Locals play mahjong in an alley near the decommissioned Liancheng coal-fired power plant in Heqiao village, Yongdeng county, Gansu province, China, September 16, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter SEARCH "PETER COAL" FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH "WIDER IMAGE" FOR ALL STORIES

People play Mahjong at a square, following the COVID-19 outbreak, in Beijing, China September 18, 2020. REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

A group of people play mahjong inside a residential compound that has been put under stricter virus control measures and surrounded by barbed wire after a new outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Fengtai district, in Beijing, China June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Staff of a massage parlour, without customers to attend to, play mahjong in their break room as Taiwan's entry restrictions to foreign travellers due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue to affect the tourism reliant massage business in Taipei, Taiwan, May 15, 2020. Picture taken May 15, 2020. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Elderly people play Mahjong in a tailor shop in Sheung Wan in Hong Kong, China November 6, 2019. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

A view of a mahjong area for elderly recreation in Yee Hong Heights, a senior care home managed by a Hong Kong charitable organization, in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China July 16, 2019. Picture taken July 16, 2019. REUTERS/Clare Jim

Hawker Leong Yuet Meng, 90, of Nam Seng Noodle House, enjoys her weekly game of Mahjong with her friends at home in Singapore February 16, 2019. Picture taken February 16, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Hawker Leong Yuet Meng, 90, of Nam Seng Noodle House, enjoys her weekly game of Mahjong with her friends at home in Singapore February 16, 2019. Picture taken February 16, 2019. REUTERS/Edgar Su

Elderly people play mahjong in a square in Beijing, China, February 25, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

Elderly people stretch before playing poker and mahjong at an adult daycare centre named "Day Service Las Vegas" in Tokyo, Japan, February 16, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Elderly people play mahjong and poker at an adult daycare centre named "Day Service Las Vegas" in Tokyo, Japan, February 16, 2017. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

A woman participates in a giant mahjong game in Kunming, Yunnan, China, March 25, 2016. REUTERS/Wong Campion TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

People play mahjong inside a shop in the old part of Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China November 16, 2015. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Sun Ayue, one of very few residents of the abandoned fishing village of Houtouwan on the island of Shengshan prepares dinner at the room where he lives July 25, 2015. Sun, a 59-year-old former fisherman who doesn't often leave the village, except for an occasional game of mahjong in the town across the hill, lives alone in a house with no running water and electricity. REUTERS/Damir SagoljPICTURE 10 OF 20 FOR WIDER IMAGE STORY "CREEPING VINES, ABANDONED VILLAGE"SEARCH "SAGOLJ ABANDONED" FOR ALL PICTURES

Sun Ayue, one of a few remaining residents, stands in his home in the abandoned fishing village of Houtouwan on the island of Shengshan July 26, 2015. Sun, a 59-year-old former fisherman who doesn't often leave the village, except for an occasional game of mahjong in the town across the hill, lives alone in a house with no running water and electricity. REUTERS/Damir SagoljPICTURE 9 OF 20 FOR WIDER IMAGE STORY "CREEPING VINES, ABANDONED VILLAGE"SEARCH "SAGOLJ ABANDONED" FOR ALL PICTURES

Sun Ayue, one of very few residents of the abandoned fishing village of Houtouwan on the island of Shengshan is seen from inside the room where he lives July 25, 2015. Sun, a 59-year-old former fisherman who doesn't often leave the village, except for an occasional game of mahjong in the town across the hill, lives alone in a house with no running water and electricity. REUTERS/Damir SagoljPICTURE 11 OF 20 FOR WIDER IMAGE STORY "CREEPING VINES, ABANDONED VILLAGE"SEARCH "SAGOLJ ABANDONED" FOR ALL PICTURES TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Residents play mahjong in Malabon, Metro Manila, Philippines March 21, 2015. When paying your final respects for a relative or friend, the last thing you might expect to see at the wake is people placing bets on a card game or bingo. Not in the Philippines. Filipinos, like many Asians, love their gambling. But making wagers on games such as "sakla", the local version of Spanish tarot cards, is particularly common at wakes because the family of the deceased gets a share of the winnings to help cover funeral expenses. Authorities have sought to regulate betting but illegal games persist, with men and women, rich and poor, betting on anything from cockfighting to the Basque hard-rubber ball game of jai-alai, basketball to spider races. Many told Reuters photographer Erik De Castro that gambling is only an entertaining diversion in a country where two-fifths of the population live on $2 a day. But he found that some gamble every day. Casino security personnel told of customers begging to be banned from the premises, while a financier who lends gamblers money at high interest described the dozens of vehicles and wads of land titles given as collateral by those hoping lady luck would bring them riches. REUTERS/Erik De Castro

PICTURE 21 OF 29 FOR WIDER IMAGE STORY "HIGH STAKES IN MANILA". SEARCH "BINGO ERIK" FOR ALL IMAGES.

People play a game of Mahjong in a housing area designated for demolition by the government in Huangpu district in Shanghai, June 10, 2015. REUTERS/Aly Song

Protesters play mahjong on a main road at the Mongkok shopping district in Hong Kong October 9, 2014. Democratic lawmakers on Thursday demanded an investigation into a $6.4 million business payout to Hong Kong's embattled leader Leung Chun-ying, as political fallout grew from massive student-led protests in the Chinese-controlled city. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

People play mahjong inside a house at an old residential area in Chaohu, Anhui province May 23, 2014. Picture taken May 23, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY)

Typhoon victims play mahjong at an evacuation centre in super Typhoon Haiyan battered Tacloban city in central Philippines November 19, 2013. REUTERS/Erik De Castro (PHILIPPINES - Tags: DISASTER ENVIRONMENT)

A guide stands atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge next to people playing the traditional Chinese board game 'mahjong' during a promotional event in Sydney May 15, 2013. Sitting 134 metres (440 feet) above sea level, the game was held to promote "The Mandarin Climb" tours during which visitors can climb to the top of the iconic bridge with the assistance of Mandarin-speaking guides. Sydney will also host the World Series of Mahjong from June 2 to 4. REUTERS/David Gray (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SOCIETY TRAVEL)

The Sydney Opera House can be seen behind a guide as he climbs towards people playing the traditional Chinese board game 'mahjong' on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during a promotional event in Sydney May 15, 2013. Sitting 134 metres (440 feet) above sea level, the game was held to promote "The Mandarin Climb" tours during which visitors can climb to the top of the iconic bridge with the assistance of Mandarin-speaking guides. Sydney will also host the World Series of Mahjong from June 2 to 4. REUTERS/David Gray (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SOCIETY TRAVEL)

A photographer takes pictures from a small tower next to a New South Wales state flag atop the Sydney Harbour Bridge during a promotional event involving the traditional Chinese board game 'mahjong' in Sydney May 15, 2013. Sitting 134 metres (440 feet) above sea level, the game was held to promote "The Mandarin Climb" tours during which visitors can climb to the top of the iconic bridge with the assistance of Mandarin-speaking guides. Sydney will also host the World Series of Mahjong from June 2 to 4. REUTERS/David Gray (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SOCIETY TRAVEL)

(L-R) Tony Liu, Ling Khor, Jak Heng and Pauline Heng play the traditional Chinese board game 'mahjong' on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during a promotional event in Sydney May 15, 2013. Sitting 134 metres (440 feet) above sea level, the game was held to promote "The Mandarin Climb" tours during which visitors can climb to the top of the iconic bridge with the assistance of Mandarin-speaking guides. Sydney will also host the World Series of Mahjong from June 2 to 4. REUTERS/David Gray (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SOCIETY TRAVEL)

People sit on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge playing the traditional Chinese board game 'mahjong' during a promotional event in Sydney May 15, 2013. Sitting 134 metres (440 feet) above sea level, the game was held to promote "The Mandarin Climb" tours during which visitors can climb to the top of the iconic bridge with the assistance of Mandarin-speaking guides. Sydney will also host the World Series of Mahjong from June 2 to 4. REUTERS/David Gray (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SOCIETY TRAVEL)

(L-R) Tony Liu, Ling Khor, Jak Heng and Pauline Heng play the traditional Chinese board game 'mahjong' on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during a promotional event in Sydney May 15, 2013. Sitting 134 metres (440 feet) above sea level, the game was held to promote "The Mandarin Climb" tours during which visitors can climb to the top of the iconic bridge with the assistance of Mandarin-speaking guides. Sydney will also host the World Series of Mahjong from June 2 to 4. REUTERS/David Gray (AUSTRALIA - Tags: SOCIETY TRAVEL TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Residents of the Beijing First Social Welfare Institution-affiliated nursing home play mahjong, a traditional Chinese game, during their recreational time in the facility in Beijing March 1, 2013. The nursing home is one of the prestigious care centres for the elderly in China and accommodates about 1,000 seniors. China's elderly population will hit 360 million by 2030, from about 200 million in 2013. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY POLITICS)

Residents of the Beijing First Social Welfare Institution-affiliated nursing home play mahjong, a traditional Chinese game, during their recreational time in the facility in Beijing March 1, 2013. The nursing home is one of the prestigious care centres for the elderly in China and accommodates about 1,000 seniors. China's elderly population will hit 360 million by 2030, from about 200 million in 2013. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY POLITICS)

A group of people play mahjong, a traditional Chinese game, at the cafeteria in the Cherish-Yearn care center in Shanghai September 14, 2012. Beijing wants to encourage investment in healthcare services. In January, China reclassified the sector as "permitted" rather than "restricted", meaning overseas companies can own 100 percent of an operation in China. Overseas players including New York-based hedge fund Fortress Investment Group LLC and China Senior Care, backed by one of the principals of U.S. private developer Lerner Enterprises, are also investing in elderly care and retirement facilities, betting that the demographic fallout from China's one-child policy will soften traditional attitudes towards out-of-home care. Picture taken September 14, 2012. To match Feature CHINA-HEALTHCARE/SENIORS REUTERS/Carlos Barria (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY BUSINESS)

A scavenger collates mahjong tiles on a street in Shanghai April 11, 2012. REUTERS/Aly Song (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY)

Fruit vendors play mahjong at a market in Shanghai August 9, 2011. China's consumer price inflation quickened to 6.5 percent in July from June's 6.4 percent, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday, topping market forecasts for a reading of 6.3 percent. REUTERS/Aly Song (CHINA - Tags: BUSINESS FOOD SOCIETY)

Migrant workers play mahjong in a self-built tent near a residential construction site in Hefei, Anhui province July 5, 2011. Due to poverty, more than 30 migrant workers' families live in the tent, which is divided by sheets and canvases into partitions, local media reported. The average price for a new home in 100 major Chinese cities edged up 0.41 percent in June to 8,856 yuan ($1,370) per square metre, slowing from a 0.53-percent rise in May, as government tightening steps bite, a private data provider said on Friday. Picture taken July 5, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer (CHINA - Tags: BUSINESS CONSTRUCTION SOCIETY)

Cheng Jun, a migrant worker from southwest China's Sichuan province,
plays a game of mahjong with other workers over lunch on a day off work in his eight square metre house, on the outskirts of Beijing, December 12, 2010. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: SOCIETY)

Migrant workers, from southwest China's Sichuan province, play mahjong in a hovel on a day without work, on the outskirts of Beijing, December 8, 2010. REUTERS/Jason Lee(CHINA - Tags: BUSINESS SOCIETY)

Migrant workers, from southwest China's Sichuan province, play mahjong in a hovel on a day without work, on the outskirts of Beijing, December 8, 2010. REUTERS/Jason Lee (CHINA - Tags: BUSINESS SOCIETY)

Actress Beth Grant, star of the film "Extract", poses with her bracelet made from mahjong tiles at the film's premiere in Hollywood, California August 24, 2009. REUTERS/Fred Prouser (UNITED STATES ENTERTAINMENT)

Residents play mahjong inside one of about 100 cage homes in Hong Kong March 20, 2009. The monthly rent of a caged-bed, the lowest standard for a shelter in Hong Kong besides sleeping on the street, costs $150. Hong Kong's unemployment rate has risen to five percent, the highest level since June 2006, government said on Tuesday. Labour Secretary Matthew Cheung said the worsening job market was noticeable and he expects unemployment to rise further, government radio reported. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA BUSINESS POLITICS SOCIETY)

China's Treyo Leisure and Entertainment Limited chairman Mao Ling poses for a photograph with an automatic mahjong table in Melbourne November 19, 2008. Treyo, with a factory in Hangzhou, southern China, makes mahjong tables that automatically shuffle and sort the game's 144 tiles. It is one of only dozens of companies still in the queue of upcoming IPOs in Asian markets and among an even rarer group who claim to be "quietly confident" their listings will go ahead. Picture taken November 19, 2008. REUTERS/Mick Tsikas (AUSTRALIA)

Dust settles on mahjong tiles sitting on a playing table left after a strong earthquake hit Yongan county in Mianyang City, Sichuan province May 14, 2008. Yongan has become a ghost town. Its residents are either dead, evacuated, or camping out in the local school yard. In one house, mahjong tiles sit on a playing table, as though in the middle of a game, lacking only the players and the cacophony of sound and clacking of the pieces that normally accompanies it. Picture taken May 14, 2008. REUTERS/Claro Cortes IV (CHINA)

A man walks past an advertisement for an online mahjong game during the 2008 Taipei Game Show January 24, 2008. The computer and video games exhibition will be held in Taipei from January 24-28. REUTERS/Nicky Loh (TAIWAN)

A woman poses as she arranges a paper mahjong set made by funerary company, Skea, in Taipei November 23, 2007. Skea, a 3-month-old Taipei store that has nothing to do with Ikea, sells custom-made, small-scale buildings as well as cars, boats, baseball mitts or just about anything else that can be made from paper, cardboard and light wood. Families of the deceased buy these items at more than $1,000 a piece for loved ones who wanted the items in life but for health or financial reasons couldn't get them. Picture taken November 23, 2007.
REUTERS/Nicky Loh (TAIWAN)

Hong Kong's Hui Chung Lai attends the prize presentation ceremony after his win in the World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau early June 18, 2007. Hui received $500,000 for his win. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Hong Kong's Hui Chung Lai attends the prize presentation ceremony after his win in the World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau early June 18, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Hong Kong's Hui Chung Lai celebrates his win during the prize presentation ceremony of the World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau early June 18, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Hong Kong's Hui Chung Lai celebrates his win during the prize presentation ceremony of the World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau early June 18, 2007. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

(L-R) Hong Kong's Hui Chung Lai, Taiwanese Yu Chieh-ling, Hong Kong's Lau Lai Fun and Hong Kong's Tse Chi Chung play mahjong during the final round of the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 17, 2007. The champion of the tournament will get a cash prize of $500,000. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

(L-R) Hong Kong's Hui Chung Lai, Taiwanese Yu Chieh-ling, Hong Kong's Lau Lai Fun and Hong Kong's Tse Chi Chung play mahjong during the final round of the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 17, 2007. The champion of the tournament will get a cash prize of $500,000. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

(L-R) Hong Kong's Hui Chung Lai, Taiwanese Yu Chieh-ling, Hong Kong's Lau Lai Fun and Hong Kong's Tse Chi Chung play mahjong during the final round of the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 17, 2007. The champion of the tournament will get a cash prize of $500,000. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

Taiwan's player Yu Chieh-ling poses after qualifying for the final round of the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 17, 2007. Hundreds of mahjong players from around the world are gathering in this southern China enclave to compete for a cash prize of US$1 million dollars. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

(L-R) Hong Kong's Hui Chung Lai, Lau Lai Fun, Taiwan's Yu Chieh-ling and Hong Kong's Tse Chi Chung pose as they entered the final round of the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 17, 2007. Hundreds of mahjong players from around the world are gathering in this southern China enclave to compete for a cash prize of US$1 million dollars. REUTERS/Paul Yeung (CHINA)

A banner of the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition is displayed at Wynn Macau in Macau June 15, 2007. Hundreds of mahjong players from around the world are gathering in this southern China enclave to compete with a minimum cash prize of $1 million dollars -- which organisers say is the biggest cash purse ever put up for a mahjong tournament. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA) REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Hong Kong actress Natalie Ng toasts during the opening ceremony of the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 15, 2007. Hundreds of mahjong players from around the world are gathering in this southern China enclave to compete with a minimum cash prize of $1 million dollars -- which organisers say is the biggest cash purse ever put up for a mahjong tournament.
REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Hong Kong actress Natalie Ng poses with mahjong-shaped cushions during the opening ceremony of the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 15, 2007. Hundreds of mahjong players from around the world are gathering in this southern China enclave to compete with a minimum cash prize of $1 million dollars -- which organisers say is the biggest cash purse ever put up for a mahjong tournament. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA) REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Participants play mahjong at the head table being broadcasted during the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 15, 2007. Hundreds of mahjong players from around the world are gathering in this southern China enclave to compete with a minimum cash prize of $1 million dollars -- which organisers say is the biggest cash purse ever put up for a mahjong tournament. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

A participant plays mahjong during the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 15, 2007. Hundreds of mahjong players from around the world are gathering in this southern China enclave to compete with a minimum cash prize of $1 million dollars -- which organisers say is the biggest cash purse ever put up for a mahjong tournament. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Participants play mahjong during the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 15, 2007. Hundreds of mahjong players from around the world are gathering in this southern China enclave to compete with a minimum cash prize of $1 million dollars -- which organisers say is the biggest cash purse ever put up for a mahjong tournament. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Participants play mahjong during the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 15, 2007. Hundreds of mahjong players from around the world are gathering in this southern China enclave to compete with a minimum cash prize of $1 million dollars -- which organisers say is the biggest cash purse ever put up for a mahjong tournament. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)

Participants play mahjong during the first ever World Series of Mahjong competition at Wynn Macau in Macau June 15, 2007. Hundreds of mahjong players from around the world are gathering in this southern China enclave to compete with a minimum cash prize of $1 million dollars -- which organisers say is the biggest cash purse ever put up for a mahjong tournament. REUTERS/Bobby Yip (CHINA)