The History of Casino Mahjong

The Origin of Mahjong

Although records of the game for mahjong only date back as far as the mid 19th century, many believe it is more than 2,500 years old. Nobody knows for certain how the game was created. However, there are many myths and legends surrounding its beginnings. One myth suggests that the game was created in China around 500 BC by Confucius, a well-known philosopher.

Mahjong roughly translates as "chattering sparrow" in Chinese. Some say this is because Confucius was very fond of birds; others believe it’s because of the sound the tiles make when shuffled. The spelling and pronunciation of the word can vary depending on the country it is played in. Spelling variations include "mahjongg," "mah-jong" and "mah-jongg."

Another myth suggests that mahjong was created especially for those who lived at the Royal Court in China. A commoner caught playing the game would be punished severely or even put to death. There is even a theory that the game was played onboard Noah’s Ark!

Mahjong comes to the Western World

What we do know for certain about mahjong is that the game began to grow in popularity after British nationals introduced it to the expatriate cafes of Shanghai at the turn of the 20th century. It wasn’t long before mahjong was adopted by the Japanese, who formed clubs dedicated to the game. It wasn’t until the 1920s however, that the USA and Britain became familiar with mahjong.

By 1923, the Standard Oil Company of Shanghai was importing millions of mahjong sets to the USA, with simpler rules. The game, commonly played with four people, is based around a set of 152 tiles, each one depicting a Chinese symbol or character. The aim of the game is to prevent other players from winning by building the highest scoring hand.

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Mahjong Facts:

• According to scientific research, playing online mahjong can stimulate the brain, improving your responsiveness.
• Regular players of online mahjong have been proven to be better at remembering things than they were before they became players.
• Many find mahjong a great way to relax and unwind at the end of a hard day.