You Bet Their Life Through the Years

Well, you might think that there is not much to tell about You Bet Their Life given that 2001 was the inaugural year. But this is not a game without a pedigree.

The game is based on the popular dead pool Dying For Dollars, or DFD. Dave Wilton was a participant in DFD for several years, and with the announcement that DFD was going into indefinite hiatus after the year 2000 game, Dave decided (egged on by some other players) to start up a similar game.

The rules are (nearly) identical to the rules of DFD. And You Bet Their Life was started with blessing and endorsement of John F., who ran the original game. Dave Wilton then passed You Bet Their Life on to John McTague, who had been playing under Yersinia Pestis from 2003-2006. John now hosts the game with The Big Casino.

Historical Highlights

1990: DFD founded by Bob B.; 17 players in the inaugural season
1992: DFD taken over by John F. and the named changed to Dead Pool
1995: Name changed back to Dying For Dollars
1996: Second and Third Prizes were awarded for the first time; the game moves to the internet
2000: Last season for DFD as John F. puts the game into indefinite hiatus
2001: You Bet Their Life inaugural season
2004: You Bet Their Life passes the 75-player mark with 76 teams entered; the prize pool is expanded to include the top eight teams
2005: John McTague takes over as administrator of You Bet Their Life
2006: You Bet Their Life passes the 90-player mark with 95 teams entered; the prize pool is expanded to include the top ten teams. Line-ups are expanded to 25 Active and 5 Taxi. New bonuses added.
2007: You Bet Their Life passes the 100-player mark with 140 teams entered; the prize pool is expanded to include the top 12 teams. The Stroger Rule is enacted, passing the decision on eligibility of picks to the time of a pick's death, rather than ruling at the start of the game.
2008: The Rules Committee is formed to vote on marginal picks. The 9 members of the panel are exempt from ruling on picks made by their own teams.

Past Champions

Year	Team	Game
1990	The Green Bay Pack-It-Ins	DFD
1991	The Green Bay Pack-It-Ins	DFD
1992	Deadfellas	DP
1993	The Harp Farmers	DP
1994	The Harp Farmers	DP
1995	Deadfellas	DFD
1996	Deadfellas	DFD
1997	Better Off Dead	DFD
1998	The Harp Farmers	DFD
1999	The Harp Farmers	DFD
2000	M.I. Rich	DFD
2001	Otis, You Want A Treat?	YBTL
2002	Otis, You Want A Treat?	YBTL
2003	Forrest Tucker's Ghost	YBTL
2004	Forrest Tucker's Ghost	YBTL
2005	Forrest Tucker's Ghost	YBTL
2006	Goatsucker	YBTL
2007	Perchance To Dream	YBTL

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