Housie, also known as Tambola or Bingo, is a game of chance where a caller randomly announces numbers from 1 to 90, and players mark them off on their tickets. A standard ticket has 27 boxes arranged in 3 rows and 9 columns, with numbers 1-9 in the first column, 10-19 in the second, and so on. Winning patterns include striking all numbers in a row, a full house (all numbers on the ticket), or specific arrangements like the top and bottom lines or the four corners.
Ticket and number specifications
- Ticket layout: Each ticket has 27 boxes arranged in 3 rows and 9 columns.
- Number placement: The 90 numbers are distributed across the 9 columns, with the first column containing numbers 1–9, the second 10–19, and so on.
- Number of numbers per row: Each row contains 5 numbers, with 4 boxes randomly left blank.
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Game objective:
Players mark off numbers on their ticket as they are called out by the host.
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Claiming a win:
A player must be the first to shout “Housie!” (or “Tambola!”) when they complete a winning pattern. The host verifies the claim before the next number is called.
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Prizes:
Prizes are typically awarded for completing different patterns:
- Full House: All 15 numbers on the ticket are struck.
- Top Line: All 5 numbers in the first row are struck.
- Middle Line: All 5 numbers in the second (middle) row are struck.
- Bottom Line: All 5 numbers in the third (bottom) row are struck.
- Other patterns: Some variations include prizes for Four Corners (the top-left and top-right numbers in the first and last rows).
