Housie Caller
Call numbers for your Tambola night. Tap Next or let it auto-call, hear every number announced, and keep the big board on the TV.
What is Housie?
Housie is a number game for a group. Many people call it Tambola. In the UK, 90-ball bingo is the same game.
One person calls numbers from 1 to 90, one at a time, in random order. Everyone else holds a ticket and crosses off the numbers they hear. The first person to complete a prize pattern shouts “Housie!” and wins that prize.
You need very little to play: a ticket and a pen for each person, plus one caller. That is why it fits family get-togethers, society events and festival evenings so well. This page is the caller. It does not make tickets, so players bring their own.
At a glance
Players: 2 or more. 6 or more is more fun.
Numbers: 1 to 90, each called once.
Ticket: 3 rows, 9 columns, 15 numbers.
Time: about 20 to 40 minutes.
Cost: free, and no money is involved.
How to read a Housie ticket
A ticket looks busy at first. The layout follows a few fixed rules, and once you know them you can find any number in a second.
Every ticket has 3 rows and 9 columns. Each row holds 5 numbers and 4 blank squares, so a full ticket carries 15 numbers.
The columns follow number ranges. The first column holds 1 to 9, the second holds 10 to 19, the third holds 20 to 29, and so on. The last column holds 80 to 90. Inside a column, numbers go from small to large, top to bottom.
So when you hear 47, you only need to look in the fifth column, because that is where the 40s live. Most players learn this within one game.
Common winning patterns
Groups play slightly different prize lists. Agree on yours before the first number is called.
Early Five
The first ticket with any five numbers crossed off.
Top Line
All five numbers in the top row.
Middle Line
All five numbers in the middle row.
Bottom Line
All five numbers in the bottom row.
Four Corners
The first and last number of the top row, and the first and last number of the bottom row.
Full House
All 15 numbers on the ticket. This is usually the biggest prize and often ends the game.
Call a game in three steps
Players use their own tickets. You run the numbers from here.
Call numbers
Tap Next to call one number. Or set the seconds between calls and press Start to let it run on its own.
Listen and mark
Each number is spoken aloud and lights up on the 1 to 90 board, so players can mark tickets and check what has been called.
Check claims
Press Pause when someone shouts Housie. Compare their ticket with the lit numbers, then press Start to carry on.
What each button does
Next
Calls one random number from those not yet called. Use it when you want to set the pace yourself.
Start and Pause
Start calls a number every few seconds. The default is 5 seconds and the lowest you can set is 2. Pause stops the calling and keeps the board as it is.
Changing the speed
Type a new number of seconds and press Start again. The caller keeps the numbers already called and uses the new gap from the next call.
Voice
Reads each number aloud. It picks an Indian English voice when your device has one, and speaks a little slower than normal. Switch it off if you prefer to call out numbers yourself.
Fullscreen
Fills the screen with the board. Connect your laptop or phone to a TV, or cast the tab, and the whole room can follow along.
Last 5 and Reset
The last five numbers stay in a row above the board for anyone who missed a call. Reset clears the board and starts a fresh game.
Tips for a smoother game
Set the pace for the slowest player. Five seconds suits a mixed group. If children or older relatives are marking tickets, try 8 to 10 seconds. A group of regulars can handle 3 or 4.
Agree on prizes first. Decide which patterns you are playing, and whether a wrong claim means that player is out for that prize. Settling this before the game avoids arguments in the middle of it.
Always pause to check a claim. Every number you have called stays lit on the board. Read the winner’s numbers out and compare them with the lit cells before you hand over the prize.
Test the voice before guests arrive. Voice comes from your browser, so it sounds different on different phones and laptops. If it sounds odd on your device, turn Voice off and call the numbers yourself while the board lights up.
Use the big screen. A TV makes a big difference in a crowded room. Fullscreen shows the board and the current number large enough to read from the sofa.
Play more than one round. Press Reset after the Full House and change the prize list for the next round, for example a second Full House or Four Corners first.
Quick answers
Does it include Tambola tickets?
No. It only calls the numbers. Players use paper tickets or a ticket app of their own.
How are the numbers picked?
Each call picks at random from the numbers that are left. No number repeats, and every number from 1 to 90 gets called once per game.
What happens after all 90 numbers are called?
The screen shows Done and the voice says that all numbers are completed. Press Reset to start again.
Can I show it on a TV?
Yes. Press Fullscreen, then connect your device to the TV with a cable or cast the browser tab, so everyone can see the board.
The voice isn’t working. What can I do?
Voice uses your browser’s built-in speech engine, and it prefers an Indian English voice when one is installed. Check that the Voice button says Voice ON and that your device volume is up. If your device has no speech voice, turn Voice off and call the numbers aloud.
Can I change the speed during a game?
Yes. Enter a new number of seconds and press Start again. The board keeps all the numbers called so far.
Is Housie the same as Bingo?
They are close relatives. Housie uses numbers 1 to 90 and tickets with 3 rows and 9 columns. American Bingo uses 1 to 75 and a 5 by 5 card.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. The page fits phone screens, and on phones that support it each call gives a short vibration. Keep the screen awake while you run the game.
Is anything saved, and is real money involved?
Nothing is saved. Refreshing the page starts a fresh game. The caller is for fun only, and there is no betting or real money on Relev3n.
Want more games?
Try Mafia, Spin the Bottle, X & O, Memory Match and more, all free on Relev3n.
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