New Double Bet Mahjong (bootleg of Royal Mahjong, set 1)

This two-player medal game presents a digital adaptation of the classic Chinese tabletop game, Mahjong. Released in Japan in 1981, New Double Bet Mahjong is a bootleg version created by Paradise Denshi Ltd., based on Nichibutsu’s earlier title, Royal Mahjong. Players face off against each other, strategically matching tiles to create sets and combinations, aiming to be the first to empty their racks. The gameplay involves carefully examining your hand of tiles and identifying opportunities to pair them with those already laid down on the table. Successful matches award points, while penalties are incurred for incorrect plays or failing to complete a valid sequence. The "Double Bet" element suggests a potential wagering mechanic common in medal games of the era. New Double Bet Mahjong offers a straightforward recreation of the traditional game’s core mechanics within an arcade setting and provides a glimpse into the proliferation of licensed and unlicensed titles during the early 1980s Japanese arcade scene.