Online Mahjong Guide: How to Play, Best Strategies, and More

Mahjong is one of the oldest casino games in existence. It came about during the Qing Dynasty (1636 – 1912) and has remained popular in Asian gambling circles ever since.

Thanks to online casinos, Asia isn’t the only place where mahjong is played. You can find this game featured at various gaming sites across the net.

If you’re interested in trying a new casino game, then online mahjong is worth consideration. The following guide covers what to expect from it regarding gameplay, strategy, availability, win potential, and more.

Basics of Mahjong

Most casino games revolve around either cards, spinning wheels, or dice. Mahjong differs greatly in this regard because it’s based on tiles.

The number of tiles used can vary from 136 to 152. The most common variation, though, features a total of 136 different tiles.

Mahjong can look like a confusing mess at first glance. However, it’s easier to understand when you know how the tiles break down.

Tiles fall into three main categories, each of which are numbered 1-9. The categories include “Craks,” “Bams” (bamboos), and “Dots” (balls). A mahjong set also includes special tile groups called Winds (N, S, E, W) and dragons (green or red).

Both the main categories and special groups feature four of each tile. For example, you’ll find four red dragons in a set.

The tile sets can differ greatly depending upon the online casino or country (when played live). China-based mahjong games, for example, feature many tiles that fall into the “flowers” category.

The objective of mahjong is to draw and discard tiles while trying to create a 14-tile hand (a.k.a. “mahjong”). Qualifying hands can differ based on the variation being offered.

Generally, though, a completed hand features four of the three of a kind hands and a pair. Mahjong doesn’t have classic suits (e.g. clubs) like card games, so a three of a kind can fall into one of the following two categories:

• Three identical tiles (e.g. three 9 of bams).
• Three in a row (e.g. 2-3-4 of cracks).

The pairs, meanwhile, have to consist of two identical tiles. For instance, you could get a pair with two 7 of dots.

How to Play Mahjong

Both land-based and online mahjong can be played with four people. Each player receives 13 tiles to start a round.

Again, the goal is to form a 14-tile hand with four of the three of a kind hands and a pair. Games can either last for 16 rounds or to a specified number of points. In the latter case, a player would receive 1 point for every mahjong formed.

Online gambling sites may also offer Mahjong Solitaire, which involves forming pairs of identical tiles until clearing the entire pile.

You can only pair “free” tiles, meaning those that aren’t blocked by other tiles. This aspect throws a challenging wrinkle into the game.

Mahjong Solitaire usually features a time limit and will keep track of your matches. You keep playing until either clearing the board or failing to find pairs for every tile.

Mahjong Strategy

This game features a mixture of luck and strategy. Regarding the latter, you need to carefully consider the tiles in your hand and how to reach 14-tile mahjong in the quickest manner possible.

You may find this objective challenging when new to the game. With that said, you’ll need seasoning before becoming a skilled player.

As for Mahjong Solitaire, you must carefully plan out which tiles to pair and remove from the board. The last thing you want to have happen is get stuck with blocked tiles and no way to reach them.

A good way to avoid this problem involves making matches that lead to the most open tiles. This way, you keep opening more and more options for forming pairs.

Free Online Mahjong

Even with prior knowledge of mahjong, you may still find this game to be confusing at first. So, you should look for free versions to practice with first.

Both general gaming sites and online casinos offer free mahjong. The latter typically requires you to complete registration before playing.

Meanwhile, general gaming sites allow you to start playing right away. The only catch, though, is that you won’t be able to play for real money on the same site.

You’ll merely be trying to get the fastest completion time (solitaire) or the most points by beating opponents. Nevertheless, these sites are still worthwhile if you’re just looking to get quick experience.

Is Real Money Online Mahjong Available?

Real money mahjong isn’t as popular as other Asian favorites like baccarat and Pai Gow Poker. Nevertheless, you can still find this game in some capacity.

Certain online casinos—especially the gambling sites with a heavy Asian player base—offer mahjong games for real money.

You may need to do a little research before finding such casinos. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t have to waste too much time with this process.

How to Get Started With Real Money Mahjong

Upon finding a mobile casino with this game, you can proceed to setting yourself up to gamble for real money. Here are the steps to doing so:

• Visit the “Banking” section of the online casino you’ve chosen.
• Look for a deposit method you can use.
• Choose the deposit option.
• Enter how much you’d like to put into your account.
• Confirm the transaction.
• Wait for the funds to arrive.

Regarding step #2, available banking options will vary based on the casino and the location. Most gambling sites accept credit cards, e-wallets, and bank transfers. Some also take Bitcoin and possibly other cryptocurrencies.

As for step #6, wait times tend to vary based on which deposit option is used. Credit cards fund your account instantly. E-wallets, bank transfers, and wires, on the other hand, can take a while to arrive.

Your deposit options may be limited if you’re living in an unregulated market (e.g. California, Ohio, Wisconsin). Bitcoin becomes handy in this case because it lets you make deposits without worrying about a centralized authority (i.e. banks) blocking the funding.

Are Mahjong Bonuses Available?

Some online casinos that offer mahjong will also provide bonuses for it. However, the offers are unlikely to be listed as “mahjong bonuses.”

They might instead be listed as “table game” deals, meaning they cover a variety of games. You’ll need to check the terms and conditions behind such bonuses to ensure that mahjong does indeed qualify.

Deals usually feature some “restricted games,” or games that don’t count towards earning a bonus. As long as mahjong isn’t in this restricted category, then you can use it to unlock a bonus and collect free cash.

Does Mobile Mahjong Offer Big Jackpots?

I’m not aware of any online mahjong games that feature jackpots. If such a thing does exist, then I haven’t come across it.

A mobile casino could, however, potentially structure a jackpot setup. For example, you could win the jackpot by beating Mahjong Solitaire within a certain timeframe. Or you might win the prize by logging an impressive score against opponents (e.g. 10 points).

If you’re expecting slots-sized jackpots, though, then you won’t find them in online mahjong. As far as I know, this game doesn’t feature any jackpot prizes.

Are Online Mahjong Tournaments Available?

Some gambling sites do offer real money mahjong tournaments. These events give you a chance to compete for prize pool money against other players.

Tournaments charge an entry fee to enter. The goal is to rack up mahjongs and move up the leaderboard towards paying positions.

You start tourneys at a table with three other players. A timer will determine when you switch tables and compete against another group of gamblers.

Tourneys vary on when they end and a winner is determined. A common format sees them end after so many timed rounds are completed.

Conclusion

Mahjong may not be the most popular international casino game. Nevertheless, it’s an entertaining and strategy filled game that deserves a look.

It’s available at some online casinos, especially those that cater to a sizable Asian audience. Of course, you should definitely try free online mahjong before playing for real money. The free version provides an opportunity to learn the basics and strategy.

Mobile mahjong comes in both cash game and tournament format. The latter is a fun way to spice up the action by competing against more opponents for prize money.