Everywhere, All At Once: Why New Players are Picking Up Mah-Jongg

The tile game Mah-Jongg has become incredibly popular among American women, spawning clubs, tournaments, and brands, and some have raised concerns about the Americanization and commercialization of the game. Atlantic staff writer Ashley Parker discusses mah-jongg’s recent rise in popularity, as well as her own ‘descent into Mah-Jongg’, which she detailed in a recent article. 

Photo by Eric Lee/For The Washington Post via Getty Images: People play "wash" Mahjong tiles during "Mahjong Night" at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.