1. A method for providing referee control over game play within a gaming environment, the method comprising: establishing a referee role that allows an end user to exert referee control of game play relative to a competition, within the gaming environment, between a plurality of participants, the referee role established using a networked gaming system running on a server; establishing referee rights for the referee role using the networked gaming system, the referee rights being made available only to the end user upon which the referee role has been conferred; qualifying the end user for the referee role by requiring the end user to complete and pass an examination to establish proficiency in the game, the examination comprising questions regarding referee commands in response to a hypothetical gaming scenario; and conferring the referee role upon the end user using a referee mode module.