted as the games they play. Yumeko Jabami, our MC, isn’t here to win—she’s here just for the thrill. Every gamble pushes her into terrifyingly insane bets while her opponents unravel in the most deranged and unpredictable ways. The animation captures the madness perfectly. The over-the-top facial expressions, intense close-ups, and chaotic energy make every moment gripping.
The opening and ending songs are absolutely amazing, setting the tone for the crazy vibe that is Kakegurui. If you love gore, intense psychological battles, and weird faces, this anime will be your jam. Here is an excerpt from a review on MyAnimeList that perfectly captures our feelings about the anime: “This anime is totally addictive, especially for the way the characters (mostly Jabami) think. With every episode I can’t wait to discover more about the wicked lifestyle of these rich students and their gambling strategies. It’s truly the best anime of this season and one of the best of its kind.”
If you end up loving the anime like we did, we’d recommend Kakegurui Twin. It’s a 6 episode ONA that follows Mary Saotome’s (a character in Kakegurui) rise in the gambling hierarchy. This one is pretty good as well.
2. One Outs
One Outs blends gambling with baseball, but no worries—this anime is less about sports and more about mind games and psychological warfare. The MC, Toua Tokuchi, is a genius gambler who manipulates his opponents both on and off the field. With a unique contract that turns every pitch into a gamble—earning money for each out and losing it for every run given up—Toua transforms baseball into a high-stakes battle of wits.
The beauty of One Outs lies in how effortlessly it explains the game, so even if you don’t know much about baseball, you’ll still be hooked. The story is all about Toua outsmarting his opponents by bending the rules in his favor while looking all smug doing it. It’s like the game is just a way to show off how clever he is. You’ll be on the edge of your seat as he pulls off crazy strategies time and time again.
One thing the anime could’ve done better is giving us a bit more backstory on Toua, but honestly, that doesn’t take away from the solid plot and thrilling execution. For sports fans, this anime will hit another level of excitement, and we’re ready to gamble and say that it’s a show that won’t disappoint anyone.
And if baseball really isn’t your thing, the same author wrote Liar Game, which dials up the mind games and is just as gripping as One Outs. A Redditor compared the two series in a thread and said: “Then there is One Outs, from the same mangaka as Liar Game. This is a baseball manga but don’t be fooled, underneath the sports skin, this is a mind games manga through and through. The MC is a high IQ pitcher and it’s fun watching him win games by outwitting his opponents. I recommend this even to people who don’t know baseball rules.”
1. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor & Kaiji: Against All Rules
The one series that we’d call the peak of gambling anime is the Kaiji series. This series is split into Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor and its sequel, Kaiji: Against All Rules. It takes the simple premise of gambling and cranks it up to a brutal survival game. The plot? It’s not just about making money; it’s about keeping your sanity. Kaiji is deep in debt, and he gets roped into these twisted, high-stakes games where the rich elite toy with the desperate. The gamble? Win and clear your debt. Lose, and the consequences are far more terrifying than just going broke.
Do you guys know Kaiji was actually one of the inspirations behind the global hit Squid Game? The show’s director, Hwang Dong-hyuk, mentioned that he was heavily influenced by Kaiji, along with some other series, while creating his Netflix masterpiece. Both shows share the theme of using broke and desperate people as pawns in sick, high-risk games where the price of losing isn’t just money but often their lives.
What sets Kaiji apart is that its MC isn’t your overpowered, never-lose kind of hero. Kaiji loses—a lot. And the tension is damn real. The show’s intense atmosphere is boosted by its epic narrator and the ever-present “Zawa Zawa” sound that adds a psychological edge to every scene.
If you end up loving Kaiji, we have another recommendation for you – another series by the same author – Akagi. How Nobuyuki Fukumoto managed to create two of the best gambling anime is beyond us. Akagi is basically Mahjong Kaiji. It’s very similar in art style and general themes, but instead of different games and gambles in Kaiji, it’s about Mahjong.
A Redditor compared the two series in a thread and said: “Both are masterpieces. However, Kaiji has more heavy-handed social commentary, whereas in Akagi the focus is on the character of the very world-weary, stoic protagonist. Also Akagi is all mahjong whereas only one of Kaiji’s arcs has mahjong. I would say watch/read both, but start with Kaiji. Enjoy!”