2–40 players · 15–25 minutes · All ages
Tambola (Housie) online with friends
Tambola, also called Housie, is the number game of Indian kitty parties, Diwali melas, club evenings and family WhatsApp groups. Someone calls numbers from 1 to 90, everyone checks their ticket, and the first person to complete a pattern shouts their claim. On PlayAdda the tickets are printed for you, the numbers are called on everyone's screen, and the host's browser checks every claim instantly.
One link for the whole family group. Everyone gets a ticket automatically.
How to host a game
- Tap Start Tambola and enter your name. You are the host.
- Share the invite code in your WhatsApp group, or show the QR code to people sitting with you.
- Pick a calling speed. Normal calls a new number every six seconds; Manual lets you call each number yourself, which is nice when you want to announce numbers out loud on a video call.
- Tap Start game. Every player sees their own ticket, the latest number, and a board of all numbers called so far.
The ticket
Every ticket follows the traditional layout: three rows and nine columns, with fifteen numbers in total and exactly five numbers in each row. The first column holds numbers 1 to 9, the second 10 to 19, and so on up to the last column, which holds 80 to 90. Within each column the numbers go from smallest at the top to largest at the bottom, and every column has at least one number. Blank boxes are shown in a darker shade.
Prizes and claims
| Prize | What you need |
|---|---|
| Early Five | Any five numbers on your ticket have been called. |
| Top Line | All five numbers in the first row have been called. |
| Middle Line | All five numbers in the second row have been called. |
| Bottom Line | All five numbers in the third row have been called. |
| Full House | All fifteen numbers on your ticket have been called. |
When you think you have a prize, tap its button. The host's browser checks your ticket against the numbers that have actually been called, not just the boxes you marked. A correct claim wins the prize for you and everyone sees your name on the prize list. Each prize goes to the first correct claim; once it is won, the button is closed for everyone. The round ends when Full House is won or all ninety numbers have been called.
A wrong claim is a bogey. The group sees it, and your ticket can no longer win that prize in this round, just like at a real Tambola table. So check before you tap!
Number calls and nicknames
Half the fun of Housie is the caller's rhymes. If you are hosting on a video call, switch to manual calling and announce each number with its nickname before you tap. A few favourites to get you started:
- 1 – Kelly's eye, or “captain of the team”.
- 7 – Lucky seven.
- 11 – Two little sticks, or legs eleven.
- 22 – Two little ducks.
- 45 – Halfway there.
- 66 – Chakke pe chakka, clickety click.
- 88 – Two fat ladies.
- 90 – Top of the shop.
Tips for a great Tambola party
- Agree on prizes before you start. Many families keep it light with small gifts, sweets or bragging rights. PlayAdda never handles money or prizes; that part stays with your group.
- Use relaxed speed for elders. If grandparents are playing on their phones, the ten-second setting gives everyone time to find the number.
- Keep auto-mark on for kids. Younger players can focus on spotting prizes instead of hunting for numbers.
- Play several quick rounds. A round usually lasts fifteen to twenty minutes. The host can restart with fresh tickets in one tap, so more people get a chance to win.
Why this works without a server
The host's browser acts as the caller and the judge, and every other player connects to it directly. Numbers and claims travel between your devices; nothing is stored on a server. If the host's phone drops off, the next person who joined takes over calling automatically, so the game does not stop because one connection failed. Read more on how PlayAdda works.
Questions people ask
Is Tambola on this site free?
Completely. There is no entry fee, no coins and no real-money prizes. PlayAdda is a free game site supported by ads, and any prizes for your party are up to you and your group offline.
How many people can play in one room?
Two to about forty. Tambola is light on data, so even a big family group on a video call works well. People who join after the first number is called still get a ticket.
Who calls the numbers?
The person who created the room is the host. Their screen has Call next and Auto call buttons, and they can pick a calling speed in the lobby: fast, normal, relaxed or manual.
Do I have to mark my ticket myself?
Auto-mark is on by default, so called numbers light up on your ticket. Turn it off if you prefer the old-school feel of tapping each number yourself; claims are always checked against the numbers actually called.
What is a bogey?
A bogey is a wrong claim. If you claim a prize your ticket has not completed, everyone sees the bogey and your ticket is out for that prize for the rest of the round.
Are the tickets and numbers random?
Yes. Before the round, every player adds a secret random value. Together these decide every ticket and the order of the numbers, so nobody, including the host, can arrange a winning ticket. The screen shows “verified fair” once your browser has checked it.
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