Mahjong sets become big business in the US as demand outpaces supply

Google searches for "mahjong" climbed 70% year over year in the United States and 50% globally since 2021, according to Google Trends, as brands report that keeping sets and accessories in stock has become their hardest operational problem.

Megan Trottier, founder and CEO of lifestyle brand Oh My Mahjong, first learned the tile-based game about 20 years ago from a college roommate. She did not play again until the Covid period, when a friend suggested a game, and the hobby turned into a business idea centered on American Mahjong, which uses different tiles and winning hands than Chinese Mahjong.

After weekly games with friends, Trottier launched Oh My Mahjong from her garage in Dallas in 2022, starting with colorful designer mahjong mats and storage bags at a time when few accessories were on the market. The company generated $1 million in sales in 2023, a figure that rose to $40 million in 2025, and it has already surpassed that total in 2026.

"There was nothing in the market like there is now," Trottier said. "Now, everywhere you look, there's something mahjong."

Mahjong originated in China during the 1800s and spread to the United States and Europe in the 1900s. It has found a new audience among younger players drawn to tactile, offline experiences, a shift that has pushed game makers and accessory brands to expand their ranges.