GACKT, known as the “first-class celebrity” who dabbles in a wide range of activities from singing to acting, has been absorbed with a type of poker,「Texas Hold’em」in these few years. It’s a card game that is played in a casino but it has the perfect balance between a player’s luck and their strategy, and it can be said that more than 100 million people play it all around the world. GACKT first encountered Texas Hold’em 6 years ago, and in an exclusive interview, he said enthusiastically,「There are people who call me a first-class celebrity, and there has to be a good reason why I, as someone who doesn’t gamble at all, am playing poker」.

　Texas Hold’em is different fromt the the 5-Card「Draw Poker」which is widely known in Japan, where out of 7 cards, which consists of 2 in the players own hand and 5 community cards, a player has to make a combination of their strongest possible hand of 5 cards while battling with the other players. If strong cards enter a player’s hand and they’re blessed with great combinations in the community cards, even an amateur can beat top professionals and win billions of yen in year. However, playing it tens or hundreds of times, this becomes a game where professionals with excellent strategies will steadily achieve results.

　GACKT:　6 years ago, when I was on a European tour, I went into a casino in Barcelona, and that was when I first set foot in poker. Until then, I’ve always thought that poker was no different from other forms of gambling, and I think a lot of Japanese think that way too. But in reality, after I tried playing it, it’s actually exceptionally strategic. It made me think, is there really something that’s this enjoyable?

　A gamble is where a participant’s win or loss is decided by luck with a fixed probability. A game is where a player’s win or loss is dependant on the skill or strategy that they use. GACKT’s heart was stolen by this balance between luck and strategy.

　GACKT:　When you lose in a gamble, your annoyance at your opponent can’t be put into words. However, poker is a strategic game, and instead, even if you lose, when you’ve acknowledged that you’ve lose to your opponent’s tactics, you can still give them your respect. This is one of the interesting things about it. After the game, players do often hit the table numerous times but this is to show their respect to their opponent.

　In casinos overseas, many tournaments are held where players can even win top prizes that reach hundreds of millions of yen. Players pay a participation fee and get to win the gathered amount in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place depending on their results. Far from the image of gambling where a player looks at how much they want to bet in one game, it is more appropriate to call it a competition. In future, if the international poker organisation joins the「International Mind Sports Association」, there is a chance for it to be adopted as an Olympic event.

　GACKT:　I wouldn’t say that you have to get to the level of being a professional but there’s no loss in knowing it. I’d like people to taste that tournament atmosphere and feel that tension once. Unlike Shogi or chess, poker is where you have to predict an uncertain future in a situation where you can’t see each other’s cards. If your future prediction for your opponent is one where you think that they can’t beat you, then you absolutely have to win. That’s the interesting part.

　Despite that gambling is prohibited in Japan, Texas Poker itself can be played in cafes where one can enjoy casino games. At the same time, they also hold tournaments that grant you the participation rights for tournaments held overseas.

　GACKT:　Althought I used to gamble, once I touched poker, I didn’t want to do that any more. Compared to letting things get dictated by luck, something strategic is far more enjoyable. If it takes the same amount of time, it’s better if I am able to get a lot in return. In the world, there are people who say that I’m like a first-class celebrity but I definitely would like people to come to know about poker, which I’m still playing until now.

　The world of Texas Hold’em is where gender, age, and of course, social status, becomes irrelevant at the table. If you join the ranks of players, the day where you engage GACKT in battle may even come.

Source: abematimes.com

Translation: GACKT ITALIA Team

Translation © GACKT ITALIA