If there’s one combination of high-stakes drama and storytelling that grips audiences worldwide, it’s gambling anime.
By blending psychological tension, strategic thinking, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, these shows deliver an unforgettable viewing experience.
Here, we’ve put together some of the best gambling anime for you in 2025. Prepare for some high-stakes entertainment!
1. Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor
This is the quintessential gambling anime. Kaiji drops its protagonist, a hapless but resourceful gambler, into situations of life-or-death stakes where his survival depends on sheer wit. If you’re all about mind games and psychological tension, this masterpiece is a must-watch. The series intricately explores the darker sides of human behavior, from betrayal to desperation, making it more than just about gambling .
2. Kakegurui – Compulsive Gambler
Set in a prestigious school where gambling determines social hierarchy, Kakegurui is wild, intense, and utterly captivating. A bold protagonist, Yumeko Jabami, shakes up the system with her audacious love of high-risk bets. Its over-the-top visuals and character expressions add drama to every gambling scene. Plus, the twisted dynamics in the school elevate it to a spectacle no one can ignore.
3. One Outs
This anime merges gambling with baseball, but don’t be deceived by its sports-centric premise. Every pitch in One Outs is a mind game as protagonist Tokuchi, a master strategist, bets more than just the game’s outcome. With its razor-sharp strategies and psychological warfare, this anime keeps you hooked from start to finish.
4. Akagi
For fans of Mahjong and psychological thrillers, Akagi brings its A-game. The show follows Shigeru Akagi, a young gambling prodigy, as he dives into the dangerous underworld of risky bets and calculated moves. The anime’s tension-filled games are a masterclass in psychological depth.
5. Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji (Kaiji Series)
If you loved the first Kaiji series, its sequels expand the universe with even greater stakes and grittier challenges. Follow Kaiji as he finds himself navigating labyrinthine schemes and power plays in the gambling underworld. Every arc deepens the narrative while introducing pulse-pounding matches and unrelenting suspense.
6. Legendary Gambler Tetsuya
Based on real-life events post-WWII, Legendary Gambler Tetsuya explores hustling and survival as the protagonist sharpens his gambling skills. It’s a fascinating mix of reality and fiction. The realism and historical backdrop offer a grounded perspective on gambling.
7. Saki
This anime reinvents Mahjong for a younger audience with high-stakes matches and surprisingly thrilling gameplay. While it leans towards the slice-of-life genre, the gambling tension keeps it engaging. Its lighter tone and strategic matches are a breath of fresh air for the genre.
8. The Liar Game
Although technically a live-action adaptation rather than an anime, The Liar Game deserves an honorary mention here. Centered on manipulation and deceit, participants are thrust into high-stakes games requiring cunning and strategy. The mind-bending twists and focus on human psychology make this series unmissable.
9. Ripple’s Game
Dive into the dark world of revenge-fueled games where players bet everything. While not as mainstream, Ripple’s Game delivers intense gambling tactics and emotional depth. The highly emotional storytelling will have you rooting for characters even through life-altering risks.
10. Usogui
With gritty, dangerous narratives and brilliantly executed game sequences, Usogui explores the underbelly of gambling culture. Unique gambling scenarios paired with groundbreaking animation make it stand out in the genre.
Why You Should Tune In
What makes anime about gambling so captivating? At its heart, these shows highlight human resilience, strategy, and flaws under incredible pressure. Whether you’re drawn to jaw-dropping poker game designs or the layered characters, gambling anime takes storytelling to new levels.
There you have it—the top 10 gambling anime that deserve a spot in your watchlist. Go enjoy!