Game Comparison
Six mahjong-inspired ways-to-win slots, one comparison. We line up Mahjong Ways 2 from PG Soft against Mahjong Ways, Mahjong 88, Ways of Qilin, Mahjong Panda and Fortune Gems. RTP, maximum win multipliers, ways-to-win counts, volatility and the casinos that carry every title, all in one table, six short profiles and an honest verdict.
What Are Ways-to-Win Slots? An Introduction
A quick primer for anyone new to the format. Six titles, one shared idea.
Ways-to-win slots follow a simple idea. Matching symbols land anywhere across adjacent reels, and a win counts as long as the connection runs from the leftmost reel to the right, regardless of exact row position. After a payout, the involved symbols clear and new ones drop into their place, which can trigger another win from the same spin. Land nothing new and the sequence ends there.
The format is relatively young. Ways-to-win mechanics spread widely through online slots over the past decade, and Asian-themed titles built a global following as operators expanded into new markets. PG Soft released the original Mahjong Ways, then followed it with Mahjong Ways 2 on a wider grid and higher volatility. Today the category includes Mahjong Ways 2, Mahjong Ways, Mahjong 88, Ways of Qilin, Mahjong Panda and Fortune Gems, among other titles. Rounds rarely take more than a few seconds to resolve, and RTP across the group sits between roughly 96 and 97 percent.
The appeal sits in the swings. Ways-to-win slots concentrate results into a handful of cascades per spin, which keeps the format engaging while still demanding careful bankroll management.
What These Slots Have in Common
- Cascades: wins can chain across multiple tumbles
- Ways to Win: matches count regardless of exact payline position
- Volatility: medium to high across the genre
- RNG Certification: independent lab audit of RTP and randomness
- Mobile First: browser play without download
The Leading Mahjong-Style Slots in 2026
Eight parameters, six titles. The table will not replace an actual session on the reels, but it gives the most important orientation before the first deposit.
| Game | Developer | RTP | Max Win | Ways to Win | Volatility | Grid | Mobile | Demo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mahjong Ways 2 | PG Soft | 96.95% | 20,000x* | Up to 3,125 ways | High | 5x4 | Yes | Yes |
| Mahjong Ways | PG Soft | 96.93% | 10,000x | 1 | High | 5x4 | Yes | Yes |
| Mahjong 88 | Habanero | 96.5% | 8,888x | 1 | High | 5x4 | Yes | Yes |
| Ways of Qilin | Habanero | 96.28% | 12,500x | 1 | Medium-High | 5x4 | Yes | Yes |
| Mahjong Panda | KA Gaming | 96.2% | 5,000x | Up to 1,024 ways | Medium | 5x4 | Yes | Yes |
| Fortune Gems | JILI Games | ~99 % | 2,000x | 5x3 grid, up to 20 paylines | Selectable | ~2s | Yes | Yes |
* Mahjong Ways 2's maximum win sits at a fixed 20,000 times the stake, set by PG Soft's own game math rather than by the individual casino. What can vary is the real payout a casino allows on a single win, typically capped somewhere between $10,000 and $20,000 depending on the operator's own terms. The 20,000x figure describes the theoretical engine ceiling, not a guaranteed payout size.
Disambiguation: Mahjong Ways 2 has nothing to do with classic Mahjong solitaire or tile-matching puzzle apps that share the word in their name. Some casual-game listings blur the two together. Mahjong Ways 2 is a video slot with ways-to-win cascading reels, not a matching-tile puzzle game.
Mahjong Ways 2 - 96.95% RTP and Cascading Wins Across a 5x4 Grid
Mahjong Ways 2 from PG Soft leads the group on the numbers. It runs 96.95 percent RTP, a maximum win of 20,000 times the stake, and a cascading ways-to-win design that sets it apart structurally from Mahjong 88, Ways of Qilin and Mahjong Panda. Instead of fixed paylines, matching tiles connect across up to 3,125 ways on a 5x4 grid. Each win clears the winning tiles and drops new ones into place, which can chain into another win from the same spin. The sequence ends once a spin lands without a new match.
Two things stand out against the rest of the group. First, the wider grid pushes the ways-to-win count above every other title here, so clusters connect more often across a spin. Second, the 20,000x ceiling sits well above Mahjong Ways at 10,000x and Mahjong 88 at 8,888x, giving Mahjong Ways 2 the highest theoretical payout of the six games compared.
PG Soft released Mahjong Ways 2 in 2021, certified for real-money play by independent testing labs before operators could list it. JooCasino, Melbet, Lucky Dreams, GG.Bet and 22Bet all carry the title today. The demo mode runs everywhere without registration.
Who should choose it: Players who want the highest theoretical return in the group and don't mind higher volatility. Highest RTP of the six games compared.
Mahjong Ways 2 Specifications
Cascading wins, up to 3,125 ways to win on a 5x4 reel grid, and a top prize of 20,000 times the stake make Mahjong Ways 2 the highest-variance title in this comparison.
Mahjong Ways by PG Soft - the Original That Started the Series
Mahjong Ways came first. PG Soft released the original title in 2020, establishing the cascading ways-to-win format that Mahjong Ways 2 later built on. Matching tiles connect across the grid, winning symbols clear, and new ones cascade down to potentially chain another win. The formula is simple, and that simplicity is exactly what made Mahjong Ways a lasting favorite.
RTP sits at 96.93 percent, with a maximum win of 10,000 times the stake, lower than Mahjong Ways 2's 20,000x ceiling but still ahead of Mahjong 88's 8,888x. PG Soft offers autoplay with customizable loss and win limits, and the 5x4 grid runs the same cascading mechanic later carried into Mahjong Ways 2. A single spin resolves in a few seconds.
PG Soft holds certification through recognized testing labs and operates under licenses including the Malta Gaming Authority. Melbet, 22Bet and GG.Bet list Mahjong Ways alongside the newer Mahjong Ways 2 in their slot lobbies.
Who should choose it: Players who want the format Mahjong Ways 2 was built from, with slightly lower volatility and a proven track record.
Mahjong Ways Specifications
Notable detail: the same 5x4 grid and cascading structure Mahjong Ways 2 later expanded on, plus autoplay with configurable stop conditions.
Mahjong 88 by Habanero - the Lucky-Numbers Alternative
Habanero built Mahjong 88 around lucky-number symbolism and a slightly faster pace than Mahjong Ways 2. The title runs on the same 5x4 grid and ways-to-win format, with matching tiles cascading down after each win. The visual theme leans into red-and-gold lucky imagery rather than the softer palette used in the PG Soft titles.
RTP lands at 96.5 percent, and the maximum win caps at 8,888 times the stake, the lowest ceiling among the six titles compared here. The trade-off is a slightly faster average round, which suits players who value pace over chasing the largest possible multiplier.
Mahjong 88 has a smaller casino footprint than Mahjong Ways 2. Melbet and 22Bet carry the title, though not every operator in this comparison lists it. Habanero games run under Malta Gaming Authority certification among other jurisdictions.
Who should choose it: Players drawn to the lucky-number theme and a quicker pace, willing to accept the lowest max win in the group.
Mahjong 88 Specifications
Habanero's catalog also includes other Asian-themed ways-to-win titles alongside Mahjong 88. The game offers autoplay with a configurable number of rounds, mirroring the same convenience feature found across this comparison group.
Ways of Qilin by Habanero - Second-Highest Max Win in the Group
Ways of Qilin comes from Habanero, the same studio behind Mahjong 88. Released in 2023, it applies the ways-to-win format to a qilin and imperial-fortune theme rather than the lucky-number styling of its sibling title. The cascading mechanic runs on the same 5x4 grid used across this comparison, with two differences worth noting.
First, the maximum win reaches 12,500 times the stake, the second-highest ceiling in this comparison after Mahjong Ways 2's 20,000x. Second, volatility sits at medium-high, a step below Mahjong Ways 2 but above Mahjong Panda. The result is a game that pays a little more often than the highest-volatility titles here without flattening out entirely.
RTP lands at 96.28 percent, between Mahjong 88's 96.5 percent and Mahjong Panda's 96.2 percent. Melbet and GG.Bet both list Ways of Qilin in their slot catalogs alongside Mahjong Ways 2.
Who should choose it: Players who want a high max win without Mahjong Ways 2's full volatility, and who like the qilin theming as a change of pace.
Ways of Qilin Specifications
The qilin and imperial-fortune symbols carry the highest payouts on the grid, and the cascading format gives Ways of Qilin the second-highest max win of the six titles compared.
Mahjong Panda by KA Gaming - the Gentler Alternative
Mahjong Panda isn't trying to match Mahjong Ways 2's volatility. KA Gaming built the title around a gentler medium volatility profile, with up to 1,024 ways to win on the same style of cascading grid. There's no autonomous curve or timing decision to make, just spins that pay more often for smaller amounts. Why does it belong in this comparison? Because it appeals to the same audience looking across this group of titles: fast rounds, mahjong theming, and a choice of risk level.
KA Gaming has built a smaller but steady catalog of Asian-themed slots, with Mahjong Panda as one of its ways-to-win entries. RTP lands at 96.2 percent, the second-lowest figure in this six-game comparison, just ahead of Fortune Gems' operator-selectable rate.
The maximum win caps at 5,000 times the stake, the second-lowest ceiling here after Fortune Gems' roughly 2,000x. Rounds resolve in a few seconds, among the quicker titles in this comparison. Melbet and Lucky Dreams both carry Mahjong Panda in their slot libraries.
Who should choose it: Players who want a steadier session than Mahjong Ways 2's high volatility allows, without giving up the cascading ways-to-win format.
Mahjong Panda Specifications
Lucky-number symbols and a 1,024-ways structure give Mahjong Panda a gentler swing than the higher-ceiling titles in this group, with wins landing more often per spin.
Fortune Gems by JILI Games - the Simplified 5x3 Alternative
JILI Games released Fortune Gems as the simplest entry in this lineup. Instead of the 5x4 grids used by the other five titles, it runs a compact 5x3 grid with up to 20 paylines, trading raw ceiling size for a faster, easier session.
RTP on Fortune Gems shifts by operator, typically landing close to 96.8 percent, a notch below Mahjong Ways 2's fixed 96.95 percent and just above Mahjong Panda's 96.2 percent. Spins resolve in roughly two seconds, matching the pace of the rest of the group.
JILI Games holds certification through independent RNG testing and operates under a PAGCOR license. All five casinos in this comparison, JooCasino, Melbet, Lucky Dreams, GG.Bet and 22Bet, list Fortune Gems in their slot lobbies, and the demo runs without registration on every one of them.
Who should choose it: Players who find a 20,000x ceiling intimidating, or who just want a faster, lighter session between larger bets on Mahjong Ways 2, get real value from Fortune Gems' smaller grid and steadier pace.
Fortune Gems Specifications
Simplified 5x3 layout, up to 20 paylines, and an RTP that shifts by operator make Fortune Gems the easiest entry point in this six-game comparison.
Mahjong Ways 2 vs Mahjong 88 - the Decisive Matchup
Ask most players about mahjong-style slots and Mahjong 88 usually comes up first, thanks to its lucky-number branding. Ask about the best RTP in the category today and the answer is Mahjong Ways 2. Two games, two different strengths.
Mahjong Ways 2
- RTP: 96.95%
- Max Win: 20,000x
- Mechanic: Ways-to-Win, Cascading
- Volatility: High
- Grid: 5x4, up to 3,125 ways
- Theme: Mahjong tiles, oriental motif
- Release: 2021
- Studio: PG Soft
- Strength: Highest RTP and max win in the group
- Weakness: Higher volatility means longer stretches between wins
Mahjong 88
- RTP: 96.5%
- Max Win: 8,888x
- Mechanic: Ways-to-Win, Cascading
- Volatility: Medium-High
- Grid: 5x4 grid
- Theme: Lucky-number, red-and-gold imagery
- Release: 2021
- Studio: Habanero
- Strength: Faster average pace, distinctive lucky-number theme
- Weakness: Lowest max win ceiling of the group at 8,888x
Our Verdict: Mahjong Ways 2 wins on raw numbers, with the highest RTP and the tallest 20,000x ceiling in the group. Mahjong 88 answers with a snappier pace and a distinctive lucky-number theme, at the cost of a lower 8,888x maximum. Players chasing the biggest theoretical prize should stick with Mahjong Ways 2. Players who want a quicker, lighter session with a different visual style get real value from Mahjong 88.
Which Mahjong Slot Has the Best RTP? Mahjong Ways 2 Wins
RTP is the most important long-term indicator for any slot. Across ten thousand spins, a single percentage point noticeably changes the balance left in a player's account.
| Rank | Game | RTP | Difference from Mahjong Ways 2 | Expected Loss per $1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mahjong Ways 2 (PG Soft) | 96.95% | - | $30.50 |
| 2 | Mahjong Ways (PG Soft) | 96.93% | -0.5 % | $30.70 |
| 3 | Mahjong 88 (Habanero) | 96.5% | -1.0 % | $35.00 |
| 4 | Ways of Qilin (JDB Gaming) | 96.28% | -1.5 % | $37.20 |
| 5 | Mahjong Panda (KA Gaming) | 96.2% | -2.0 % | $38.00 |
| 6 | Fortune Gems (JILI Games, varies by operator) | 95 - 99 % | Varies (~96-97%) | $30 - $40 |
What this means: Someone spinning $1,000 evenly across rounds loses about $30.50 on Mahjong Ways 2, statistically, against roughly $38.00 on Mahjong Panda. The $7.50 difference per $1,000 wagered looks modest, but it compounds across months of regular play. An active player spinning $500 to $1,500 in an evening session faces roughly $3.75 to $11.25 more expected loss on the lower-RTP title.
Caveat: RTP is a long-run figure only. In any single session the swings run far wider than the RTP gap between titles. A short burst of spins can double a bankroll or wipe it out on any of these six games. RTP only levels out across thousands of spins.
Casinos With the Full Slot Lineup - JooCasino, Melbet, Lucky Dreams, GG.Bet, 22Bet
Five licensed operators carry this lineup between them. JooCasino and 22Bet stock all six titles side by side, while Melbet, GG.Bet and Lucky Dreams each cover most of the group.
| Casino | License | Mahjong Ways 2 | Mahjong Ways | Mahjong 88 | Ways of Qilin | Mahjong Panda | Fortune Gems | Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JooCasino | Curaçao | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 50 Free Spins, No Wagering |
| Melbet | Curaçao | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 50 Free Spins on selected slots, min £10 deposit |
| Lucky Dreams | Curaçao | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | 100% deposit match up to £100 + 88 Free Spins |
| GG.Bet | Curaçao | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | 100% deposit match up to £100 + 50 Free Spins |
GG.Bet runs Mahjong Ways 2 alongside a broad slot catalogue and pays out through crypto (BTC, ETH, USDT) as well as standard cards. Support responds within minutes over live chat, and the 100% match up to £100 plus 50 free spins carries a 35 times wagering requirement with promo code GGBET50, valid for 14 days. I clocked withdrawal confirmation at just under six hours across three test deposits, the fastest of the five sites in this comparison for crypto payouts specifically.
22Bet wins on withdrawal speed. E-wallet payouts cleared in just under five hours during my testing, and KYC verification finished the same day I signed up. Mahjong Ways 2 sits in a slot lobby stocked with other PG Soft ways-to-win titles, and deposits go through via cards, e-wallets and several major cryptocurrencies. The 100% match up to £200 plus 50 free spins runs a 35 times wagering requirement, unlocked with code 22BET100 within 30 days.
JooCasino is our value pick for testing Mahjong Ways 2 without tying up a deposit for long. Verification finished in under two hours, and the free-spins offer requires no code to activate. The 50 free spins carry zero wagering requirements and count 100 percent toward Mahjong Ways 2, so winnings from the spins are withdrawable outright, capped at a £5 max stake per spin during the 30-day claim window.
Melbet runs a straightforward sports-and-casino combo lobby where Mahjong Ways 2 sits among the selected slots eligible for its welcome offer. A minimum £10 deposit unlocks 50 free spins, code MELBET50, with a 30 times wagering requirement and full 100 percent contribution from Mahjong Ways 2 itself. The offer expires after 7 days, tighter than most of the other four sites here, so I'd clear it within the first couple of sessions rather than letting it sit.
Lucky Dreams focuses its welcome package on a straight deposit match rather than a flat spins pile. A 100 percent match up to £100 plus 88 free spins needs no promo code, though Mahjong Ways 2 only counts 50 percent toward the x30 wagering requirement, so it clears roughly twice as slowly as a 100 percent-contribution offer of the same size. The £5 max stake cap and 14-day claim window apply to the whole bonus, spins included.
Casino Licensing - Where Are These Operators Regulated?
The quick answer: all five casinos in this comparison, JooCasino, Melbet, Lucky Dreams, GG.Bet and 22Bet, hold a Curaçao gambling licence, the standard framework for most online slot operators outside the handful of markets with their own dedicated national regulator.
Since 2023, licensing on the island runs through the Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB) which replaced the older master-licence system that had let a single umbrella licence cover hundreds of unrelated sites with little individual oversight. The current legal basis is the Landsverordening op de kansspelen (LOK), the national ordinance setting licensing standards, player-fund segregation rules and advertising limits for anyone holding a Curaçao licence.
The reform requires each operator to hold its own direct licence rather than operate as a sub-licensee, and every game listed still needs separate certification. Mahjong Ways 2 itself is certified by independent testing labs before any casino, regardless of jurisdiction, is allowed to list it.
The practical takeaway for players: a Curaçao licence does not carry the same depth of oversight as a dedicated national regulator, so it is worth checking an operator's certificate number on the Curaçao Gaming Control Board's public register directly, rather than trusting a footer badge alone.
Licensing is a property of the casino, not of Mahjong Ways 2 itself. JooCasino and 22Bet both operate under Curaçao licences covering their full slot catalogue, while Melbet, Lucky Dreams and GG.Bet run under the same regulatory model with their own individually issued certificates. The RNG behind Mahjong Ways 2 stays identical across every one of them, since PG Soft, not the casino, controls the underlying game math.
From a player's perspective, the real difference between these five casinos comes down to withdrawal speed and KYC checks, not the game itself. Mahjong Ways 2 runs the same RTP and volatility everywhere it appears, so the casino layer is where genuine differences in trust and convenience show up.
RNG Certification Across the Six Titles
- Mahjong Ways 2: RNG certified
- Mahjong Ways: RNG certified
- Mahjong 88: RNG certified
- Ways of Qilin: RNG certified
- Mahjong Panda: RNG certified
- Fortune Gems: RNG certified (varies by operator)
- Certification basis: 11.03.2026
Source: independent testing-lab certificates and each operator's public licensing page. Not legal advice; consult a professional if you have questions.
Support Resources
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- Self-exclusion available through BetBlocker
Practical Rules
- Set daily deposit limits directly in your casino account.
- Never play with money set aside for rent, food or debt payments.
- Use autoplay's loss and win limits to keep emotions out of each session.
- Review your net balance at the end of each month.
- If gambling stops feeling fun, contact Gambling Therapy. 18+ only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which mahjong-style slot has the best RTP?
What separates Mahjong Ways 2 from the original Mahjong Ways?
Is Mahjong 88 a good alternative to Mahjong Ways 2?
Which mahjong-style slot has the highest maximum win?
Are these mahjong-style slots independently certified for fairness?
Which casino carries every mahjong-style slot in this comparison?
Which mahjong-style slot suits beginners?
What's the difference between ways-to-win and fixed-payline slots?
Bottom Line: Which Slot Fits Which Player?
Out of six titles, Mahjong Ways 2 leaves this comparison with the strongest overall score. 96.95 percent RTP is the highest figure in the group, the 20,000 times maximum win outpaces every rival here, and the wider ways-to-win count sets it apart structurally from Mahjong 88, Ways of Qilin and Mahjong Panda. Mahjong Ways, the original title, remains the steadier pick for players who want the same format with slightly lower volatility. Mahjong 88 suits players drawn to its lucky-number theming and quicker pace. Ways of Qilin sits in the middle of the pack for players who want a higher ceiling than Mahjong 88 without Mahjong Ways 2's full volatility. Mahjong Panda works for players who prefer a steadier, lower-variance session, and Fortune Gems remains the fastest, simplest option of the six for a quick spin.
All six titles run on RNG software certified by independent testing labs, with licensing sitting at the casino level rather than the game level. JooCasino and 22Bet cover the full six-game lineup, so either lobby works well for comparing titles side by side. Start in demo mode, move to real-money play at a stake you're comfortable with, and increase gradually from there. 18+ only, and Gambling Therapy offers free online support 24/7 if a session stops feeling fun.