Our Story
Made for the mahjong table
We started around a card table that never got put away. American mahjong is more than a game — it's the weekly ritual, the friends who become family, and the sound of tiles shuffling before anyone says a word. We build for that table.
- 152-tile sets built to NMJL spec — jokers included
- Designed with input from real mahjong groups
- Ships from the U.S. — no six-week wait
Getting Started
American mahjong, step by step
New to the table? Start here. We walk through the tiles, the card, and the rhythm of a first game — no experience needed.
Step One
Meet the tiles
A standard American set has 152 tiles: three suits, winds, dragons, and eight jokers. Jokers are what set this version apart — they're wild, and they change everything.
Step Two
Read the card
Each year the NMJL publishes a card listing every valid hand. You pick a hand before play starts and build toward it. Think of it as your shopping list.
Step Three
The Charleston
Before the first tile is played, everyone passes three tiles right, across, then left. It looks like chaos. It's actually how you get rid of what you don't need.
How is American mahjong different from Chinese mahjong?
American mahjong uses jokers, a yearly NMJL card of valid hands, and a Charleston passing sequence at the start of each hand. Same tiles, very different game.
Do I need to buy a new card every year?
If you play in a group that follows NMJL, yes. The card changes annually and hands that were valid last year may not be valid this year.
Kind Words
Let customers speak for us
The tiles feel wonderful in the hand and the case is beautifully made. My whole mahjong group asked where I got it.
I've been playing for thirty years and this is the first set I've actually been proud to put on the table.
Shipping was fast and the packaging was lovely enough to gift as-is. Already ordered a second one.
From Our Community
Mahjong moments, shared by you
Tag us or send in a photo from your table — we feature our favorites here.
BALAGIGI PLAY TABLE
Ready to play a hand?
Practice a complete American Mahjong game against three computer players—Charleston, Jokers, calls and all.