Mahjong gains traction as celebrities play and affordable Amazon sets lower the barrier

According to People, Mahjong is emerging as a popular social pastime, with celebrities such as Meghan Markle and Joanna Gaines bringing the game into girls' nights and family gatherings.

Affordable Mahjong supplies are widely available on Amazon. A Yanmeiya American Mahjong tile set is listed at $45 for a 166-piece melamine set; the article notes Joanna Gaines received a roughly $400 set from Oh My Mahjong and shared clips of playing over the holiday season. Other picks include Gustaria acrylic racks and pushers for $22 with Prime (orig. $23), a Tiasusan large mahjong mat for $23 with Prime (orig. $29), the Play Mahjong! guidebook for $17, a Bicycle 5-count dice set for $4, and a Gustaria American Mahjong complete game set for $73 that includes 166 tiles, pushers and racks, three dice, a wind indicator, money chips, a carrying bag and an instruction guide. One shopper called the Yanmeiya tiles "excellent as a reasonably priced starter set," and another said the Gustaria kit "packs and travel[s] well."

Basics cited include that Mahjong is typically played by four players, a complete set is listed as 152 tiles with three suits — cracks, bams and dots — plus specialty tiles, and average play time is 15 to 30 minutes per hand. The article recommends the Play Mahjong! book for beginners and suggests making 2026 the year to start a Mahjong club with friends or family.

Key Topics

Culture, Mahjong, Meghan Markle, Joanna Gaines, Amazon, Yanmeiya