Code of Conduct

160 Tiles Club is a place to play mahjong seriously, socially, curiously and joyfully.

We welcome beginners learning their first wall, experienced players chasing ambitious hands, and everyone in between.

Being competitive is welcome. Being hostile, abusive or deliberately unpleasant is not.

This Code of Conduct explains the standards of behaviour expected from everyone participating in 160 Tiles Club activities.

It applies to players, guests, instructors, volunteers, staff and anyone otherwise participating in or attending a Club Event.

By participating in a Club Event, you agree to follow this Code of Conduct together with our Terms of Service, applicable rules of play, venue rules and reasonable instructions from Club staff.

1. Respect the Table#

Mahjong is a shared game. Your conduct affects everyone at the table.

Participants must:

• treat other players, staff, volunteers, instructors and venue personnel with reasonable courtesy and respect;
• allow other players reasonable space and time to play;
• respect different levels of experience and familiarity with a ruleset;
• avoid deliberately disruptive or intimidating behaviour;
• follow reasonable table procedures and staff instructions; and
• handle tiles, tables and other equipment with reasonable care.

Friendly banter, celebration, disappointment and competitive energy are part of playing mahjong.

They should not become personal attacks, humiliation, aggression or behaviour that makes the table unnecessarily hostile.

2. Play Honestly and in Good Faith#

Players are expected to play honestly and in good faith.

You must not deliberately:

• cheat;
• falsify or manipulate a score, game record or gameplay information;
• conceal or misrepresent information that the applicable rules require you to disclose;
• collude with another player to improperly influence play;
• intentionally assist another player in a way prohibited by the applicable rules;
• manipulate gameplay for an improper external purpose; or
• knowingly exploit an administrative or technical error instead of bringing it to the Club's attention.

Strategic play is not cheating.

Bluffing, defensive play, aggressive hand-building, changing strategy, refusing a discard another player appears to want, or otherwise making legitimate decisions in your own interest are normal parts of mahjong where permitted by the applicable rules.

Players are not required to make the game easier for their opponents.

3. Play Your Own Hand#

Unless the format or an instructor specifically permits otherwise, players should make their own gameplay decisions.

Do not pressure another player to:

• discard a particular tile;
• reveal concealed information;
• change a legitimate decision;
• play in a way that benefits you or another player; or
• deliberately disadvantage someone else.

Likewise, avoid unsolicited coaching that materially interferes with another player's hand.

At beginner or teaching tables, instructors may provide guidance appropriate to the session.

Players may also help one another where invited or where the teaching format encourages collaborative learning.

4. Beginners Belong at the Table#

Everyone was new once.

Do not mock, shame or belittle someone for:

• asking a rules question;
• taking longer to recognise a hand or tile;
• misunderstanding a procedure;
• needing help building or handling the wall;
• making a poor strategic decision; or
• being unfamiliar with a particular mahjong variant.

At the same time, beginners are expected to make a reasonable effort to listen, learn and follow instructions.

Teaching should help someone understand the game, not make them afraid to play it.

5. Competitive Behaviour and Sportsmanship#

160 Tiles Club supports both social and serious play.

You are allowed to want to win.

You are allowed to play strategically, defend your hand, take calculated risks, celebrate a beautiful win and be mildly devastated when somebody steals the tile you have been waiting six turns for.

Competitive play must still remain respectful.

Do not:

• berate another player for a legal move;
• demand that another player justify their strategy;
• intentionally intimidate or humiliate an opponent;
• repeatedly complain about another player's legitimate decisions;
• retaliate against someone for winning or causing you to lose;
• pressure players into informal alliances or coordinated play; or
• create a hostile table because a game is not going your way.

A player making a decision you dislike is not, by itself, misconduct.

6. Table Talk and Information#

Social conversation and table talk are welcome unless the applicable rules or event format provide otherwise.

However, participants must not use table talk to improperly disclose concealed gameplay information, coordinate play, pressure another player or circumvent the applicable rules.

If you are unsure whether particular information may be discussed during a game, ask the table facilitator or Club staff.

7. Scoring and Rules Disagreements#

Rules disagreements happen. They do not need to become courtroom dramas.

If there is uncertainty about a rule, score, point transfer or table procedure:

1. pause the disputed action where reasonably possible;
2. identify what is being disputed;
3. refer to the applicable Play Reference or event rules; and
4. ask a Club staff member or designated facilitator for assistance if the table cannot resolve the issue.

Participants must not deliberately alter tiles, scores, records or other relevant information while a dispute is being resolved.

Where Club staff make a ruling for the purpose of allowing play to continue, participants should follow that ruling during the session.

Questions or concerns about a ruling may be raised calmly after the game or through the Club's feedback or complaints process.

8. No Gambling#

Gambling is not permitted at Club Events.

Participants must not wager money, cryptocurrency, property, redeemable credits, tokens or anything else of monetary value on the outcome of Club gameplay.

Gameplay points, counters and score transfers used under the applicable mahjong rules are game mechanics only. They have no cash value and must not be redeemed, settled or converted into money or other items of monetary value.

Do not organise, solicit or facilitate side bets or gambling through a Club Event or official Club communication channel.

9. Harassment, Discrimination and Personal Boundaries#

Harassment, discriminatory abuse and threatening behaviour are not acceptable.

Participants must not engage in:

• unwanted sexual attention or sexual harassment;
• threats or intimidation;
• stalking;
• sustained personal harassment;
• discriminatory insults or abuse;
• deliberate unwanted physical contact; or
• repeated behaviour that knowingly disregards another person's reasonable personal boundaries.

Not every disagreement, awkward interaction or isolated social misunderstanding is harassment.

Where possible, participants should respect clearly communicated boundaries and allow others to disengage from unwanted interactions.

If someone's behaviour makes you feel unsafe or seriously uncomfortable, you may approach Club staff or a volunteer for assistance.

10. Physical Safety#

Do not deliberately create unsafe conditions for other participants.

Participants should:

• follow reasonable venue and safety instructions;
• avoid aggressive physical behaviour;
• keep walkways and playing areas reasonably clear;
• use Club or venue equipment for its intended purpose; and
• tell staff if they notice a hazard, damaged equipment or situation that may require attention.

If you require assistance during an event, please approach a Club staff member or volunteer.

11. Alcohol and Impairment#

Where alcohol is available at a venue, participants remain responsible for their behaviour.

Do not participate while so impaired that you cannot reasonably:

• follow the rules of play;
• handle equipment safely;
• respect other participants; or
• follow reasonable staff or venue instructions.

Club staff may ask a participant to stop playing or leave an activity where their level of impairment creates a safety, behavioural or operational concern.

12. Photography and Privacy#

Respect other participants' reasonable privacy preferences.

Do not deliberately photograph, record or publish identifiable content of another participant in circumstances where they have clearly asked you not to do so, particularly where the recording is intrusive or targeted.

Club photography and event media are handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable event notices.

Do not photograph or distribute another person's private booking information, payment evidence, contact information or other personal information obtained through Club activities.

13. Personal Belongings and Equipment#

Treat Club, venue and other participants' property with reasonable care.

Do not intentionally damage, misuse, take or interfere with:

• mahjong tiles or sets;
• tables, chairs or venue equipment;
• scoring equipment;
• personal belongings; or
• other property used during a Club Event.

Accidents happen. If something is damaged, lost or broken, tell Club staff rather than quietly returning the evidence to the crime scene.

14. Staff, Volunteers and Instructors#

Staff, volunteers and instructors are expected to follow this Code of Conduct too.

A Club role does not excuse disrespectful, abusive or inappropriate behaviour.

Participants should also treat staff and volunteers respectfully.

Disagreeing with a decision is allowed. Abusing the person making it is not.

Reasonable instructions relating to safety, event operations, seating, queues, gameplay procedures, venue requirements or participant conduct should be followed.

15. Venue Rules#

Many Club Events take place at third-party venues.

Participants must comply with reasonable venue rules relating to matters such as:

• access;
• food and drink;
• smoking or vaping;
• alcohol;
• safety;
• property;
• opening hours; and
• conduct.

Venue staff should be treated with the same respect expected toward Club staff and participants.

16. Commercial Solicitation#

Club Events exist primarily for mahjong and community participation.

Ordinary social conversation, networking and friendships are welcome.

Unless authorised by 160 Tiles Club, participants must not use Club Events, participant information or official Club channels primarily to:

• conduct unsolicited commercial sales;
• repeatedly advertise unrelated commercial services;
• recruit participants for competing commercial events;
• promote gambling or betting activities; or
• solicit participation in financial schemes.

Do not attend Club activities primarily as an unsolicited sales or recruitment opportunity.

17. Online and Official Club Spaces#

This Code may also apply to conduct in official Club-managed spaces, including community groups, registration channels or other communication platforms operated by 160 Tiles Club.

In those spaces:

• do not harass or threaten other members;
• do not spam;
• do not publish another person's private information without appropriate permission;
• do not use Club channels to organise prohibited gambling;
• do not impersonate Club staff or another participant; and
• follow reasonable moderation instructions.

160 Tiles Club does not generally police participants' lawful private conversations or activities outside Club Events and official Club spaces.

However, external conduct may be considered where it has a direct and material connection to participant safety, harassment, fraud, misuse of Club information, gambling solicitation or the safe operation of Club activities.

18. Reporting a Concern#

If you experience or witness conduct that may seriously breach this Code, you may raise it with Club staff or contact:

frontdesk@160tiles.com

For urgent issues during an event, approach a staff member or volunteer where practicable.

When reporting a concern, provide enough information for us to understand what happened. This may include:

• the event or session involved;
• the people involved;
• what occurred;
• approximately when it occurred;
• any relevant witnesses; and
• supporting information where available.

Please make reports honestly and in good faith.

Knowingly making a materially false allegation may itself be treated as misconduct.

19. How We Respond#

160 Tiles Club may respond to breaches of this Code proportionately based on the circumstances.

Depending on the seriousness, frequency and impact of the conduct, this may include:

• an informal reminder;
• a warning;
• a request to stop or correct particular behaviour;
• assistance resolving a table issue;
• reassignment to another table or activity;
• removal from a particular game or session;
• removal from an event;
• restrictions on participation;
• temporary suspension; or
• a longer-term or indefinite ban from Club activities.

Serious misconduct may justify immediate removal or suspension without a prior warning.

Examples may include violence or credible threats, serious harassment, deliberate cheating or collusion, theft, deliberate property damage, prohibited gambling activity, serious intoxication-related misconduct or conduct creating an immediate safety risk.

Where reasonably practicable, the Club will consider the available information and circumstances before imposing significant longer-term restrictions.

20. No Retaliation#

Do not retaliate against someone for making a genuine good-faith report, providing information about an incident or asking Club staff for assistance.

This does not prevent reasonable action from being taken where a report is knowingly false, malicious or itself constitutes harassment.

21. Use Common Sense#

No Code of Conduct can list every possible way humans may behave strangely around a mahjong table.

The absence of a particular behaviour from this document does not automatically make it acceptable.

Participants are expected to act with reasonable consideration for:

• other players;
• staff and volunteers;
• venue personnel;
• property;
• safety;
• fair play; and
• the ability of everyone present to participate in the activity.

When in doubt: play fairly, respect the table, and don't make your problem everybody else's problem.

22. Changes to This Code#

160 Tiles Club may update this Code of Conduct as our activities and community develop.

The current version will display its version and last-updated date.

Material changes will apply prospectively unless immediate changes are reasonably necessary for safety, legal compliance or the proper operation of Club activities.

23. Related Policies#

This Code of Conduct should be read together with:

• the 160 Tiles Club Terms of Service;
• the 160 Tiles Club Privacy Policy;
• the applicable Play Reference;
• event-specific booking or participation conditions; and
• any event or venue rules communicated to participants.

If there is an inconsistency between this Code and a specific rule governing gameplay, the gameplay rule governs the game itself, while this Code continues to govern participant conduct.