Housie (Tambola)
Players mark numbers on 3×9 tickets as the caller draws 1–90. First to complete a pattern claims a prize — fun points only.
Shared-screen caller, printable tickets and host claim checking work now. Online rooms where each phone holds a ticket are planned.
- Players
- 3–100
- Time
- 30–60 min
- Host effort
- medium
- Ages
- 6+
How you can play it
- Shared screen — runs on site
- Online (own phones) — not on site yet
- In person
Objective
Be the first to have every number in a winning pattern called.
Equipment
- Tickets (print from this site)
- Pens
- A screen or a loud caller
Host preparation
- Decide which claims are active (Early Five, lines, corners, full house).
- Generate and print one ticket per player.
- Agree tie and late-claim rules out loud before starting.
Rules
- Each ticket has 3 rows and 9 columns with 15 numbers — 5 per row.
- Column 1 holds 1–9, column 2 holds 10–19 … column 9 holds 80–90.
- The caller draws numbers one at a time without repeats.
- Players mark called numbers on their tickets.
- When a pattern is complete, shout your claim before the next number is called.
- The host checks the claim against numbers actually called.
Example round
After 23 calls, Ravi shouts 'Top line!'. The host enters his ticket's top-row numbers; all five have been called, so the claim is valid.
Scoring & winning
Each claim earns fun points set by the host (e.g. Full House 50, lines 20).
Winner: First valid claim for each pattern wins it. The game ends at Full House.
Ties: If two players claim the same pattern on the same call, both share the points (default). A claim made after the next number is called is late and not accepted.
Variations
- Add 'Pyramid' or 'Star' patterns.
- Kids' version: only Early Five and Full House.
Accessibility
- Large-print tickets.
- Caller screen shows big numbers plus a text history.
- Calls can be spoken by the host.
Safety notes
- Fun points only — no money, stakes or cash prizes.