Methods and apparatus for enhanced interactive game play in lottery and gaming environments

A system for electronic interaction in a multi-player, multi-level gaming system, the system being adapted to interface with displays for presentation of game information to the players and with input devices for receiving game play information, comprising:

• a graphical information display generator for generating displays of information regarding a plurality of variable duration game rooms, at least two of the game rooms having different durations,
• system input adapted to receive game control input from the plurality of input devices, the game control input including input regarding selection of a variable duration game room and game play within the room, at least certain of the game play comprising multi-level game play,
• a play server adapted to permit one or more players to join in play for at least some of the variable duration game rooms,
• a timer for determining the expiration of game play in the variable duration game rooms, the timer having a common start time for game play in a game room for all players in a game room,
• a game analysis system,
• a point tally system including a processor for ranking the players score relative to one another, and a memory for storing the information, the point tally system providing the ranking information to the displays, the point tally system selecting at least the player with the highest score as at least one winner at the expiration of game play as determined by the timer for the variable duration game room, and
• a payment system for providing the winnings to the winner.

A system for electronic interaction in a multi-player, multi-level gaming system, the system being adapted to interface with displays for presentation of game information to the players and with input devices for receiving game play information, comprising:

• a graphical information display generator for generating displays of information regarding a plurality of variable duration game rooms, at least two of the game rooms having different durations,
• system input adapted to receive game control input from the plurality of input devices, the game control input including input regarding selection of a variable duration game room and game play within the room, at least certain of the game play utilizing virtual money,
• a play server adapted to permit one or more players to join in play for at least some of the variable duration game rooms,
• a timer for determining the expiration of game play in the variable duration game rooms, the timer having a common start time for game play in a game room for all players in a game room,
• an input for receiving variable parameters,
• a point tally system including a processor for ranking the players score relative to one another, the point tally system utilizing at least the variable parameters in awarding points, and a memory for storing the information, the point tally system providing the ranking information to the displays, the point tally system selecting at least the player with the highest score as at least one winner at the expiration of game play as determined by the timer for the variable duration game room, and
• a payment system for providing the winnings to the winner.