JOKER EXCHANGE ETIQUETTE (Article 37)

Commentary: When doing a joker exchange, it’s best to verbalize the request by saying something like, “joker exchange, please.” Since some groups and most tournaments say if a tile touches the table, it’s considered a discard so another best practice is to do a hand-to-hand exchange.

Some players are in the habit of helping themselves to the coveted joker and sometimes mistakes can be made using the wrong tile. If the mistake is not caught, the player with the exposure can be disqualified. The league has also said in a bulletin, “It is every player’s responsibility to see that their own exposure is correct.”   

Question from a player:  What is the correct way to make a joker exchange? 
 
Answer from the NMJL:  It is recommended that a player never touch another players tiles. The player should first announce that a Joker exchange is to be made. The replacement tile should be handed to the player whose rack contains the Joker and that player makes the exchange and hands the Joker to the other player. If no announcement is made and the symbol tile touches the table, it is considered discarded and the Joker may not be redeemed. 

Sources: Mah Jongg Made Easy (2024 page 24 #13)

Other answers from the NMJL:

“It is recommended that a player never touch another player’s tiles.  The player should first announce that an exchange is to be made.  The replacement tile should be handed to the player whose rack contains the joker and that player makes the exchange and hands the joker to the other player.”  

Source for other answers: Mah Jongg Made Easy 2020 page 23 #14, National Mah Jongg League Bulletin Q&A 2018