Learn Mahjong Ways gameplay with a simple turn-by-turn overview

01 · Rules

How to play Mahjong Ways: start with the game screen

You can learn the controls in the Mahjong Ways demo using virtual credits. The public demo has an English interface, and the number of ways appears above the reels. Mahjong Ways has 5 reels, 4 rows and 1,024 ways. Mahjong Ways 2 has 5 reels, an extra row on reels 2, 3 and 4, and 2,000 ways. Both games are made by PG Soft and use mahjong tiles as symbols.

Step-by-step: from opening the game to SPIN

1. Open the public demo in a browser, or open the game through a gaming platform. The games use HTML5; PG Soft does not provide an official standalone Mahjong Ways APK. For details about this distinction, see app and APK information.
2. Check the game screen. The wallet balance is displayed separately from the bet amount and win amount. In the demo, credits are virtual.
3. Use the minus and plus controls to adjust the bet. Select BET AMOUNT to view or change bet size and bet level, or use Max Bet to select the highest available setting. Bet level ranges from 1 to 10. The calculation is bet size × bet level × base bet 20. The base bet is a game setting in the calculation, not a currency amount or a recommended stake.
4. Check the selected setting before spinning. The PAYTABLE and RULES menus explain symbol values, special symbols and game mechanics; HISTORY shows earlier game results. Tapping the win amount also opens game history.
5. Tap SPIN to start. You can tap SPIN again or tap the game area to stop the reels. On a PC, press the Space key to spin; holding Space starts continuous spins.

These controls are shared by Mahjong Ways and Mahjong Ways 2. The reel layout and some feature details differ, so check the rules in the specific game before playing.

02 · Rules

Mahjong Ways rules: how ways wins are counted

A ways win forms when matching symbols appear from the leftmost reel across adjacent reels. The symbols do not have to land in a fixed line or one particular row. The game checks the available matching combinations across the reels, using the ways count shown above them. A match that skips a reel does not continue a left-to-right sequence beyond that gap. Use the paytable to check which symbols pay and how their combinations are evaluated in that game.

A Wild substitutes for every symbol except Scatter. In both games it appears as a gold ingot marked WILD. The Scatter is separate from regular ways wins and is shown with the red character 胡 (hu). The paytable and rules menus are the in-game references for the symbols and features; use them rather than relying on claims about unofficial symbols.

Cascades and Gold Plated symbols

A winning combination triggers a cascade: the winning symbols are removed, new symbols drop into the spaces, and the game checks for another win. One paid spin can therefore contain several win rounds. A cascade continues while another win is formed; it is not a new spin.

Some non-Wild, non-Scatter symbols on reels 2, 3 and/or 4 can appear gold. These are Gold Plated symbols. After a win and the drop of new symbols, a gold symbol involved in the preceding win changes into a Wild. The new Wild can help form another combination in the next cascade round. Gold colour alone does not mean that a symbol will change: it must have been part of the previous win.

03 · Rules

Mahjong Ways and Mahjong Ways 2 multiplier ladder

The multiplier applies to wins during a cascade and resets when a new spin begins. In the main game, both titles use the same ladder:

For example, if consecutive cascade rounds win, the sequence is x1, then x2, then x3, then x5. If the first round does not win, there is no later cascade round to advance the ladder. This example describes multipliers only, not a payout amount.

In free spins, the multiplier sequence is different: x2, x4, x6 and x10 as winning cascade rounds progress. The rounds and any resulting win depend on the game outcome; a multiplier does not guarantee a win. The free spins and Scatter guide explains how the feature is triggered.

Free-spin differences between the two games

Three Scatter symbols anywhere trigger 12 free spins in Mahjong Ways. Each additional Scatter adds 2 more spins. In Mahjong Ways 2, three Scatters trigger 10 free spins, with 2 additional spins for each extra Scatter. Both games can retrigger free spins.

During Mahjong Ways 2 free spins, all symbols on reel 3 other than Wild and Scatter appear gold. After a win, those gold symbols turn into Wilds. Mahjong Ways uses its regular Gold Plated symbol rule on reels 2, 3 and 4. For each game, consult its own rules screen for the feature details.

04 · Rules

Bet controls, Auto Spin and Turbo Spin

Bet size and bet level are selected through the bet controls. The game’s total bet calculation uses bet size × bet level × base bet 20; the level can be set from 1 to 10. The interface also offers Max Bet, which selects the maximum available setting. This describes the control, not a suggestion to choose it. No currency value is stated here, and demo credits are virtual.

Auto Spin starts a sequence of spins. Its stop conditions include a decrease in balance by a selected amount, an increase in balance by a selected amount, or a single win exceeding a selected amount. You can use the conditions shown in the game to stop the sequence; Auto Spin does not predict or control outcomes. Turbo Spin speeds up the spin presentation. It does not change the game’s rules or make results predictable.

The SOUND control adjusts game audio. PAYTABLE, RULES and HISTORY provide information about symbols, features and previous results. The win amount opens history as well. On a PC, Space starts a spin, while holding it starts continuous spins. The official game information does not describe a Feature Buy option for either title.

05 · Rules

What to know about the games in India

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 applies across India, including to services operated from outside the country. It prohibits online money games, their offering, advertising and promotion, and bars banks and payment systems from processing related transactions. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Rules, 2026 came into force on 1 May 2026 and provide for an authority to determine whether a game is an online money game. Under this framework, playing Mahjong Ways or Mahjong Ways 2 for real money is an online money game. The free demo uses virtual credits and involves no money. See the India legal-status page for the relevant context; this guide is not legal advice.

The game outcomes are generated randomly, and each spin is independent. So-called patterns, predictors and hacks do not make results predictable. RTP is a long-term theoretical figure for a game version, not a forecast for an individual session; more context is available in the RTP and max win guide. The demo is for people aged 18 and over. For support related to mental health, India’s Tele MANAS helpline is available on 14416 or 1-800-891-4416. For cyber fraud, use the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal or helpline 1930.