National Mah Jongg League
The organization that governs American Mahjong, publishes the official annual hand card, and standardizes rules for the American version of the game. Founded in 1937.
What Is the NMJL?
The National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) is the governing body for American Mahjong. Founded in 1937, it is responsible for:
- Publishing the official annual hand card listing all valid winning patterns
- Standardizing the rules of American Mahjong
- Organizing tournaments and events
- Maintaining the official rules and resolving disputes
The NMJL is a non-profit organization based in New York. Membership includes a copy of the current year's card.
History
The NMJL was founded in 1937, during a period when Mahjong was extremely popular in the United States. The league standardized what had been a chaotic mix of different rules and scoring systems.
Before the NMJL, American Mahjong players used various rule sets, making it difficult to play with people from different groups. The league's annual card system solved this by providing a single, updated set of winning hands that all players could follow.