How to Play Housie (Tambola): Rules, Grid Structure & Ticket Guide

Housie, known as Tambola across South Asia and closely tied to 90-ball formats, is a cherished social numbers game enjoyed at family gatherings and community parties. Players receive printed tickets displaying fifteen random numbers from 1 to 90. A caller draws numbers from a pool one by one, announcing each digit clearly. Players mark matching cells with tokens or dabbers.

Welcoming players of all ages, Housie requires no complex calculations. Because local rules and house rules vary, hosts announce specific winning patterns before starting. PlayNook supports friendly community play with zero real-money betting, focusing on shared fun.

Every standard Housie ticket consists of a three-row by nine-column grid containing twenty-seven cells. Exactly fifteen cells hold numbers; the remaining twelve are empty blanks. By design, each horizontal row contains five numbers and four blanks in a staggered arrangement.

Columns follow a decade structure from left to right. Column 1 covers numbers 1 through 9. Column 2 holds 10 to 19, Column 3 holds 20 to 29, continuing across until Column 9, which contains 80 to 90. Numbers within each column are sorted from lowest at the top to highest at the bottom. This layout allows players to locate called digits in seconds.

1.Focus on Column Anchors: Check the column index first rather than hunting across rows. Example: If 63 is drawn, look directly at Column 7 (60–69).

2.Play with a Full Sheet of Six: A full sheet contains six tickets featuring all numbers 1 to 90 once. Example: Every drawn ball appears on your page, keeping you active on each call.

3.Announce Pacing Clearly: If hosting, maintain a steady cadence of ten to twelve seconds per draw. Example: Call the two digits first, then state the full number.

4.Mark Tokens Delicately: Use reusable counters or light pencil strokes when playing multiple rounds. Example: Reusable tokens preserve printed cards for later games.

5.Establish House Rules Upfront: Clarify prize patterns before the opening draw. Example: Announce whether Early Five and lines can be claimed by the same ticket.

A frequent error is making a false claim, historically called a Bogey, by marking an uncalled number that resembles a drawn digit (such as confusing 17 with 71). A false claim interrupts play and typically disqualifies that specific card from that single pattern round.

Another slip is hesitating to shout. In traditional rules, a winning claim must be voiced before the caller draws the subsequent number. If the caller begins announcing the next ball, a late claim is forfeited under standard parlor customs.

Our online Housie Ticket Generator provides quick, cleanly formatted tickets ready for digital display or home printing. Use the ticket count selector to generate cards in balanced books of six (such as 6, 12, 18, 24, or 48 tickets).

Type a custom event heading into the Event Title box to personalize tickets for family birthdays or holiday gatherings. Tap "Generate New Tickets" to produce mathematically verified sets, then tap "Print Tickets" to output printer-friendly sheets directly onto A4 paper, or tap "Download PDF" to save an offline copy for distribution.