LAST EDITED ON 02-08-10 AT 00:40 AM (EST)

Welcome to the Casino!

Before we start, I have to apologize about the banner headline above. We just installed it, and in my excitement, I pressed all the buttons on the controls simultaneously... So now it's permanently stuck on "Marquee" settings. I'm this close to returning the thing back to Crazy Estee's Used Emporium.

Anyway, welcome back to the TAR Casino Game. To everyone who has been here before, welcome back! It's great to see you!

For those of you who are new, welcome! Have a couple complimentary cocktails and relax.

Now that you're tipsy, you might be wondering what we do at this establishment!

We make wagers. Lots of wagers. We bet on the outcome of The Amazing Race episodes. It's kind of like betting on The Kentucky Derby, but way, way more humane. Well, kinda. I'm not sure if some of those Roadblocks can be defined as "humane". I'll supply you with starting points and you'll wager on how they'll do each episode.

Remember, though, you can't play if you don't register... So, even if you're just visiting, try it out! All the cool kids are doing it, and you should too!

I've been told by my Sales Department that peer pressure is a good technique for convincing to do stuff. I didn't believe them at first, but then they told me that Drew Brees thinks the same thing.

Last year's winner was taffnic. Will we have a repeat winner, or will someone else grab the gold this time?

The rules are the same as before, so instead of re-writing them again, I'm copy-pasting from last season. But, as an extra bonus, we're getting them also in haiku form! I have been told by my Haikus Department that this is necessary, so it shall be so.

The Rules

1.
the week one players
shall get twenty points for free
handouts end after

Each player in Week 1 starts with 20 points. In every subsequent week, this amount decreases, so join now. Also, these are the only points you get, so don't waste them. Once you run out of points, you're out of the game.

2.
wager on tar teams
limits seen on horizon
worry not this week

Every week, you may choose to wager your points on the various teams. Later on, there will be limits on the max bet you can lay down. But for Week 1, don't worry about it. Wager however you want to.

3.
bank points not wagered
points sleeping in cold winter
spring arrives next week

You don't have to bet all your points. Any points you don't wager are banked, and will be carried over to the following week without risk.

4.
whole number wagers
decimals ruin the fun
round up your fractions

Decimals are evil. All wagers must be a whole number. Also, in scoring your entries, all decimal points will be rounded up. It makes the scoreboard prettier that way. No one wants to see a final score of 693.22463 to 612.1935.

5.
three weeks with no bets
departure is imminent
send me a message

Absenteeism sucks. If you miss three straight entries, you're eliminated from the game. If you're going to be on vacation, send me a note and I'll keep the records. I'll even take wagers in advance.

6.
entries must be due
february fourteenth by
eight pm eastern

All entries must be entered before showtime: Sunday, February 14th, 8 PM Eastern Time. Any entries after that time will not be counted. Any edits to an existing entry after the deadline will be penalized. The clock is based on the clock on this message board.

I reserve the right to change the deadline, in case the board's clock gets all wonky again like that one year.

7.
wagers multiplied
payout table defines fate
last place destroys points

Your wagers will be scored based on the almighty Payout Table. The Payout Table gives a multiplier value to each ranking, and determines the return on your wagers. Each of your individual wagers are multiplied by their appropriate multipliers, and then totaled together.

For example, here's the Payout Table for Week 1.

Week 1 Payout Table
1st place - 2x
2nd place - 1.5x
3rd place - 1.3x
4th place - 1.2x
5th place - 1.1x
6th place - Break even
7th place - .9x
8th place - .8x
9th place - .7x
10th place - .5x
11th place - 0x

This is going to be based off of the final rankings at the end of the two-hour special. It would be a little crazy to make double-wagers on the individual hours. If there is an elimination before the end of the two hour episode, then that team finished 12th overall, and everyone else is ranked how they finished at the end of the two hours.

Example - You've got 20 points and you choose to wager them on the following fictional teams...

Mario/Luigi - 8 points
Sonic/Tails - 5 points
Chrono/Marle - 3 points

Bank 4 points.

Now let's pretend Mario/Luigi finished 7th (earning a .9x payout), with Sonic/Tails finishing 1st (2x), Chrono/Marle finishing 10th (.5x)

Mario/Luigi - 8 points * .9 = 7.2 points
Sonic/Tails - 5 points * 2 = 10 points
Chrono/Marle - 3 points * .5 = 1.5 points
Banked points - 4 points

Total = 7.2 + 10 + 1.5 + 4 = 22.7 points = 23 points (rounding)

Overall, a 3 point gain that you'd carry into next week. Not too shabby. Of course, with those teams, why wouldn't you just bet the farm on Sonic & Tails?

Here are the teams you'll be wagering on. Check out their bios on CBS.com's page for The Amazing Race for more information.

TAR16 Teams Remaining
Brent/Caite
Carol/Brandy
Dan/Jordan
Dana/Adrian
Jet/Cord
Jody/Shannon
Joe/Heidi
Jordan/Jeff
Louie/Michael
Monique/Shawne
Steve/Allie

One final haiku!

good luck to all folks
sample entry post below
please ask me questions

Also, go play Max Headroom's PTTE Game. It's super-fun!

A 2003 IceCat original