The Best Anime for Gambling Lovers

In this digital age, there is practically no shortage of entertainment, especially for people who are fond of surfing the internet. However, there are two particular forms of entertainment that have been around for the longest time. First, there is gambling. This is a recreational activity that has been practiced by cultures and civilizations from the earliest dawns of history. Over the millennia, gambling has evolved to become one of the most lucrative industries in the world, especially when you take into consideration the proliferation of online casinos which have made the hobby more accessible and convenient for anyone with an internet connection. These casinos are filled with a bunch of different digital versions of traditional games that you would find in a typical land-based casino floor.

Another very popular form of entertainment is Japanese anime.                 In fact, anime is so popular that an estimated 3.5% of the global population watches anime on a regular basis. There are some popular titles out there as far as anime is concerned like Death Note, Attack on Titan, and My Hero Academia. But there are some select anime shows that appeal to a certain market: gamblers. These kinds of shows represent the perfect marriage between two pastimes that have amassed a substantial commercial following. People who love to gamble and who also love anime will surely enjoy watching shows about a hobby that they regularly indulge in themselves.

Again, there are so many different anime shows that are being broadcasted around the world, but in this list, we are going to focus on specific anime that are centered around the activity of gambling.

Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler

Out of all the shows on this list, it makes the most sense to start with Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler. It’s a Netflix-produced show that is based on the gambling mantra series called Homura Kawamoto. The show is set in Hyakkaou Private Academy that oversees the gambling skills development of their pupils. Students are trained and bred to become the fiercest and most competitive gamblers in the world. The main plot of the story follows the life of      Yumeko Jabami. She is an attractive freshman transfer with a dark air of mystery surrounding her persona. As the story develops, Yumeko discovers more about her skills and values as a gambler and how she fits into the world that she’s been thrust into.

Legendary Gambler Tetsuya

The Legendary Gambler Tetsuya is another example of a popular anime that was inspired by a hit manga that ran back in the 90s. The series revolves around the life story of Tetsuya, a talented gambler who found success in post-World War II Japan. His game of choice is mahjong and he is incredibly masterful at the psychological aspect of the game. He also isn’t afraid of gaining a competitive advantage in the sport by bending a few rules here and there.

Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor

This popular anime is based on the hit manga by famed author Nobuyuki Fukumoto back in 1996. The manga was eventually republished in 2017 and has inspired this innovative show about Kaiji, the main protagonist of the series. The show ran for a total of 26 episodes from 2007 to 2008 and was a big hit among the anime community. Following the good critical reception of the show, a sequel called Kaiji: Against All Rules was eventually developed along with a live-action movie trilogy spanning over a decade. The central plot of the story revolves around Kaiji, whose succession of bad financial decisions have led him down the dark hole of debt. He turns to gambling as his ticket to financial freedom and the story follows his misadventures.

Saki

The last show on this list is a hit show that also follows a female protagonist. It ran for a total of 25 episodes back in 2009 and is still revisited by many anime fans even today. It follows the story of Saki Miyanaga whose life has been constantly hounded by the sport of mahjong to the point where it has caused her some serious emotional and psychological traumas. However, after being urged by her friend to join her school’s mahjong club, she discovers skills and talents that she never knew she had and this leads her down a gambling road that’s rife with excitement, drama, and exhilaration.