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賭ケグルイ / Kakegurui #1
Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler, Vol. 1
Hyakkaou Private Academy. An institution for the privileged with a very peculiar curriculum. You see, when you're the sons and daughters of the wealthiest of the wealthy, it's not athletic prowess or book smarts that keep you ahead. It's reading your opponent-the art of the deal. What better way to hone those skills than with a rigorous curriculum of gambling?
At Hyakkaou Private Academy, the winners live like kings, and the losers are put through the wringer. But when Yumeko Jabami enrolls, she's gonna teach these kids what a high roller really looks like!
At Hyakkaou Private Academy, the winners live like kings, and the losers are put through the wringer. But when Yumeko Jabami enrolls, she's gonna teach these kids what a high roller really looks like!
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2014
203 people are currently reading
2746 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews
September 8, 2022
I knew I had to read this, see this, in other words, devour it as soon as I saw a kakegurui fmv. It includes all of my favourite features, including strong female characters, moral dilemmas, a compelling antagonist, and, most all, card games.🫶
February 1, 2025
I watched the Kakegurui anime and its spin off a few years ago and I really enjoyed them, so it’s fun to dive back into this world.
Homura Kawamoto clearly put a lot of research into the gambling for this series, so each gambling scene feels very realistic and it’s explained really well for the audience. I personally found that the anime sometimes went over my head when it was explaining the gambling, so it was nice to be able to slow down and read the gambling scenes more thoroughly in this written format.
None of these characters are 100% likeable, which is normally a problem for me, but with the stakes of the gambling so high, the unlikeable characters in the series really work. I only started to truly like any of the characters in season two of the anime, so there’s a long way to go before I personally find these characters redeemable, but luckily my enjoyment of the series isn’t hindered by that.
The one major flaw to this series in both the manga and the anime format is the sexualization of minors. The manga is somehow better and worse in this regard. There’s a ton more imagery of sexualized minors in the manga. It ranges from high schoolers being shown with no clothes and just hair covering the bits to nonstop under the skirt angles. However, there is no audio in this manga that make the high schoolers sexualized through audio cues. It’s hard to say which is worse but truthfully this series would be loads better if it didn’t sexualize the characters.
I’ve heard that the plot of season two of the anime is very different from the manga, so I’m excited to keep reading this series to see how the manga and anime differ.
Homura Kawamoto clearly put a lot of research into the gambling for this series, so each gambling scene feels very realistic and it’s explained really well for the audience. I personally found that the anime sometimes went over my head when it was explaining the gambling, so it was nice to be able to slow down and read the gambling scenes more thoroughly in this written format.
None of these characters are 100% likeable, which is normally a problem for me, but with the stakes of the gambling so high, the unlikeable characters in the series really work. I only started to truly like any of the characters in season two of the anime, so there’s a long way to go before I personally find these characters redeemable, but luckily my enjoyment of the series isn’t hindered by that.
The one major flaw to this series in both the manga and the anime format is the sexualization of minors. The manga is somehow better and worse in this regard. There’s a ton more imagery of sexualized minors in the manga. It ranges from high schoolers being shown with no clothes and just hair covering the bits to nonstop under the skirt angles. However, there is no audio in this manga that make the high schoolers sexualized through audio cues. It’s hard to say which is worse but truthfully this series would be loads better if it didn’t sexualize the characters.
I’ve heard that the plot of season two of the anime is very different from the manga, so I’m excited to keep reading this series to see how the manga and anime differ.
June 25, 2017
This is so good. Holy shiz. The art style, the story, the characters are all so compelling. School for gamblers? Yup! You heard that right. That's what this manga is about. Yumeko, the Kakegurui, is just amazing. There's no such thing as luck when she's gambling. She's all about wits and intelligence; she has me rooting for her 'till the end!
September 10, 2017
This is basically Prison School + gambling - boys.
October 23, 2021
I really like the story and the characters but I am so sick of all the panty shots. It’s gross and weird.
September 7, 2023
WAS WAR DAS 😂 ich liebe es
August 28, 2020
girls who gamble ❤️📈 yumeko going 310 million yen in debt is still so satisfying to me. suzui useless as always....... missing when mary used him as a footrest 💔
September 2, 2017
Well that escalated quickly.
September 14, 2015
This is one of those manga series set at a school where the student council behaves like a fascist dictatorship and the teachers pay no attention. In this case the council has turned the entire school into a gambling den where the students (all scions of rich and important families) bet small fortunes with each other. Those students who sink too far into debt become slaves that anyone at school can boss around.
Our protagonist is Yumeko Jabami, a new transfer student with mysterious goals and a love of gambling. She quickly enrolls one of the underdog slaves, a boy named Suzui, as her sidekick and together they set out to take down the school's top players.
If this sounds a bit like Kaiji, that's probably because this is a blatant rip-off. The first game Jabami plays is even a variant on restricted rock-paper-scissors. The one major difference (besides having a largely female cast) is that Kaiji was always on the ropes until he could find a way to squeak out a win, whereas Jabami has an aloof self-assurance that makes her eventual victory a foregone conclusion. When Kaiji lost the first round of a game, it always seemed possible that he'd keep on losing, whereas with Jabami you can tell she's just using the loss to figure out her opponent's strategy. Part of that has to do with perspective. In Kaiji we were always in the main character's head, following his panicked thoughts as he analyzed whatever tight predicament he found himself in, but here the POV character is Suzui, who serves as a Watson, making Jabami a distant and inscrutable Holmes figure. Instead of knowing what her strategy is from the get-go and being kept in suspense over whether it'll work, we only find out her plan after it's already succeeded.
But if you're the sort of person who loves these kind of game-theory-from-hell stories, a little unoriginality doesn't matter. It's still a fun read with gorgeous art.
Our protagonist is Yumeko Jabami, a new transfer student with mysterious goals and a love of gambling. She quickly enrolls one of the underdog slaves, a boy named Suzui, as her sidekick and together they set out to take down the school's top players.
If this sounds a bit like Kaiji, that's probably because this is a blatant rip-off. The first game Jabami plays is even a variant on restricted rock-paper-scissors. The one major difference (besides having a largely female cast) is that Kaiji was always on the ropes until he could find a way to squeak out a win, whereas Jabami has an aloof self-assurance that makes her eventual victory a foregone conclusion. When Kaiji lost the first round of a game, it always seemed possible that he'd keep on losing, whereas with Jabami you can tell she's just using the loss to figure out her opponent's strategy. Part of that has to do with perspective. In Kaiji we were always in the main character's head, following his panicked thoughts as he analyzed whatever tight predicament he found himself in, but here the POV character is Suzui, who serves as a Watson, making Jabami a distant and inscrutable Holmes figure. Instead of knowing what her strategy is from the get-go and being kept in suspense over whether it'll work, we only find out her plan after it's already succeeded.
But if you're the sort of person who loves these kind of game-theory-from-hell stories, a little unoriginality doesn't matter. It's still a fun read with gorgeous art.
December 5, 2019
5/12/19
Such a great manga! A bit more 'revealing' than the anime, but not like that's such a surprise. There's some mystery here as to the inside workings of the council and more interestingly who the heck Yumeko really is. I love the thrill of the gambling as well as how savage Yumeko is when you goes full on crazy mode, lmao!
I started watching season two of the anime a couple of months ago, but lost interest because it started being rather repetitive in nature i.e. Yumeko gambles with someone, finds out their trick, exposes them, rinse and repeat. I think I might just continue only with the manga and see if there is more of a development in terms of the story.
13/9/19
I watched the anime of Kakegurui when it first came out and absolutely loved it. Very excited how the manga compares to that :)
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Such a great manga! A bit more 'revealing' than the anime, but not like that's such a surprise. There's some mystery here as to the inside workings of the council and more interestingly who the heck Yumeko really is. I love the thrill of the gambling as well as how savage Yumeko is when you goes full on crazy mode, lmao!
I started watching season two of the anime a couple of months ago, but lost interest because it started being rather repetitive in nature i.e. Yumeko gambles with someone, finds out their trick, exposes them, rinse and repeat. I think I might just continue only with the manga and see if there is more of a development in terms of the story.
13/9/19
I watched the anime of Kakegurui when it first came out and absolutely loved it. Very excited how the manga compares to that :)
You can find me on
Youtube | Instagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Website
March 22, 2020
Ooh, a guilty pleasure! In this over-the-top series, our point-of-view character is Ryota Suzui, a loser who has found himself on the bottom of the caste system at his private high school where all the students are socially ranked by how well they do at the mandatory extra-curricular gambling. Like Food Wars!, Vol. 1 there are a lot of challenges and contests between the students, but the fan service is much creepier here, with lots of upskirt- and panty-shots.
Most of those shots are provided by the Mary Sue transfer student, Yumeko Jabami. A compulsive gambler who takes sexual pleasure from risk and rewards, she disrupts the status quo by placing big bets and turning the tables on the rigged games of the student body's big shots.
This could be fun to follow for a while, but alas, my library has only the first volume, and I'm not sure if it is worth buying. Hmm...
Most of those shots are provided by the Mary Sue transfer student, Yumeko Jabami. A compulsive gambler who takes sexual pleasure from risk and rewards, she disrupts the status quo by placing big bets and turning the tables on the rigged games of the student body's big shots.
This could be fun to follow for a while, but alas, my library has only the first volume, and I'm not sure if it is worth buying. Hmm...
February 25, 2016
Quick thoughts: Interesting premise that's held back a bit for the sake of a more accessible formula. I wish there was more straight up game skill. The concept of evaluating intuition via gambling loses steam with so much cheating going on.
That said, The game variations are interesting, as are the various "methods" of play. Yumeko is both compelling and rather disturbing at the same time, and a strong lead. 3.5 rounded down. I'll likely be continuing.
That said, The game variations are interesting, as are the various "methods" of play. Yumeko is both compelling and rather disturbing at the same time, and a strong lead. 3.5 rounded down. I'll likely be continuing.
February 22, 2022
Well this was just a chaotic gambling delight! I loved it!
RTC
RTC
July 9, 2020
I love this anime because it's (excuse my language) bat shit crazy and takes gambling to the extreme while criticizing capitalism. It's a great ride and I enjoyed the story a lot more in this format than I expected.
I am unsure if I enjoy the character design of Yumeko and Suzui (Ryota) in this (their face shapes are different and features) than the anime, and I am not a big fan of how the author represents the laughing/chuckling in this as opposed to the real thing in the anime/real life.
I am unsure if I enjoy the character design of Yumeko and Suzui (Ryota) in this (their face shapes are different and features) than the anime, and I am not a big fan of how the author represents the laughing/chuckling in this as opposed to the real thing in the anime/real life.
June 29, 2017
I'm not a fan of gambling, but I do love a good revenge story, and this has some nice ones as Yumeko unmasks the cheaters one by one.
Full review eventually appearing on ANN.
Full review eventually appearing on ANN.
July 16, 2019
I adore Yumeko and everything about this anime series!
November 5, 2022
My Rating: 4 stars
"To make your ambitions come true, you have to take risks."
This book was made for the hot girls of the world and the hot girls only. Compulsive gambler? So true. Yumeko is one for the girls. I resonate with her energetically I love her so much. She even had some shit to say about capitalism which made me respect her even more.
Some of the shit in this book was sus as hell (tell me why I opened the first page just to see a girl with her boobs out) and I felt a little weird whenever they'd have pics from the perspective of the audience looking up the girls' skirts, but the book was good enough that I was able to overlook those lmfao.
This has to be the only manga so far that I've read that made me actively want to read the sequels. (Good thing I have volume 2 sitting in my house rn!) Overall, this is a win for the hot girl society
"To make your ambitions come true, you have to take risks."
This book was made for the hot girls of the world and the hot girls only. Compulsive gambler? So true. Yumeko is one for the girls. I resonate with her energetically I love her so much. She even had some shit to say about capitalism which made me respect her even more.
Some of the shit in this book was sus as hell (tell me why I opened the first page just to see a girl with her boobs out) and I felt a little weird whenever they'd have pics from the perspective of the audience looking up the girls' skirts, but the book was good enough that I was able to overlook those lmfao.
This has to be the only manga so far that I've read that made me actively want to read the sequels. (Good thing I have volume 2 sitting in my house rn!) Overall, this is a win for the hot girl society
November 23, 2021
کاکگوروی قلبمه
و به قول مانگاکاش که گفت شاید اونقدرم بد نباشه که حیوون خونگی بانوی باکمالاتی مثل سائوتومه باشم و ازم سوءاستفاده کنه، شاید اونقدر بد نباشه که همهی زندگیمو توی همچین مدرسهی قماری که رئیس شورای دانشآموزیش کیراری باشه از دست بدم😔
و به قول مانگاکاش که گفت شاید اونقدرم بد نباشه که حیوون خونگی بانوی باکمالاتی مثل سائوتومه باشم و ازم سوءاستفاده کنه، شاید اونقدر بد نباشه که همهی زندگیمو توی همچین مدرسهی قماری که رئیس شورای دانشآموزیش کیراری باشه از دست بدم😔
June 28, 2025
Quite entertaining. A manga for teenagers, to stir up their hormones even more 😂
I'm fascinated by the concept—an academy of vice (focused on gambling and bets).
I had already seen the anime, which I quite liked. The comic seems pretty similar in terms of plot.
I'm fascinated by the concept—an academy of vice (focused on gambling and bets).
I had already seen the anime, which I quite liked. The comic seems pretty similar in terms of plot.
May 24, 2025
man i love heavily detailed games,, yumeko is insane but why is this so interesting
September 18, 2018
Reading this just reminded me more about actually watching the anime adaptation for this. Even though gambling goes over my head, reading about Hyakkaou's structure sucked me in despite its cruelty. I ADORE how Yumeko is written. She may appear innocent, but it's very clear she has something darker inside her and Kawamoto did an excellent job at showing it at various points. Naomura's art is also very detailed and sophisticated (minus the few panty shots), especially when things go off the rails.
My only problem with this volume is that it was kind of slow (especially since this is adapted into almost three full episodes), plus I'm not sure where Suzui is going to fall in this story outside of being an observer. Regardless, this was fun and I'm looking forward to seeing the anime whenever I get around to it.
P.S. I did not expect to laugh as hard as I did during the Yumeko Maid Cafe bonus comic.
My only problem with this volume is that it was kind of slow (especially since this is adapted into almost three full episodes), plus I'm not sure where Suzui is going to fall in this story outside of being an observer. Regardless, this was fun and I'm looking forward to seeing the anime whenever I get around to it.
P.S. I did not expect to laugh as hard as I did during the Yumeko Maid Cafe bonus comic.
July 8, 2021
watched the anime first and the manga is so so much better! i liked the show but it was confusing with all the different games, but the manga explains the rules and progression of the games so well! i love the art and the high tension made this so addictive, i’ll definitely be reading more.
October 14, 2021
You know you're about to lose all your fortune when yumeko gives "the look".
[Will insert the image/gif later so y'all can see exactly what I'm talking about]
The artwork is pretty but you can see clearly a man made them. Regardless of that, I found the story and illustrations good.
[Will insert the image/gif later so y'all can see exactly what I'm talking about]
The artwork is pretty but you can see clearly a man made them. Regardless of that, I found the story and illustrations good.
January 18, 2022
2.5/5
The premise sounded very interesting and I understand why it's a well-liked series but in the end not for me.
The premise sounded very interesting and I understand why it's a well-liked series but in the end not for me.
June 19, 2022
absolute slay i love the artwork😭
June 17, 2023
stan queen kirari
May 19, 2023
Das war mal überraschend sehr cool! Ich bin echt begeistert von der Protagonistin und will mehr von ihr sehen.
September 13, 2024
We love a compulsive gambler
August 18, 2021
This is so addicting I loved the anime so I decided to try out the manga and it’s so good the art is amazing
August 4, 2017
Going into this I was already expecting to like it, not hate or love but just generally like the series and think it was overall good. But MAAAN was I wrong. I did read the first three vols. and enjoy them but that wouldn't have happened if it hadn't been for how the first volume blew me away.
The art is quite pleasing overall but what I believe really deserves a praise is how the artist, Toru Naomura, is able to draw expressions and bring out the most in the characters. While most of the panels have a clean cut feel to them the panels in which players lose and some go mad with gambling are really detailed and well done. You get the feeling of anguish and defeat from certain characters and also think, "wow that girl looks bat-shit crazy" from others. From the shading to the creases in the face, the art is damn well pleasing in a lot of panels/pages in which the most intense play in a game takes place.
While other gambling stories have been done (Kaiji/No game no life) this one does have a bit of a twist making it just as interesting in my opinion. The story takes place in a private academy for the rich or those "lucky" enough to get in. While they do take regular classes, the students' main focus revolves around gambling and how well they can handle money and just as well cheat their way into more money. There is a social class system in which some do have a greater gamble prowess allowing them into the high ranks while others are named house pets doomed to serve others as a servants or playthings. There is a bit of a cliché in how a new person comes a long and does begin to shake things up a bit. The first volume is a bit fast paced but in a good way making you feel like you're in there gambling with the characters as well. The intensity does stick throughout the first volume as well as the other two volumes.
One thing I like was the variety of games in which one can gamble, taking rock paper scissors to a whole other level. It is also interesting getting to see how each character has a specific game they play as well as a specific cheat they use. The characters also unfold pretty quickly into the types of characters they are through said games which is pretty cool.
Overall this is a great series so far and I would recommend checking it out. The art is quite amazing, the way you learn about different ways of gambling is cool and the pacing is great. Personally I couldn't help but try and figure out how certain characters were cheating while also feeling like I was right there gambling myself!
The art is quite pleasing overall but what I believe really deserves a praise is how the artist, Toru Naomura, is able to draw expressions and bring out the most in the characters. While most of the panels have a clean cut feel to them the panels in which players lose and some go mad with gambling are really detailed and well done. You get the feeling of anguish and defeat from certain characters and also think, "wow that girl looks bat-shit crazy" from others. From the shading to the creases in the face, the art is damn well pleasing in a lot of panels/pages in which the most intense play in a game takes place.
While other gambling stories have been done (Kaiji/No game no life) this one does have a bit of a twist making it just as interesting in my opinion. The story takes place in a private academy for the rich or those "lucky" enough to get in. While they do take regular classes, the students' main focus revolves around gambling and how well they can handle money and just as well cheat their way into more money. There is a social class system in which some do have a greater gamble prowess allowing them into the high ranks while others are named house pets doomed to serve others as a servants or playthings. There is a bit of a cliché in how a new person comes a long and does begin to shake things up a bit. The first volume is a bit fast paced but in a good way making you feel like you're in there gambling with the characters as well. The intensity does stick throughout the first volume as well as the other two volumes.
One thing I like was the variety of games in which one can gamble, taking rock paper scissors to a whole other level. It is also interesting getting to see how each character has a specific game they play as well as a specific cheat they use. The characters also unfold pretty quickly into the types of characters they are through said games which is pretty cool.
Overall this is a great series so far and I would recommend checking it out. The art is quite amazing, the way you learn about different ways of gambling is cool and the pacing is great. Personally I couldn't help but try and figure out how certain characters were cheating while also feeling like I was right there gambling myself!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 317 reviews