Netflix’s New Gambling Thriller Is A HUGE Hit

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A fresh thriller is making waves: “Bet,” an adaptation of the popular manga, has made its way into the top ten on the streaming platform. With similarities to Homura Kawamoto and Tōru Naomura’s manga “Kakegurui,” or “Compulsive Gambler,” Bet tells the story of Yumeko Kawamoto (Miku Martineau) as she attends a private school and starts to take control of the school’s secret gambling ring. The series premiered on Netflix on May 15, 2025, and has quickly gained a large following in only one week.

In a span of seven days, as per Netflix, the series “Bet” has climbed up to the ninth position in their Top 10 TV shows. The streaming service reports that it has garnered 2.4 million views and been watched for a total of 13.7 million hours. Remarkably, “Bet” is among the Netflix Top 10 in 32 countries worldwide. This impressive feat is noteworthy considering the series had minimal marketing and managed to attract an audience primarily through the platform’s algorithm. The trailer for “Bet” was first released on April 21, 2025, three weeks prior to its premiere on Netflix.

Currently, the number of reviews is insufficient for Bet to receive a Rotten Tomatoes score from critics. However, the psychological thriller series has earned an audience rating of 70% on the Popcornmeter. For those interested, more information about the show can be found in its official synopsis (located below).

A student who has recently transferred from Japan is causing an upheaval in the traditional hierarchy of a boarding school by employing her sharp gambling abilities. She is testing the Student Council and, in pursuit of vengeance, has the potential to bring about a fundamental change within the institution’s system.

Netflix’s Growing Collection of Live-Action Manga Adaptations

Simon Barry, who has previously worked on adaptations like “Warrior Nun” for Netflix, created the show known as “Bet“. The series “Warrior Nun”, which ran from 2020 to 2022 across two seasons, unfortunately had its run cut short when Netflix decided to cancel it. However, a trilogy of feature films continuing the storyline of “Warrior Nun” is currently being developed without Netflix’s participation. Barry is also known for his work on the Canadian sci-fi series “Continuum” and the popular horror-action series “Van Helsing”, making “Bet” another successful project in his portfolio.

The streaming service Netflix has been consistently adapting popular manga into live-action series, either by producing them in-house or acquiring distribution rights. While earlier attempts such as “Death Note,” “Full Metal Alchemist,” and “Cowboy Bebop” received mixed reviews, recent successes like “One Piece” have boosted their reputation. Now, with “Bet,” they’ve added another successful adaptation to their collection.

Despite some positive reception, Bet has encountered criticism from fans of the original manga. They argue that the series has altered the Asian-centric narrative by shifting the setting and characters away from their original forms, a practice often referred to as “whitewashing.” As of now, Netflix hasn’t hinted at plans for a second season. Making it into Netflix’s Top 10 is encouraging, but it doesn’t guarantee a renewal. If Bet maintains its audience in the coming weeks, it would be shortsighted of Netflix not to produce additional seasons.

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2025-05-23 12:34