Asian Casino Games

Mahjong represents a traditional Chinese Game that involves four players situated around a table. Each player draws and discards sets of tiles per turn with the goal of making four or five tile melds, or winning hands. Typically with Online Mahjong, gamblers must assemble complete suits of tiles to win prizes while playing against the computer or real players. Punters can play Mahjong online through gambling websites for fun or with real money.

Hong Kong Old Style Mahjongg

This is one of the most popular styles of Mahjong. It was developed from Classical Chinese Mahjong before WWII, mostly by making changes in the scoring. There’s also New Style, which is also known as Shanghai style. The basic rules are the same, but New Style has a lot more scoring hands. The Old Style is restricted and simple and thus a good choice for new players. Once you learn the game and crave more complexity, you can add New Style hands to spice up the game.

Japanese Riichi Mahjong

Also known as Modern Japanese, this ruleset was developed by gamblers and crooks in the 1950s. Since then it has become the most popular Mahjong game in Japan, surpassing the calmer Classical Japanese. It’s a dramatic game, with large swings and some pretty strong luck elements, some of which may be removed if players want a more controlled game. Riichi is gaining popularity in the West, too, as a part of the Japanese pop culture that become so hip in Europe and the United States in the last few years.

Chinese Official Mahjongg Rules

Also known as Mahjong Competition Rules or Official International Rules (and abbreviated as CO, MCR or OIR). These rules are used in the Mahjong World Championship tournaments. These are official as Mahjong rules come, designed by the Chinese authorities in 1998. These rules are written with bright ideals: the rules, for example, forbid swearing and smoking.

World Series Mahjongg rules

World Series is a huge Mahjong tournament that is played annually. While the “official” world championships are based on the ideals of the Olympic games, World Series is closer to the World Series of Poker. In 2008, the winner was paid $500 000 and the total sum of prizes was million dollars. They’re using different rules, developed by Mahjong expert Alan Kwan. Their rules are really good, too, balanced and well-designed. They are also easy to learn while offering lots of opportunities for clever play.

Japanese Classical Mahjongg

This is one of the best forms of Mahjong for new players. It’s simple, easy and offers a balanced game, without major luck elements. Clever defensive play is important and making quick, low-scoring hands is a good strategy. Someone who likes a lot of drama and heavy swings will find these rules boring. The rules were set by a Japanese Mahjong association in the 1950s.

American Mah-Jongg

The way Mah Jongg is played in the USA is a lot different, almost like a different game. The National Mah Jongg League published each year a new card with the hands that are allowed that year. To play the American Mah Jongg, you need to be a member of the league (or the competing American Mah-Jongg Association).