1) Focus on why people would want this service.

2) Judging will primarily be on originality. This means that an item or service which is similar to something existing either here or on another MUD is unlikely to be chosen.

I love gambling, but it is solitary and cost crazy amounts of copper to play (though the prizes are very nice). I enjoyed watching people play Heroes, although never had the opportunity to play myself.

What I propose is this: the addition of a game. Or games.

I'd love a two or four person poker or Heroes style gambling game. Make it possible to play against other players. The key is, let the bets be variable. Maybe a small minimum, and allow each to raise the stakes each round, but let it feed off how much each person is betting and set a reasonable ceiling for each round of play. Don't force it to cost 2000 a game. Maybe beef up Heroes, add a bunch more Heroes in there, and use that as the basis for this game. Could make a real deck (container) with all the cards inside.

Maybe something like chess for the brainy characters. Could come up with a simple and basic, but completely new game, a CF original. DEATH TELLS YOU 'HOW DOES THE POINTY-EARED ONE MOVE AGAIN?' "Oooh, my necro just liched, you're all going to die now!'

Maybe something like bowling or horseshoes, but where you have to base your throw (maybe left to right, and power) for your size, strength, dex, weight of armor, age, weather, etc, with a nice bit of randomness thrown in for each character and a little randomness for each throw for good measure. So the more you play with your character, the better you as a player become with that character, but it will change from character to character to still keep it challenging and keep people from hacking it.

4) Think small.

Oops. :P

If you like these ideas, I'd be more than happy to brainstorm some more. I figure it is better to see if this is even remotely possible before putting too much time and effort fleshing these out.