Online Mahjong

The game of Mahjong has been a favourite among women for years, especially ethnic women from Israel, the Far East, and patches of Europe.  When people from the Far East migrated to America in the 1800’s, they brought with them the Hong Kong version of Mahjong.  The game of Mahjong has been popular in America since that time.  Today, Mahjong has a whole new group of players – males, who are filling up the Mahjong rooms online.

If I close my eyes and you ask me to describe a Mahjong scene, I would say without hesitation that there would be a table with Mahjong pieces, and five women sitting around the table.  If I asked these ladies how often they gathered to play Mahjong, they would respond, “Every week!”  In fact, I would discover that these ladies, basically in their 50’s, have played together for over ten years. 

This has been the tradition of Mahjong.  Up until a few years ago, only a certain sector of the population had a deep rooted interest in the game, despite the fact that women have played the game over the years wherever they have gathered - at social clubs, in synagogues and churches, and at parties.  Because the game proceeds at a pace dictated by the players, the participants generally have plenty of time to talk about things of interest to the group.  As Mahjong games historically alternated among the homes of the players, they also presented a social opportunity for the participants.  Mahjong became a significant social event for the players. 

This all changed with the advent of the Internet, the establishment of online gambling sites, and online Mahjong rooms within these sites.  As people around the world took advantage of the opportunity to learn the game of Mahjong, new players emerged all over the world.  To the amazement of online casino gambling site administrators, a considerable number of men joined in Mahjong games online. 

Men began to see the challenges involved in the game of online Mahjong.  First of all, the men felt secure and safe playing the game online from the comfort of their homes.  Some men had previously felt uncomfortable playing a game that had been generally identified in public as a ladies’ game.  Secondly, men realized that Mahjong is a fascinating game that is based on a person’s ability to concentrate and observe what’s going on in the game. 

Today, more men are playing online Mahjong than ever before, and they are winning money at tables on their favourite websites.  They also recognize that Mahjong presents a social opportunity when they play in groups online.  In fact, a friend of mine has joined an online Mahjong chat club recently, and is flying to Italy to meet a friend he met in a Mahjong room.

The world is changing, and so is the attitude of men who are playing the game of Mahjong online in record numbers.  So, go on and give it a try!  You never know where it might lead.