Is American Mah Jongg the Same as Chinese Mahjong?
 

No. American Mah Jongg and Chinese Mahjong are related, but they are not the same game.

Chinese Mahjong is the original version, while American Mah Jongg is a distinct version that developed later in the United States by a group of Jewish women in New York.
 

Mahjong originated in China in the mid to late 1800s, making it a relatively modern game rather than an ancient one. For historical context, Mahjong was emerging around the same time that the United States was in the era of Lincoln and Grant, railroads were expanding rapidly, the telephone had just been introduced, and the Statue of Liberty had recently arrived.
 

Mahjong was brought to the United States in the early 20th century, where American players adapted the game.

The American version — spelled Mah Jongg — developed with:

• an annual card listing valid hands

• the addition of Joker tiles

• different suit names

• and standardized rules for nationwide play
   

American Mah Jongg was shaped by social groups in New York and evolved into a structured, card-based game that differs significantly from the original version.
 

Chinese Mahjong remains the original game and is still widely played around the world.

American Mah Jongg is a distinct variation that reflects how the game was adapted after arriving in the United States.
 

Because the rules, scoring, and objectives differ, strategies from Chinese Mahjong — including versions often depicted in films — do not directly apply to American Mah Jongg.
 

Published by the American Mah Jongg Association — the trusted home for American Mah Jongg players.