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Kakegurui

Title: Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler

Mangaka: Touru Naomura, Kei Saiki, Taku Kawamura, Yuichi Hiiragi

Original Story: Homura Kawamoto

Manga Duration: March 22, 2014 - ongoing

Anime Duration: July 1, 2017 - ongoing

Films: Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler

Manga Spin-offs: Kakegurui Twins, Kakegurui (Kakkokari), Kakegurui Midari

Director: Yuichiro Hayashi, Kiyoshi Matsuda

Episodes: 24

Volumes: 13

Chapters: 75

Genre: Shonen, gambling

Themes: Gambling, addiction, risking it all, the "game of life"

Characters: Yumeko Jabami, Mary Saotome, Ryota Suzui, Kirari Momobami, Ririka Momobami, Sayaka Igarashi, Runa Yomozuki, Itsuki Sumeragi, Midari Ikishima, Yuriko Nishinotouin, Yumemi Yumemite, Kaede Manyuda, the Momobami Clan

LGBT Characters: Kirari Momobami, Sayaka Igarashi, Rei Batsubami

Summary: At an elite high school for the wealthy, the social hierarchy is determined not by your status, but by your gambling skills. Those who come out on top win glory and wealth, while others who don't do well are known as "house pets" and live their lives trying to clear their debts to the student council. Yumeko Jabami, a seemingly bubbly girl transfers to the school. She is determined to stake her claim on the wealth that flows through the academy, no matter what it takes.

Content Warnings: Violence, body horror, guns, gambling addictions, scenes with sexual undertones, a girl is forced to undress but resists, and some sexual innuendos here and there. Also, some gambling scenes can be a little anxiety-inducing, but that was just from my personal experience.

Personal Review: If you like morally gray girls who have a gambling habit, this would be the anime/manga for you. It's not the most deep or complex anime I've ever watched, but I did find it fairly entertaining. Regarding representation, it was okay. However, the explicitly gay characters are introduced as queer in the second season. And lastly, there's Rei, who is an antagonist, but I included them anyway because of their gender non-conforming storyline. I won't spoil their backstory, you'll have to watch the second season if you want to find out more about them as a character.