The best anime about gambling are some of the medium's most engaging and thrilling titles, featuring suspenseful atmospheres and captivating mind games full of surprising tricks and unexpected strategies. Whether the stakes are high or low, these titles make each psychological duel as compelling as some of the best and most memorable anime fights.

As niche as the gambling theme may seem, this medium is creative and diverse enough for creators to figure out a variety of ways to incorporate gambling elements in their storytelling. From grounded stories featuring realistic games and palpable tension, to those distinguished through their fantastical or supernatural twists, every good gambling title leverages its dramatic setting to deliver entertaining twists and thrilling resolutions.

15 Problem Children Are Coming From Another World, Aren’t They? (2013)

Produced by Diomedéa and Based on the Light Novel Series by Tarō Tatsunoko & Yū Amano

Also known as Mondaiji, it's an isekai anime where 3 characters with unique abilities, Izayoi, Asuka, and You, are summoned to the world Little Garden by the adorable aristocrat Black Rabbit. In Little Garden, the residents are divided into communities that engage in high-stakes gambles, competing in challenges known as Gift Games, betting from territory to artifacts, so the mission of the protagonists becomes to help recover a desperate small community which lost its honor, flag, and name.

Even though Mondaiji came out before, it has been overshadowed by the popular series No Game No Life, which is based on a similar premise. This is also due to Mondaiji’s short adaptation, since having only 10 episodes affected its worldbuilding, which is better expanded in the novels. However, Mondaiji is an entertaining anime that stands out for its characters, especially the intellect of Izayoi to win the games and the charisma of Black Rabbit.

14 Rio: Rainbow Gate! (2011)

Produced by Xebec and Based on the Rio Series of Pachinko Games From Tecmo

The anime Rio: Rainbow Gate was born from a promotional character for pachinko machines and follows a simple premise of a dealer called Rio Rollins who works at the Howard Resort casino and is considered “the goddess of victory,” an idol among the gamblers who believe that meeting her brings good luck in the wagers, following her competitions to collect the 13 gate cards to become the Most Valuable Casino Dealer

The anime is a slice-of-life in the everyday life of a casino, which will appeal to fanservice fans, since Rio's boss requires her to defeat her rivals using some revealing cosplay. However, Rio isn't just looks, as she constantly proves her abilities by competing in different gambling games to get close to her mother's legacy, who was considered one of the best dealers in the world.

13 Mardock Scramble (2010-2012)

Produced by Gohands and Based on the Novel by Tow Ubukata, Illustrated by Katsuya Terada

Mardock Scramble is a series of 3 films in the purest cyberpunk style similar to cult animes such as Ghost in the Shell, following the story of Rune Balot, an abused young girl who is “reconstructed” after being murdered by a sordid millionaire named Shell. The short film trilogy is dark and violent, featuring heavy themes and nudity, which may be uncomfortable for some viewers; however, it's a story about humanity and the search for identity with incredible animation and complex, well-constructed characters.

While the movies have a lot of action scenes, The Second Combustion and The Third Exhaust parts are partly set in a casino, showcasing its internal functioning and emphasizing the mentality and emotion presented in games like roulette and poker, as well as the high stakes and gambling tactics to have big earnings.

12 [C] CONTROL - The Money and Soul of Possibility (2011)

Original Series Produced by Tatsunoko Production

Following Japan's economic collapse, many citizens are suffering from the consequences, with both unemployment and crime rates constantly on the rise. In such a society, Kimimaro Yoga, a troubled university student, dreams of nothing but a stable life. When a mysterious stranger offers him a life-changing amount of money at the cost of his "future", Kimimaro accepts, unaware of the fact that he is about to be pulled into the dangerous world of the Financial District, where the only way to keep his money and protect his future is winning weekly duels called "deals".

[C] CONTROL - The Money and Soul of Possibility shows the lengths that people are willing to go to for money, something that has become as essential to life as the air humans breathe. Despite the story's sci-fi setting, the characters' approach to financial motivations is realistic, and their development is likewise compelling. Moreover, the title also explores real-life economic concepts in a way that makes them simultaneously intriguing and entertaining, blending social commentary with the thrill of high-stakes games.

11 Yu-Gi-Oh! Season Zero (1998)

Produced by Toei Animation & Based on the Manga by Kazuki Takahashi

The little-known first adaptation of Yu-Gi-Oh, based on the beginnings of the manga before the consolidation of the concept of Duel Monsters, showed different types of games, which was to be expected as the series name means the King of games. However, this first installment featured a darker Yami Yugi, since in his first appearances he was more ruthless and sinister, gambling in each match a heavy penalty for the loser in a Game of Shadows, where those who lost were driven to madness.

This high-stakes gambling was later narrowed down when Duel Monsters gained popularity, putting aside the dark games in each encounter and considerably lowering Yami Yugi's cruelty and the general violence of the series. However, with only 27 episodes and a short film, Yu-Gi-Oh season zero is a must-watch anime for fans of the franchise and those who want to see different types of games in another dimension with the sanity of the characters in play.

10 Kakegurui (2017)

Produced by MAPPA and Based on the Manga by Homura Kawamoto & Tooru Naomura

Hyakkaou Private Academy is a prestigious school attended only by the elite, preparing rich students for their likely predetermined careers in business and politics. However, unbeknownst to outsiders, it turns into a completely different establishment at night, akin only to the most questionable gambling dens, replacing the learning subjects with bluffing, deceit, and manipulating people. When Yumeko Jabami transfers into the school, everyone is shocked by her strange personality - she plays not to win, but rather purely to enjoy the thrill of gambling.

Kakegurui is easily one of the most iconic gambling anime, and rightfully so. Nothing about it is even remotely realistic, but the absurdity of the games, the stakes, and the characters' reactions are exactly what makes it so fun to watch. Featuring a diverse cast of characters who are unapologetically addicted to the risk of gambling, as well as a variety of intriguing games and scenarios that surprise viewers with unexpected resolutions, this is undoubtedly one of the most entertaining and underrated anime titles on Netflix.

9 Saki (2009)

Produced by Gonzo & Picture Magic and Based on the Manga by Ritz Kobayashi

Saki Miyanaga has a troubled relationship with mahjong, as her family would always be displeased whether she won or lost. As a result, she developed the rare skill of always maintaining a plus-minus zero score throughout the game, which should be impossible. After being dragged by a friend to her school mahjong's club, Saki's talent stuns her peers, and she ends up experiencing the joy of winning a proper game for the first time. With her newfound love for mahjong and a group of like-minded friends, Saki and the rest of the club aim for the nationals.

Saki tells a surprisingly intense and wonderfully chaotic story about mahjong. Compared to other gambling anime, it features lower stakes and far less tension, opting for a more light-hearted approach instead, but this only serves to give it a more distinct identity. Furthermore, though most may not know it, mahjong is officially recognized as a sport, much like chess, making it one of the most unusual sports anime titles.

8 Tomodachi Game (2022)

Produced by Okuruto Noboru and Based on the Manga by Mikoto Yamaguchi & Yuki Sato

In Tomodachi Game, a group of friends finds themselves involved in a very malicious game in which they risk both their friendship and ending up completely in debt. This way, the anime mixes high-stakes games for money with the value of human relationships, raising the question about how much people can trust in others and what they would be willing to risk for those they value.

For those open to venturing into the manga, Tomodachi Game’s All Bet Arc presents more traditional team-based card gambling with a spin on the players' value.

This intrigue and the fact that the game takes place in a space completely isolated from the normal lives of the protagonists gives the anime the air of a death game, but where it truly shines is in the mind games and twisted psychology of the protagonist, Yuichi Katagiri, who little by little shows that he is not the person he seems, keeping the thrilling expectation of seeing how far he is willing to go.

7 Death Parade (2015)

Original Series Produced by Madhouse

When people think of the afterlife, most will visualize the duality of Heaven and Hell. However, pairs who die at the same time are brought to neither of these places, but rather to Quindecim, a luxurious bar attended by the enigmatic bartender Decim, who also plays the role of the arbiter - deciding whether the souls of the dead are to be reincarnated or banished to the void. The catch is that, while players are convinced that the outcome of the games they play determines their fate, Decim bases his decisions on the behavior they exhibit.

Death Parade focuses on human nature in relation to gambling, showing the thoughts and emotions that people experience when facing the risk of losing games that may as well cost their lives. Beyond the unique setting and intriguing premise, however, it stands out as a thought-provoking title that doesn't hesitate to discuss profound topics that are often ignored, such as existentialism, life and death, and the ambiguity of morality and the inherent difficulty of judgment.

6 Great Pretender (2020)

Original Series Produced by Wit Studio

As a result of unexpected life-changing events, Makoto Edamura has had to turn to petty crime for a living, reaching a point where he takes great pride in his skills as a swindler. However, when he decides to target what appears to be a clueless French tourist, Makoto ends up as the victim instead, falling into the trap set by the more experienced con artist Laurent Thierry, and unwillingly ing him and his eccentric associates in a world of fraud that extends far beyond the scale Makoto is used to.

Although it doesn't revolve entirely around gambling, Great Pretender features similar high-stakes cases and thrilling developments that are often found in gambling anime. Moreover, gambling and betting on different competitions are activities that occur multiple times throughout the series, typically with the intent of showing how such activities can be linked to fraud and deceit. All in all, thanks to its clever writing and captivating action, Great Pretender reminds viewers of what makes the heist genre so entertaining.