Pung & games: Why mahjong is having a moment

Four players. 144 tiles. Mahjong, the tile-based strategy game, has been part of the fabric of Singapore, China, Hong Kong and much of Southeast Asia for well over a century. The click-clack sound of shuffling is the same whether you’re at a table in 1890s Shanghai or a restaurant on Robertson Quay in 2026, but the company around the table has changed considerably.

Today, hotels programme Mahjong & Mingle initiatives into their guest offerings, cruise lines are building itineraries around the game and global brands from Louis Vuitton to McDonald’s have collaborated on limited-edition sets. Actress Julia Roberts has claimed that she indulges every week with her friends to “make order out of chaos”, and a new generation of players, from Sydney to San Francisco, are discovering there’s no better game for making new mates in a city.

Here in Singapore, ANZA knew this before everyone else. For over 20 years, across various locations around the island, our members have regularly come together to play. Sue Chamberlain, who organises ANZA Mahjong, runs several sessions for more than 100 members and teaches mahjong to newcomers. Most are addicted immediately.

“While we play a Western version of the game, it’s based on the Asian game and both have their merits,” explains Sue, who joined the group in 2005 after being inspired to give it a go after attending her first ANZA Casual Coffee morning the day before. “A few sessions in, I was hooked. I also met some lovely people who became long-term friends along the way. As they left Singapore over time, a few of us continued to play. I wanted others to experience the support I’d been given when I moved to Singapore.”

She adds, “It’s a great way for those of us on the island to expand our cultural awareness and explore part of what makes up this wonderfully diverse country and region.”

Local culture

Mahjong started in 19th-century China and spread around the world in the early 20th-century. It was first popular with the elite in Shanghai’s tea houses, then made its way through Japan and across Southeast Asia. It took such a hold over Singapore that there’s a local version, featuring a unique set of animal bonus tiles – the cat, mouse, rooster and centipede – that you won’t find elsewhere.

The game is not just a great way to immerse yourself in local heritage. Research indicates that mahjong is cognitively and socially demanding, requiring players to identify patterns, read opponents and make rapid decisions while engaging with those around them. Studies consistently show that regular players demonstrate improved memory and sharper focus.

Sue supports this view. “Our ANZA Mahjong players have been interviewed by the local Singapore press several times as it’s believed the game can help delay cognitive decline. Whether it’s the mental stimulation, the social interaction, a combination of both or something more, it’s certainly a positive outcome while we enjoy playing over a good chat.”

Mahjong is indeed a rare activity that earns its place on both counts – good for the mind and the soul – much like the ANZA community as a whole! For those interested in giving it a go, or who want to know what sets us apart, Sue shares more here.

Why do you think ANZA Mahjong is one of our most popular groups?

I’d like to think that we offer a great opportunity for our members to experience and learn a little bit of the culture of our adopted home while we’re here and be able to take that back, or onward, with us. People may initially come to ANZA Mahjong out of curiosity, but they stay for the fun, challenge and company.

What do you say to a newbie who thinks it looks too intimidating to try?

We’ve all started something new at some point, so we reassure new players that someone will sit with them and walk them through it, getting them up to playing a basic game to start with. They tend to become confident with that foundation, adding various hands and moving on to increasing their technical ability at their own pace.

ANZA Mahjong members on the set of “Luck My Life”

You’ve overseen ANZA Mahjong for many years. Has the type of player changed?

As our ANZA membership changes over time, so too does the makeup of our activities. Fortunately, mahjong can be enjoyed by all ages, males and females and all nationalities. We host two daytime sessions a week and in recent years we’ve added an evening session too, which suits those working through the day.

Do you have any personal highlights from being such an integral part of the group?

After an initial enquiry in July 2025 from a local film production company, several ANZA members, along with people from other organisations in Singapore, were lucky to be cast as extras in the mahjong movie “Luck my Life”. A fun tale of luck, skill and life lessons, it was screened not only in Singapore, but around the region.

As you step away from your role as coordinator, what are your hopes for ANZA Mahjong moving forward?

It’s been my privilege to be either involved with or coordinate this group for over 20 years. I thank all those who have helped and supported me, but now it’s time for new eyes and fresh ideas. I’m still around but passing on the baton. As we seek more hosts and teachers for our sessions to enable the group to continue and thrive, I see people sharing and passing on their knowledge and skills. ANZA Mahjong really is something special to have been a part of.

If you’re interested in joining ANZA Mahjong or becoming an mahjong coordinator, contact [email protected]

Instagram images @mahjongpalace, @noflowersmahjongclub, @fourwindsmahjongclub and @greentilesocalclub