I just wanted to point out to people a program I have used called Kloogewerks. You can find it at http://www.kloogeinc.com/werks/index.htm
It is used to create a virtual tabletop for RPGs but the basic premise is the same in terms of a virtual space for board and card games. It is just specialized to automate all sorts of effects, especially for people using the D20 system for rpgs.
I think it is a good solid representation of what would be desired for playtesting, it just needs all of the automated rpg scripting stripped away and be replaced with board and card game elements needed for our needs.
There are a number of PBEM (Play by EMail) apps that do much of what you are talking about... Aide De Camp 2 comes to mind, but there are others as well.
Tim