Question 1

What is American Mahjong?

Accepted Answer

American Mahjong (also spelled Mah Jongg) is a tile-based game adapted from the Chinese game. It uses a set of 152 tiles and follows a card published annually by the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL). It's typically played with four players.

Question 2

Do I need to be an experienced player?

Accepted Answer

Not at all! Meet For Mahjong welcomes players of all skill levels, from brand new to advanced. You can filter players by skill level to find the right group.

Question 3

Is it free to join?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Creating an account and setting up your profile is completely free on our Open Play (player) and Instructor Starter (instructor) tiers. To search for and message other players, post Last-Minute Game Requests, or get the Premium Instructor badge, you'll need a paid plan.

Question 4

Do I need a Mahjong set?

Accepted Answer

No, you don't need to have your own set. During registration, you can indicate whether you have a set, and you can filter players who have sets available.

Question 5

How does finding players work?

Accepted Answer

We connect players based on location (zip code), skill level, availability, meetup preferences, and travel distance. You can use our search filters to find compatible players near you. Player search and in-app messaging are available on Verified Player and Instructor Advantage / Instructor Unlimited plans.

Question 6

Are meetups in public or private locations?

Accepted Answer

You choose your preference during registration. You can select public meetups only (coffee shops, libraries, community centers) or both public and private locations (including homes). For safety, we recommend your first meetup with any new player always be in a public place.

Question 7

What if I move to a new area?

Accepted Answer

Simply update your zip code in your profile, and you'll be connected with players in your new area.

Question 8

Can I play with more than 4 people?

Accepted Answer

Standard American Mahjong is a 4-player game. If you already have 1–3 players locked in and need to fill the table, use the Last-Minute Game Request feature on the Find Players page — we'll alert nearby opted-in players and they can RSVP straight from the email. See the "Last-Minute Game Requests" section below for details.

Question 9

How do I post an event?

Accepted Answer

Navigate to the Events page and click "Post an Event." Fill out the event details including type, date, location, and skill levels. Posting fees depend on your plan and whether the event is free or paid for attendees — see "How much does it cost to post an event?" below for the full breakdown.

Question 10

How much does it cost to post an event?

Accepted Answer

Free-to-attend events: Open Play, Verified Player, and Instructor Starter pay $0.99 per post; Instructor Advantage and Instructor Unlimited post free-to-attend events for free. Paid-to-attend events: Open Play, Verified Player, and Instructor Starter pay $9.99 per post; Instructor Advantage pays a discounted $6.99 per post; Instructor Unlimited posts paid events for free, with no cap. The exact fee is always shown on the Post Event page before you check out.

Question 11

What types of events can I post?

Accepted Answer

You can post Teaching Sessions, Tournaments, Casual Play meetups, and Special Events. Each type is color-coded for easy browsing.

Question 12

Can I edit or cancel my event?

Accepted Answer

Yes — both. From your Dashboard or the "My Events" page, you can edit the time, venue, details, and pricing of any event you've posted, right up until it starts. You can also cancel from those same pages. If anyone has saved or RSVP'd to the event, they'll be notified of any changes or cancellations.

Question 13

Do I get a reminder before my event?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Hosts automatically receive a friendly nudge 7 days before each event with a one-click link to edit time, venue, or details if anything has changed. If you've opted into SMS alerts, you'll also get a text.

Question 14

What is a Last-Minute Game Request?

Accepted Answer

It's a one-tap way to fill an empty seat at your Mahjong table fast. Available on Verified Player, Instructor Advantage, and Instructor Unlimited plans. From the Find Players page, click "Post Game Request," choose how many players you need (1–3), pick a date + time, optionally add a venue or message, and post. We'll instantly email every opted-in player within 25 miles with a one-tap RSVP link.

Question 15

How do players RSVP?

Accepted Answer

Recipients see a "Yes, I'm in" button in the broadcast email. Tapping it confirms their seat without requiring them to log in — RSVPs are authenticated via a secure, signed magic link. First-come, first-served: the first 1–3 to tap (depending on how many seats you opened) are confirmed; anyone after lands on a waitlist.

Question 16

What if a confirmed player drops out?

Accepted Answer

When someone cancels their RSVP or you remove them from the roster, the next person on the waitlist is automatically promoted to confirmed and notified by email — no manual juggling needed.

Question 17

How long does a request stay open?

Accepted Answer

The request runs until 30 minutes after your scheduled game time, then auto-expires. You can also cancel a request at any time from the request page — everyone on the confirmed list and waitlist will be emailed.

Question 18

Will I see when a game request is posted near me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If you're on a paid player plan (Verified Player, Instructor Advantage, or Instructor Unlimited) and have your zip code set, you'll see open game requests within 25 miles right on your Dashboard, plus a small red dot on your profile menu so you're never far from one tap. You'll also receive an email (and SMS, if opted in).

Question 19

How do I stop receiving last-minute alerts?

Accepted Answer

Go to Settings → New-event & Last-Minute Alerts and toggle them off. You can also turn off SMS independently or change your max travel distance.

Question 20

How do I find a Mahjong instructor?

Accepted Answer

Visit the Instructors page from the navigation menu. You'll find a directory of registered instructors with their profiles, skill specialties, and contact options for group or private lessons.

Question 21

How do I become a listed instructor?

Accepted Answer

During registration (or by editing your profile), indicate that you teach Mahjong. You'll have the option to create a public instructor profile visible to all registered users, including your teaching style, rates, and availability.

Question 22

How does the Discussion Board work?

Accepted Answer

The Discussion Board has categories for Tiles, Accessories, NMJL Card Questions, Deals & Coupons, and more. Paid members can create threads and post replies. You can also buy, sell, and trade Mahjong items in the Marketplace section.

Question 23

What are the forum guidelines?

Accepted Answer

Be respectful and constructive. No harassment, spam, or sharing personal data. Provide sources or examples when possible. Admins can pin, lock, or remove threads that violate guidelines.

Question 24

How do I cancel my subscription?

Accepted Answer

You can cancel your subscription anytime from your Settings page. If you cancel, you'll retain access until the end of your current billing period, then revert to the Open Play (player) or Instructor Starter (instructor) free tier — no data is lost.

Question 25

Can I use promo codes?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Enter promo codes on the Subscription page. We periodically run limited-time campaigns — when one is active, the offer banner appears on the homepage and Pricing page. You can also earn free months year-round by referring friends — see below.

Question 26

What is the Refer a Friend program?

Accepted Answer

When a friend uses your referral code and upgrades to a Verified Player Membership, they receive one free month and you receive one free month on your Verified Player Membership too. Instructors who refer 10 Verified Players receive one free month of Instructor Unlimited. No limit on referrals!

Question 27

Is the platform safe?

Accepted Answer

We take safety seriously. We have community guidelines, reporting features, and player blocking. Our admin team reviews all reports. You can also link your social media accounts to your profile so other members can recognize you and build trust before meeting up.

Question 28

What safety precautions should I take?

Accepted Answer

We strongly recommend that your first meetup with a new player always be in a public place such as a coffee shop, library, or community center. Tell a friend or family member about your plans. Trust your instincts, and report any suspicious behavior through our reporting tools.

Question 29

Can men and women play together?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! American Mahjong is a game for everyone regardless of gender. During registration, you can set a gender preference for your playing groups if you wish, or select "No preference" to be open to playing with all members. Our community is inclusive and welcoming to all.

Feature	Open Play Free	Verified Player $0.99/mo · $9.99/yr
Create & edit your profile
View events & instructor contacts
Post events ($0.99 free / $9.99 paid)
Search nearby play locations
Read & post on the Discussion Board
Search & connect with other players
In-site messaging
Email & optional SMS alerts
Request-a-game with 1–3 players

Feature	Instructor Starter Free	Instructor Advantage $9.99/mo · $99.99/yr	Instructor Unlimited $29.99/mo · $299.99/yr
Instructor profile & directory listing
View events & post events
Search nearby play locations
Read & post on the Discussion Board
Player search, messaging, alerts
Request-a-game with 1–3 players
Free-to-attend events: free to post
Paid events: discounted ($6.99)			—
Paid events: unlimited & free
Premium Instructor badge
Priority placement in instructor directory

Frequently Asked Questions

Use Meet For Mahjong like an app on your phone

Membership Tiers — Quick Comparison

For Players

For Instructors

Getting Started

Finding Players & Meetups

Events

Last-Minute Game Requests

Instructors & Learning

Forum & Community

Subscriptions & Payments

Safety & Community