About the American Mah Jongg Association
American Mah Jongg has been played in the United States for nearly a century. Over time, players have developed their own card, customs, and traditions around the game.
For decades, generations of players, especially the women who gathered around kitchen tables, community centers, and card tables across the country, have kept the tradition of American Mah Jongg alive and thriving.
But today, much of the conversation about Mah Jongg happens scattered across dozens of websites, emails, and social media posts. Players often search for clear answers, reliable resources, and ways to stay connected to the broader Mah Jongg community.
The American Mah Jongg Association was created to help organize those resources and make them easier for players to find.
The Association highlights Mah Jongg groups, features tournaments and events, works with instructors across the country, and offers resources such as practice tools and a rulebook for players who want them.
Its purpose is straightforward: to support the people who play American Mah Jongg today while respecting the traditions that have shaped the game for generations.
If you play American Mah Jongg, this is your Association.
Players learn American Mah Jongg in many different ways. They pick up habits from friends, instructors, and the tables where they play.
Over time, that leads to different interpretations of the game and plenty of conflicting advice.
When questions come up, it helps to have a place to look for guidance that isn’t just another opinion in a comment thread.
The American Mah Jongg Association exists to provide that kind of reference point for players.
The American Mah Jongg Association is independent and not affiliated with the National Mah Jongg League, which defines the official rules of the game and publishes the annual card. The Association does not issue a card or govern the rules of play. Its role is simply to support the players, groups, instructors, and businesses that make up the American Mah Jongg community.
The American Mah Jongg Association was founded by Alix Bryant, a Chinese-American entrepreneur based in Salt Lake City, Utah. After earning an MBA and building several businesses earlier in her career, including one that she later sold, she turned her attention to Mah Jongg.
Growing up with both Chinese and American influences gave her an appreciation for Mahjong’s cultural history and the uniquely American tradition of the game. That interest led her to create The Mah Jongg Insider, a newsletter focused on strategy, rules guidance, and news for players.
Over time, the newsletter grew into a large community of players who share ideas and learn new strategies together. Today, more than 150,000 players read The Mah Jongg Insider each week, with many discovering it through instructors, clubs, and other players who share it.
As the readership grew, players also began asking for additional resources and ways to practice the game. The American Mah Jongg Association was created to help organize those resources and make them easier for players to find.
More than 7,000 American Mah Jongg players are now members of the Association, and the community continues to grow as more people fall in love with the game.
The Mah Jongg Insider serves as the official newsletter of the American Mah Jongg Association.
