Shubhabrata Dutta
Created by Simon Barry, Netflix’s live-action drama series ‘Bet’ is based on the Japanese manga ‘Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler.’ Set at St. Dominic’s Prep, a fictional elite private school where almost every decision is made by gambling, the show follows Yumeko, a mysterious transfer student, who challenges the hierarchy and the power-hungry student council. While her love for high-stakes poker appears unhinged, there’s more to her than meets the eye. Burdened with a tragic past connected to the school, Yumeko has come not just to have fun but to seek revenge. However, her objective isn’t an easy feat, as her peers have way more tricks up their sleeves than she anticipates. Since ‘Bet’ is based on an anime, the visuals play an immensely significant role in emphasizing the style while resembling real life.
Bet Filming Locations
‘Bet’ is filmed entirely in Toronto, the capital city of Ontario. Principal photography of season 1 reportedly began in the second half of May 2024 and continued for around two and a half months before wrapping up by the first week of August the same year. Creator Simon Barry took to social media to express his gratitude for being able to adapt the “fantastic manga series into a new TV show with an amazing crew, a brilliant cast, and a loving and supportive film family…I’m having a blast.”
Toronto, Ontario
A handful of areas in Toronto were selected for filming the show. However, the main base is the University of Toronto at 27 King’s College Circle. The team reportedly accessed various campuses and nearby areas, including Queen’s Park, at 111 Wellesley Street West, to tape indoor and outdoor scenes. The crew set up shop with signs for students, addressing the ongoing filming to ensure smooth production without compromising the college curriculum.
A considerable portion of the show is also lensed within the walls of the University of Toronto Scarborough, a satellite campus at 1265 Military Trail in the district of Scarborough in eastern Toronto. Various sections of St. George’s campus have been seemingly used to film outdoor scenes as well. The campus’s historical architecture and neo-classic interiors help provide an aura of mystery to the show’s aesthetic. Many streets around the campuses have served as backdrops for establishing shots and highlighting the world in which ‘Bet’ is set.
Toronto is also referred to as Hollywood North, along with Vancouver, due to the large number of productions it hosts every year. The numerous ultra-modern production studios may have led the crew to use them for custom indoor sets that provided better space. This would have enabled them to get creative with the camera and incorporate different kinds of shots for the anime-inspired series. The city offers tax incentives, too, which is another reason for filming there. Other projects shot there include ‘Overcompensating,’ ‘Another Simple Favor,’ ‘Yes, Chef,’ and ‘The Handmaid’s Tale.’ The top attractions in Toronto include the Distillery District, the CN Tower, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Toronto Zoo, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, and Kensington Market.
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