Is Netflix's new anime adaptation 'Bet' worth watching

Bet is the latest anime to join the Netflix anime roster and has caught the attention of both anime fans and casual viewers. The show’s unique concept and sleek visuals set it apart from the other shows in the ever-growing animated section of the streaming platform. But is it worth watching or is it just another Netflix blackhole?

The premise
Bet follows college dropout Kai Takahashi who is involved in underground high stakes gambling. An attempt to pay off a family debt turns into a multi-layered psychological game with some of the best minds in Tokyo’s gambling underworld. Each episode has enough strategy, psychology and tension to keep you hooked.

The show is about taking calculated risks and the psychology of making gambling choices. The games in each episode are complex, so you need to outsmart rather than outluck your opponents. Some critics have described it as “authentic” and “profound”. In one way, parts of the storyline are like The Daredevils’ Ode to Gallantry, a Chinese classic from 1982.

The visual style and animation
The visual presentation of Bet is one of its strengths. The animation studio responsible for bringing the series to life delivers a neo-noir aesthetic that matches the changing emotional atmosphere of the gambling scenes. The character design is crisp, and the environments, from high-end private clubs to filthy backroom poker games, are rich.

The live action animation remains above average throughout the series, though it is particularly good during the gambling scenes. These scenes employ visual metaphors of imagination, depicting the psychological warfare being waged much in the same way as it occurs in other strategy-intensive animes such as “Death Note” or “Kakegurui”.

Diving into the character development
Ultimately, Bet is a character-driven drama. Kai’s development, from rookie to pro, serves as the series’ heart. The supporting characters are also quite developed. Combined with their various styles and reasons for gambling, they provide for compelling conflicts as well.

The series also delves into the psychological impacts of gambling addiction in a more muted form. Rather than praising the lifestyle, Bet takes time to demonstrate fallout from compulsive behaviour and its effects on one’s relationships and mental well-being. This is responsible storytelling that isn’t preachy.

The cultural accuracy
The detail with which many of the games and bets are played has not gone unnoticed by many gamblers. The realistic play of poker, mahjong and other gambling games indicates that the authors of this series have done some research. Gaming specialists and gambling trend watchers have weighed in regarding how true to life many of the situations in the series really are.

Experts on gambling have similarly noted the realism of the series in terms of the mathematics and psychology involved in choices that professional gamblers must make. Their knowledge of responsible gambling and game theory reinforces much of the strategy presented in the show. The psychological tactics employed in several important scenes are also deployed by professional players, say analysts of behaviour in traditional and internet gambling, who study these tactics.

A responsible gambling view
The series shows us that gambling can be a game of wits, but it also highlights the dangers associated with it. Bet sort of forces us to look at the responsible side of things, where players should practice caution in a betting environment. Betway summarises this sentiment best in its guide to responsible gambling:

"Think of your gambling like driving a car – the tools here will be your brakes, seatbelt, and airbags. Most of the time you won’t even notice them, but they’ll help keep you safe. Use them to understand your habits, manage the risk, and stay on top of your game."

Players are encouraged to set betting limits, spending limits, and even cool-off periods and self-exclusion to support betting in a responsible manner. At the end of the day, gambling should be seen as a source of entertainment rather than the means of financial gain.

Looking at the bigger picture
Beyond the act of gambling, Bet also examines ideas of redemption, trust and whether you can actually change your luck. These deeper philosophical questions elevate the series beyond a mere discussion of gambling and give it a more lasting quality.

Through the lens of gambling, the show examines class more broadly, as gambling creates a space where individuals of varying social classes can challenge each other on equal footing, though the system does have its own advantages/disadvantages that are subtly interwoven.

Other gambling-type series
Bet will inevitably be set next to other live-action gambling anime like Kakegurui and Akagi. Although they are thematically similar, Bet has a more earthy, present-day feel. If Kakegurui capitalises on over-the-top reactions and supernatural levels of intensity, Bet is more a psychological thriller.

In a recent article regarding gambling’s influence in entertainment media, Bet was described as “an indication of the growing sophistication of the genre”, with respect to risk/reward narratives.

Some potential concerns
The pacing is good, if a bit slow for some, particularly in the first few episodes, where they set the rules of the games. It’s not for those looking for action-packed live action anime.

On top of that, there are a few adult situations and themes, such as gambling, improper language, and a few intense moments that could unsettle sensitive viewers.

Final verdict
So, is Bet worth your time? For those who enjoy psychological thrillers and games of wits, the answer is most definitely yes. There’s a good story, solid character development and themes that are much more interesting and deeper than just gambling.

Even if you aren’t a live action anime fan, you might want to give Bet the chance to pull you in with its universal story and themes. It’s one of the better original series on Netflix, and indicates that they’re dedicated to varied and quality content.