An apparatus to monitor interactions, said apparatus being incorporated into or otherwise carried by a playing piece, comprising: an interaction detection component (847,850) configured to monitor an interaction sensor incorporated into the playing piece to detect an interaction of the playing piece with a portion of a body, to generate playing piece data recording an aspect of the interaction and to determine whether the interaction maintains the playing piece within a close proximity to the body; and a communications component (849,890,850) configured to use electric power from a power source (401;801) to wirelessly transmit the playing piece data via a shorter range wireless communications or via longer range wireless communications, wherein the shorter range wireless communications consumes the electric power at a lower rate than the longer range wireless communications; and a location correlation component (846,850) configured to correlate locations within a player area with the level of quality of the longer range communications available at those locations; wherein the communications component (849,890,850) is further configured to: wirelessly transmit the playing piece data to a player device carried on the body via the shorter range wireless communications, if the playing piece is within a close proximity to the body to allow the playing piece data to be relayed through said player device; and else to wirelessly transmit the playing piece data to an access point, AP, device via the longer range wireless communications if the playing piece is located in a location that is correlated with a sufficient level of quality of the longer range wireless communications; and else to refrain from transmitting the playing piece data via the longer range wireless communications until the playing piece is within another location that is correlated with a sufficient level of quality of the longer range communications. an interaction detection component (847,850) configured to monitor an interaction sensor incorporated into the playing piece to detect an interaction of the playing piece with a portion of a body, to generate playing piece data recording an aspect of the interaction and to determine whether the interaction maintains the playing piece within a close proximity to the body; and a communications component (849,890,850) configured to use electric power from a power source (401;801) to wirelessly transmit the playing piece data via a shorter range wireless communications or via longer range wireless communications, wherein the shorter range wireless communications consumes the electric power at a lower rate than the longer range wireless communications; and a location correlation component (846,850) configured to correlate locations within a player area with the level of quality of the longer range communications available at those locations; wherein the communications component (849,890,850) is further configured to: wirelessly transmit the playing piece data to a player device carried on the body via the shorter range wireless communications, if the playing piece is within a close proximity to the body to allow the playing piece data to be relayed through said player device; and else to wirelessly transmit the playing piece data to an access point, AP, device via the longer range wireless communications if the playing piece is located in a location that is correlated with a sufficient level of quality of the longer range wireless communications; and else to refrain from transmitting the playing piece data via the longer range wireless communications until the playing piece is within another location that is correlated with a sufficient level of quality of the longer range communications. wirelessly transmit the playing piece data to a player device carried on the body via the shorter range wireless communications, if the playing piece is within a close proximity to the body to allow the playing piece data to be relayed through said player device; and else to wirelessly transmit the playing piece data to an access point, AP, device via the longer range wireless communications if the playing piece is located in a location that is correlated with a sufficient level of quality of the longer range wireless communications; and else to refrain from transmitting the playing piece data via the longer range wireless communications until the playing piece is within another location that is correlated with a sufficient level of quality of the longer range communications.