Mahjong is a game that’s often misunderstood in the West. The game was developed in China in the 19th century as a table game with four players (although three-player variants are also widespread). It is a game a bit similar to rummy, perhaps with some elements that remind Westerners of a game of bridge.

The variant that most of us know as ‘Mahjong’ is, in turn, the single-player variant known as “Mahjong Solitaire”. This game merely borrows its name and its tiles from the original game and is a product of the computer age. The first version of Mahjong Solitaire was created by programmer Brodie Lockard in 1981. Later versions improved the game’s graphics and added various functions. The game became truly popular when it was included in Microsoft’s “Entertainment Pack” for Windows 3.x in 1990, titled “Taipei”.

The original game is played in real life and online, even for money. While it hardly fits the definition of a real-money game fit for an online casino, mostly because of its length and slower pace than the average game at Spin Casino Canada.

Considering its nature, it is a lot more like a game of online poker or rummy than it is similar to a casino game. Still, it is a viable option for those who want to spice up their game with a bit of risk involved.

Basic rules

Playing mahjong for money

There are several ways in which mahjong can be played for money.
Perhaps the simplest way is to set a “buy-in” for the game, with the money deposited in a “pot” that the winner of the game will take. The amount can be the same for each and every hand or vary. The money deposited in the pot can remain in the pot if none of the players wins the game, and increases the value of winnings for subsequent rounds.

Another, a bit more complex means of playing mahjong for money is to assign a value to each point - for example, $1 for 100 or 1000 points. The players “buy” their points at the beginning of the game at the established rate, play out the game as they normally would, and then exchange their points back into funds at the end of the game.