Learn the basics of Mahjong Ways 2, from tiles to spins

01 · Rules

Before you start playing Mahjong Ways

Mahjong Ways and Mahjong Ways 2 are mahjong-themed slots by Pocket Games Soft (PG Soft). The public PG Soft demo runs in a browser and offers several interface languages; this Philippines guide uses the English interface. In the demo, the number of ways appears above the reels. You can also read how to use the demo before starting.

These games do not have their own player accounts. If you choose to play through a gaming platform, its account and access rules apply. In the Philippines, online games may be offered only by PAGCOR-licensed or registered platforms. Check the exact platform domain against PAGCOR's lists; a PAGCOR logo on a page is not proof that the platform is authorised. This guide does not confirm that either game is approved on a particular platform. The minimum age is 21, and government officials and employees, AFP and PNP members, and people listed in the National Database of Restricted Persons are barred from gambling.

02 · Rules

How to play Mahjong Ways: opening the game and setting a bet

Use these steps in the public demo or, where legally available, on a gaming platform. The screen layout may differ slightly by device, but the controls described in the official game information are the same.

1. Open the game. Choose Mahjong Ways or Mahjong Ways 2 from the game list. Wait for the reels and controls to load. The games support mobile and desktop platforms and use HTML5; PG Soft does not list an official standalone Mahjong Ways APK.
2. Check the game name and reels. Mahjong Ways has five reels with four rows and 1,024 ways. Mahjong Ways 2 has five reels, with an extra row on reels 2, 3 and 4, for a 4-5-5-5-4 layout and 2,000 ways. Confirm which version is open before you play, as the layouts and free-spin rules differ.
3. Set the bet. Use MINUS or PLUS to adjust the bet. The BET AMOUNT control opens the bet settings, which include bet size, bet level and Max Bet. Bet level runs from 1 to 10. The total bet is calculated as bet size × bet level × base bet 20. Base bet 20 is a game calculation factor, not a statement of a cash amount. Max Bet selects the highest available setting; check the displayed total before spinning. The available settings may depend on the platform.
4. Start a spin. Tap SPIN. On a PC, press Space to spin; holding Space starts continuous spins. You can tap SPIN again or tap the game area to stop the reels. Stopping the animation does not change the result of a spin.
5. Review the result. Winning symbols are removed in a cascade, and new symbols fall into place. The game checks the new arrangement for another win. A spin can therefore contain several rounds before it ends.

The bet controls let you choose a game setting, not a way to predict results. Each spin is independent, and results come from a random number generator. So-called patterns, predictors, tricks and hacks do not make outcomes predictable.

03 · Rules

Mahjong Ways rules: how ways wins are counted

A ways win starts with matching symbols on the leftmost reel and continues across adjacent reels from left to right. A match must appear on consecutive reels beginning at reel 1; a symbol on a later reel cannot skip over a reel without a match. The game checks the available symbol combinations across the reels rather than asking you to select a fixed payline. The total number of ways is shown above the reels: 1,024 in Mahjong Ways and 2,000 in Mahjong Ways 2.

The paytable shows which symbol combinations pay and the corresponding awards. Open PAYTABLE before playing to check the symbols and their listed values for the selected game. The number of winning ways and the matching symbol combination affect the result according to the paytable and bet setting. The game can show more than one win during a single spin as cascades continue.

Cascades, gold symbols and Wilds

In both games, the Wild is a gold ingot marked WILD. It substitutes for all symbols except Scatter. Some non-Wild, non-Scatter symbols on reels 2, 3 or 4 may appear gold-plated. When a gold symbol is involved in a win, it turns into a Wild after the winning symbols are removed and new symbols cascade down. The game then checks for another win in the same spin.

A gold-plated symbol does not automatically become a Wild just because it is gold. It must be involved in a win in the preceding round. If no additional win forms after the cascade, that spin's sequence ends and the multiplier resets for the next spin.

Multiplier ladder and worked examples

The multiplier starts at x1 in the first round of a regular spin. When a round wins, the next round moves up the ladder. In both games, the regular-round sequence is x1, x2, x3, then x5 for round four and later rounds. It resets to x1 when a new spin begins.

• Example 1: A win in the first round is evaluated at x1. If the cascade creates a win in round two, that round uses x2; a further win in round three uses x3.
• Example 2: If wins continue into round four, that round and later winning rounds use x5. The multiplier applies to the round's win according to the game rules; it does not guarantee that a cascade will continue.

During free spins, the ladder is x2, x4, x6 and x10 instead. These examples describe multipliers only, not cash outcomes. For a separate explanation of free spins and Scatter rules, see the feature guide.

04 · Rules

Differences between Mahjong Ways and Mahjong Ways 2

In Mahjong Ways 2 free spins, all symbols other than Wild and Scatter on reel 3 appear gold. After a win, those gold symbols turn into Wilds. Both games can retrigger free spins. In Mahjong Ways, gold-plated symbols can appear on reels 2, 3 and/or 4 during any spin; Mahjong Ways 2 uses the special reel-3 gold rule during free spins. For more version-specific details, see the Mahjong Ways 2 guide.

05 · Rules

Auto Spin, Turbo Spin and game menus

AUTO SPIN starts a chosen run of automatic spins. The official controls include stop conditions for when the balance decreases by a set amount, increases by a set amount, or a single win exceeds a set amount. Set any available stop condition before starting, and do not treat Auto Spin as a way to control the result. Stop conditions are safeguards, not guarantees that a session will end at a particular balance.

TURBO SPIN speeds up the spin presentation. It does not change the random outcome or improve the chance of a win. Use SOUND to adjust audio. On a PC, Space spins, while holding Space starts continuous spins; the on-screen SPIN control remains available as well.

Use the information menus before play:

• PAYTABLE explains symbol awards and winning combinations.
• RULES displays the game's rules and feature details.
• HISTORY shows game history. The WIN AMOUNT control also opens game history.
• WALLET BALANCE displays the balance provided by the platform, while BET AMOUNT opens the bet settings.

Check the paytable and rules for the version currently open, rather than assuming the two games have identical features. No Feature Buy or bonus-buy control is described in the official game information for either title.

06 · Rules

Practical checks for players in the Philippines

A demo is useful for learning controls, but it does not establish that a platform is licensed or that real-money play is legal on that platform. Verify the exact domain against PAGCOR's official lists and read the platform terms before creating an account. A logo or claim on a website is not a substitute for checking its status. For the wider regulatory context, see the Philippines legal guide.

Payment arrangements depend on the platform. GCash Help Center says licensed gaming top-up and withdrawal services were removed effective 16 August 2025. BSP memorandum M-2025-029, dated 14 August 2025, instructed BSP-supervised e-wallets to remove in-app links to gambling sites. Do not assume that a particular payment method is available; check current information from the relevant service.

Set personal limits before playing and stop if gambling is affecting your wellbeing or responsibilities. PAGCOR provides information on responsible gaming and self-exclusion. The National Problem Gambling Helpline is available at npgh.ph. You can also read this site's responsible gaming guidance.