The Most Mahjong Obsessed States

Kathy Morris Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

A few years ago, you might have associated mahjong exclusively with your grandma. But the ancient tile-based game is currently experiencing a massive cultural resurgence across America.

With a growing community of players and a surge in stylish, modern mahjong sets, the game has moved from niche hobby to a nationwide obsession. But where is the mahjong capital of the USA?

We looked at all 50 states (and D.C.) and ranked them to find the states most obsessed with Mahjong. Our ranking is based on the number of registered mahjong venues, Google search volume for the game over the past five years, and the concentration of the sport’s most active demographic groups: Asian American and senior populations.

Most Popular States for Mahjong

* Mahjong is often compared to poker. While it remains less common at casinos, as public appetite continues to increase it may become more widespread.

Curious to see if your area is a hub for "Pungs" and "Chows"? Here are the 10 most obsessed U.S. states when it comes to mahjong:

1. Florida

According to our findings, Florida is the U.S. state most obsessed with mahjong. With a perfect indexed score of 100.00, it reigns supreme. Florida boasts a massive 88 registered venues, largely driven by its high senior population (21.74%), a demographic that has long kept the American version of the game alive in social clubs and retirement communities.

2. Pennsylvania

Ranking second is Pennsylvania with an index score of 95.06. While it has fewer venues than Florida (51), it shows a remarkably high level of curiosity and digital engagement. It scored a 57.16/100 on Google Search interest, suggesting that a new generation of players in the Keystone State is looking to get into the game.

3. California

California takes the bronze medal with a score of 94.88. Unsurprisingly, California’s obsession is fueled by its cultural diversity; it has the second-highest number of venues in our top five (70) and a significant Asian population (18.21%), which serves as a vital cultural anchor for both traditional and modern versions of the game.

4. Michigan

A surprise entry in the top five, Michigan lands at number four with a score of 94.04. Despite having only 15 registered major clubs, the "Great Lakes State" has one of the highest search interest scores in the country at 52.24, indicating a massive "hidden" community of home-game players.

5. Texas

Rounding out the top five is Texas with an index score of 90.08. Texas is home to the highest raw number of places to play in our top tier—a whopping 113 venues! While its senior and Asian population percentages are lower than Florida or California, the sheer volume of infrastructure for the game makes it a massive mahjong hub.

6. Hawaii

Hawaii secures the sixth spot with an obsession index of 86.79. It is essentially the cultural heart of the game in the U.S., boasting the highest Asian population percentage in the country (57.59%). While it only has two officially registered venues, the high density of practitioners and cultural roots means mahjong is a staple of island life rather than just a passing trend.

7. New York

New York lands at number seven with an index score of 83.56. The Empire State shows a balanced obsession, combining a significant number of registered venues (49) with high digital interest (48.01/100). From the historic parlors of Manhattan’s Chinatown to social clubs in the suburbs, New Yorkers are actively keeping the tiles clacking.

8. Colorado

Colorado ranks eighth with a score of 82.63. Despite having a smaller Asian and senior population than coastal hubs, the state shows a massive surge in public interest with a 44.32 Google Search score. With 14 major venues and a growing community of younger players, Colorado is proving that mahjong has a strong foothold in the Mountain West.

9. New Jersey

Coming in at number nine is New Jersey, scoring 81.68 on the index. The Garden State benefits from a "perfect storm" of demographics with a high senior population (17.74%) and a strong Asian American community (11.11%). With 56 registered venues, it is one of the most accessible states in the country to find a competitive game.

10. Oregon

Rounding out the top 10 is Oregon with an index score of 81.00. Oregonians are officially the most curious people in America when it comes to this game, boasting the highest Google Trends interest score (66.50/100) of any state in the top 10. While physical venues are still catching up, the digital data suggests a massive home-game culture is thriving in the Pacific Northwest.

Mahjong Is The Hot New Activity

Whether it's the strategic depth of the Chinese original or the fast-paced social nature of the American variant, mahjong is proving it has staying power in the 21st century. From the retirement communities of Florida to the bustling metro areas of Texas, the game has become a sensation. If your state ranked high, there’s likely a game happening nearby right now. If it ranked low, perhaps it’s time to buy a set and start your own league!

Of course, if your taste in games runs more to traditional casino style games than mahjong tiles, you might prefer this Jackpota Casino Promo Code.

Methodology

To find the most mahjong-obsessed states, we created a Mahjong Index (0–100) using four key metrics:

1. Google Search Interest (40%): Average search volume for "Mahjong" over the last 5 years via Google Trends.
2. Venues & Places to Play (30%): Based on the BAM Good Time club directory.
3. Asian Population % (20%): A cultural proxy reflecting the game's historical roots.
4. Senior Population % (10%): A demographic proxy reflecting the game's popularity in social and retirement communities.

All data was normalized using min-max scaling to ensure a fair comparison across states with vastly different populations.

You can see the full dataset here.

Kathy Morris

Kathy is Digital PR Specialist at VegasInsider where she creates fun, data based content. Her research has been featured by the WSJ, FastCompany, Cornell, the LATimes, and more. She lives in St. Louis, MO, home of the worst pizza and the best baseball team. She spends her free time building data visualizations, reading, and hoping this year the Cards make it far enough she gets to wear her Cardinals’ sweatshirt More from Kathy Morris