History of Mahjong: How this Asian Game Became an International Phenomenon

Mahjong is an ancient game that has been played for centuries. It originated in China and was first mentioned in the 18th century, although it existed before then. The game became popular at high-class social gatherings during the 19th century, when people would play mahjong after dinner.

Mahjong History in America:

• By 1900, a variation of Mahjong had spread to Japan, where it came to be known as “mahjongg.” In North America, mahjong was introduced by Chinese immigrants who continued playing their own version of Mahjong while adapting some aspects of the Western card deck games they were familiar with at home.

• Mahjong became popular in the U.S. during World War II as Americans were drawn to this exotic game played by their Chinese allies. It was soon mass-produced for sale domestically with colorful boards printed on cardboard or paper.

• In modern Asia, mahjong is a popular gambling game.

Mahjong History in Indonesia:

• The game was introduced to Indonesia by Chinese immigrants in the late 19th century and became very popular.

• Mahjong is a favorite pastime among university students, and many play mahjong at cafes on their laptops or smartphones while chatting with friends.

• In many Indonesian cities, such as Jakarta and Bekasi, young people can be found playing mahjong in open public spaces like parks.

Some facts about Mahjong History in Japan:

• In 1892, after witnessing American sailors playing cards, Japanese businessman Raimundo Fukuzawa created an adaptation named “kanjiroba” that combined elements of poker and mahjong tiles.

• It spread quickly throughout Asia and South America – which has seen it dubbed “Century Game” – where it topped out over all other card games except for dominoes from 1920 through the 1950s before losing ground to games like poker and blackjack.

Eventually, this mixing pot of cultures led to modern versions, which are still played today at online casinos like Bandar bola!