This is new. Shut down, restarted. Cold reboot. Same on two iPads. Anyone else seen this? “Tap anywhere to restart the game” ~ I tapped everywhere and keep getting the same message.
Having the same problem, latest iOS update. Uninstall and reinstall the game, does not work.
For me it happens when I lost Internet or to much time playing. I saw it only 2 times since 1 month playing
For me, just restart the game has worked (with activation of Internet of course 
)
It was server wide diff type of situation then your referring 2
I see it all the time.