Number games
Tambola (Housie)
Early Five, corners, lines and Full House
Tambola, or Housie, is the number game of Indian homes at Diwali, kitty parties and family get-togethers: tickets of three rows and fifteen numbers from 1 to 90. Every dividend is open from the first number — Early Five, Four Corners, the top, middle and bottom lines — and the Full House ends the round. On Masa your numbers are marked for you.
- Players
- 1–24 players
- Length
- 3–4 min per round
- Type
- Number games
Play Tambola (Housie) online with friends
At Masa, Tambola (Housie) is a game of its own right next to Tombala: pick it in the games list, open a table and share its code or link with your friends, or sit at a house table. Bots fill the empty chairs, and voice chat keeps the table talking.
How to play
- 1
Nine pulls numbered pieces 1–90 from the velvet bag. Your numbers are marked for you (switch Auto off to place the markers yourself).
- 2
Every dividend is open from the first number and can be won in any order, each by the first ticket to complete it; tickets that get there on the same number share. The Full House ends the round.
- 3
Wins are checked the moment a number completes a card, so you can never miss one. Shouting is just for the cheer.
- 4
Standing up or leaving never costs a live card: it keeps playing and any prize is paid to you. After 5 rounds without a tap, we ask if you are still playing before buying more cards.
House rules
Pick any of these when you create a table; a table that changes none plays the rules above.
- Early Seven — The first ticket with any 7 numbers marked wins a dividend
- Centre — The middle row’s 3rd number wins a small dividend
- Circle — Top 3rd, middle 2nd + 4th, bottom 3rd: a ring of four
- Pyramid — Top 3rd, middle 2nd + 4th, bottom 1st, 3rd, 5th
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner — Three dividends: a ticket’s numbers 1–29, 30–59 and 60–90
- Second Full House — After the Full House, the next full ticket wins a smaller dividend
Frequently asked questions
Is Tambola (Housie) the same game as Tombala?
No. Tambola (Housie) is played at the same kind of table as Tombala, but with rules of its own — see “How to play” above. At Masa it is a game of its own, with its own tables, stats and achievements.
Can I play Tambola (Housie) online with friends?
Yes. Open a Tambola (Housie) table and share its code or link. Empty seats fill with other players or bots, so a game always starts.
Is Tambola (Housie) free to play?
Yes. You play with Chips, which have no cash value: nothing can be won or cashed out.
