How to play housie (tambola) on your TV
Housie, also called tambola, is the number game every Indian family knows. On Our Console the TV or laptop is the caller and each player gets their own ticket on their phone. Nobody needs to print tickets, nobody has to be the caller, and nobody can argue about a claim, because the big screen checks it.
How it works
- Open the site on a TV, laptop or projector and press Host a game.
- Everyone scans the QR code with their phone and types a name. Two to eight players can join.
- Pick Housie. Each phone shows a different ticket with 15 numbers.
- The screen calls a number every few seconds, shows a big ball and reads out a traditional call. Tap the number on your ticket if you have it.
- Claim Early Five, Top Line, Middle Line, Bottom Line or Full House with the buttons under your ticket.
Prizes and points
Early Five (any five numbers) is worth 20 points, each line 30 and Full House 60. Players who make a correct claim for the same prize before the next number share it. A wrong claim is a bogey and costs 10 points, so check your row before you press.
It is played for points only. Marking the latest number quickly earns a 1-point Quick Dab, and every 20 numbers the player furthest behind gets a Lucky Pick and chooses the next number out of three.
Why play it this way
- No paper, pens or ticket printing before a party
- Grandparents and kids can play together: tapping a number is all it takes
- The game checks every claim instantly, so there are no arguments
- A game takes four to five minutes, so you can play several rounds
Questions
- How many people can play housie on one TV?
- Two to eight players, each with their own phone and ticket.
- Do we need an app to play tambola?
- No. The TV and the phones only need a web browser and the same WiFi.
- Can we play housie at a kitty party or family function?
- Yes. Put the game on the biggest screen in the room. Up to eight phones can play in one room, and families often share a phone per pair.