ROUND SPONSOR
$1,000
(Limit 10)

Opportunity for branded prizes & swag bag items
Recognition at the event, on the event website, and in the program
Listed in thank-you ads in local publications

SPONSOR A ROUND

TABLE SPONSOR
$500
(Limit 75)

Opportunity to brand a single table’s signage
Recognition on the event website

SPONSOR A TABLE

TILE SPONSOR
$200

Recognition on the event website

SPONSOR OUR TILES

Ameristar Casino Hotel
You can book using this link or by calling 855-778-8277.

Jokers & Jewels™ Mah Jongg Tournament
Official Rules & Regulations

General Conduct

• Play is according to National Mah Jongg League Rules plus Tournament Rules. Players will use the current year’s NMJL Card.
• Players must be courteous, respectful, and gracious. Bullying and intimidation will not be tolerated. This tournament enforces a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for rude, inconsiderate, or abusive behavior.
• Please do not judge or criticize opponents’ play.
• Be patient with all players—everyone learns differently.
• Players must bring and display their official National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card during play. If a player doesn’t have their card, they may purchase a replacement from the Junior League for $15.
  

Tournament Structure

• East starts the game by discarding their 14th tile. The game does not begin until this happens.
• All players must participate in every round, unless excused due to an emergency and approved by the Director.
• If a dispute arises during play, the director’s ruling is final. Players should not resolve rules or scoring disputes at the table.

Gameplay Rules

Picking & Throwing Tiles

• NO PICKING AHEAD. You must not remove the next tile from the wall until the previous player has discarded.
• If you touch a tile from the wall or a discard, it is yours.
• Picking from the wrong end of the wall and looking at the tile will result in a dead hand.
• If the wall was misaligned and tiles were hidden, a mistaken pick will not be penalized.
• Turns begin with a pick or a call. Jokers cannot be exchanged before picking.
• Picking and racking quickly is discouraged—pause and count to 3 before picking and racking your tile.

Calling Tiles

• You may call a discarded tile for Mah Jongg or exposure until the next player has racked or discarded.
• You must verbally call the tile before picking it up.
• If two players call at the same time for Mah Jongg, the tile goes to the next player in rotation.
• If you do not verbally call, you cannot claim the tile.
• A called tile must be placed on the flat rack surface, not on the slope. Otherwise, your hand is dead.
• You may change your mind only if you haven’t touched the tile.
  

Discarding Tiles

• A discard is considered “intent” if you:
  1. Place it on the table, or
  2. Begin to say the tile’s name
• Once you begin either action, the tile must be discarded.
  

Jokers

• Jokers may be exchanged only after a tile is picked.
• To exchange a joker from another rack, you must ask and offer the natural tile.
• Once you declare a joker exchange and place a tile, the joker is yours.
• Jokers from dead hands are not available.
• If exchanging a joker gives you Mah Jongg, it is considered self-picked.
  

Mah Jongg Declarations

• When declaring Mah Jongg, your hand must be displayed clearly as shown on the card.
• A valid MJ claim must include:
  • Verbally calling Mah Jongg.
  • Placing the called tile properly on the rack (not in the slope).
• If MJ is called but the tile is not placed on the rack, it is not valid.
  

Mah Jongg in Error

• If MJ is declared and:
  • No hands are exposed: play continues.
  • One hand is not exposed: that player gets +10 points; others score 0.
  • Two hands remain unexposed: play continues.
  • All hands are exposed: all players score 0.
• If the error is corrected before exposure, play continues without penalty.
  

Dead Hands

• A hand is dead if:
  • The wrong tile is picked and looked at.
  • A joker is exchanged before picking.
  • There is an incorrect number of tiles in hand.
• A player may declare another hand dead, but if they are incorrect, their own hand becomes dead.
• Dead hands score 0 points, no additional penalties apply.
• You cannot go dead during the Charleston.
  

Scoring

Score Sheet Procedure

• East is responsible for marking the score sheet after each game.
• The player who makes MJ must sign the score sheet.
• West will verify East’s score sheet for wall games and MJ wins.
• All players are responsible for checking their score sheets before signing.
• Once turned in, no score changes will be made.
  

Points Breakdown

Tile Naming & Mis-Naming

• If a tile is misnamed during discard:
  • Can still be called for Mah Jongg.
  • Cannot be called for exposure.
  • A player exposed based on a miscall is dead.
• Misnamed tile resulting in MJ:
  • MJ gets hand value.
  • Discarder penalized 25 points.

The Charleston

• Missteps during the Charleston do not result in a dead hand.
• Do not look at stolen tiles—penalty is -10, but the player continues playing.

Final Reminders

• All games are played by National Mah Jongg League rules with the enhancements and penalties outlined in this document.
• Only the Director may interpret rules or resolve disputes.
• The East is responsible for maintaining timely play, scoring, and fairness at the table.

Want to join us, but haven’t learned how to play? Look no further. Sign up for a Mah Jongg 101 lesson, and we’ll have you playing the same day! Be sure to make plans to join us in the Pearl Division after you’ve completed your 101 session.

All sessions are hosted at the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri, headquarters.
9215 Ward Parkway | Kansas City, Missouri 64114-3307