TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan residents are gathering with family and friends to play traditional games like mahjong (麻將) and card games during the Lunar New Year holiday. These activities do not constitute gambling under Taiwanese law when played at home, as they occur in private residences rather than public places. The tradition reflects the annual togetherness of family members and the festive spirit of welcoming good fortune in the new year.
Mahjong, a traditional Chinese game, involves four players aiming to complete winning tile combinations while blocking opponents from achieving the same goal. Another popular game, Si̍p-pat-á (十八仔), a traditional Taiwanese dice game, uses four dice and a large bowl for gameplay. Players take turns rolling four dice, subtracting pairs with the same number, and adding the remaining two dice's points, with the highest total winning the round.
DragonGatePoker (射龍門), a traditional card game, requires players to win by drawing a third card that falls numerically between two previously drawn cards. Taiwanese folklore suggests several superstitions to enhance luck during these games, including wearing red underwear, trimming eyebrows and nose hair, and using lucky charms. Popular lucky charms include jade pendants or carrying a child's umbilical cord, practices rooted in traditional beliefs about attracting fortune during the new year.
Many Taiwan residents also buy lottery tickets during the holiday for good fortune and to boost the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year celebrations. Taiwan Lottery Co. (台灣彩券公司) announced on Jan. 26 an unprecedented bonus pool of NT$12 billion (around US$379.87 million) for three computer-generated games. From Thursday (Feb. 12) to Tuesday (March 3), the company will draw Lotto 20 times. The draws offer 480 sets of NT$1 million (around US$31,656) and 800 sets of NT$100,000 (around US$3,166).