What is Tambola Number Caller?
The Tambola caller for kitty parties, family functions and office Diwali games. Tap Call for the next number — each of the 90 numbers is called exactly once in a secure random order — and the board lights up every called number so players can double-check their tickets. Turn on Auto-call to have numbers announced every few seconds while you host.
Big fullscreen digits, the last five numbers shown for latecomers, and the traditional call-outs ("Two little ducks, 22!") for that authentic feel.
🎟️ Read the full guide: Bingo, Tambola and Housie: A Short History
How to play Tambola (Housie)
Every player takes a ticket — a 3×9 grid with 15 numbers (get free printable ones from the Tambola Ticket Generator). The caller draws numbers from 1 to 90 in random order and announces each with its nickname; players strike matching numbers on their ticket. The first to complete a winning pattern shouts the claim, the caller verifies it against the board, and the prize is theirs. This page is the caller: it draws fairly, shows every called number on the board, and can auto-call on a timer so the host plays too.
Tambola winning patterns
Early Five — the first ticket with any 5 numbers struck. Top Line, Middle Line and Bottom Line — all 5 numbers of that row. Four Corners — the first and last numbers of the top and bottom rows. Full House — all 15 numbers; the biggest prize, and usually the round’s end. Many parties add a Second Full House or fun one-off prizes (all numbers ending in 3, the ticket’s youngest player, and so on) — announce the prize list before the first call.
All 90 Tambola call-outs and nicknames
The nicknames are half the fun — call the phrase, then the number, twice. These are the classic calls used at Indian Tambola tables (a few vary by family — use yours!):
- 1 — Kelly's Eye
- 2 — One Little Duck
- 3 — Cup of Tea
- 4 — Knock at the Door
- 5 — Man Alive
- 6 — Half a Dozen
- 7 — Lucky Seven
- 8 — Garden Gate
- 9 — Doctor’s Orders
- 10 — A Big Fat Ten
- 11 — Legs Eleven
- 12 — One Dozen
- 13 — Unlucky for Some
- 14 — Valentine’s Day
- 15 — Young and Keen
- 16 — Sweet Sixteen
- 17 — Dancing Queen
- 18 — Coming of Age
- 19 — Goodbye Teens
- 20 — One Score
- 21 — Royal Salute
- 22 — Two Little Ducks
- 23 — Thee and Me
- 24 — Two Dozen
- 25 — Duck and Dive
- 26 — Pick and Mix
- 27 — Gateway to Heaven
- 28 — In a State
- 29 — Rise and Shine
- 30 — Dirty Thirty
- 31 — Get Up and Run
- 32 — Buckle My Shoe
- 33 — All the Threes
- 34 — Ask for More
- 35 — Jump and Jive
- 36 — Three Dozen
- 37 — More than Eleven
- 38 — Christmas Cake
- 39 — Steps
- 40 — Naughty Forty
- 41 — Time for Fun
- 42 — Winnie the Pooh
- 43 — Down on Your Knees
- 44 — Droopy Drawers
- 45 — Halfway There
- 46 — Up to Tricks
- 47 — Four and Seven
- 48 — Four Dozen
- 49 — PC (Police Constable)
- 50 — Half a Century
- 51 — Tweak of the Thumb
- 52 — Deck of Cards
- 53 — Here Comes Herbie
- 54 — Clean the Floor
- 55 — Snakes Alive
- 56 — Shotts Bus
- 57 — Heinz Varieties
- 58 — Make Them Wait
- 59 — Brighton Line
- 60 — Grandma’s Getting Frisky
- 61 — Bakers Bun
- 62 — Turn the Screw
- 63 — Tickle Me
- 64 — Almost Retired
- 65 — Retirement Age
- 66 — Clickety Click
- 67 — Stairway to Heaven
- 68 — Pick a Mate
- 69 — Either Way Up
- 70 — Three Score and Ten
- 71 — Bang on the Drum
- 72 — Six Dozen
- 73 — Queen Bee
- 74 — Hit the Floor
- 75 — Strive and Strive
- 76 — Trombones
- 77 — Two Little Crutches
- 78 — 39 More Steps
- 79 — One More Time
- 80 — Gandhi’s Breakfast
- 81 — Fat Lady with a Walking Stick
- 82 — Straight On Through
- 83 — Time for Tea
- 84 — Give Me More
- 85 — Staying Alive
- 86 — Between the Sticks
- 87 — Torquay in Devon
- 88 — Two Fat Ladies
- 89 — Almost There
- 90 — Top of the Shop
Housie, Tambola or Bingo — the same game, three names
Tambola and Housie are the same 90-number game — Tambola in north India, Housie in the south and in Australia. American Bingo is the 75-number cousin played on a 5×5 card with a free centre square. This caller runs the 90-number Indian game; for the 75-ball version use the Bingo Number Caller.
Running Tambola at a kitty party
Collect a small amount per ticket into the prize pool and split it across Early Five, the three lines and Full House (a common split is 10/15/15/15/45). Generate and hand out tickets before lunch, put this caller on the TV or the loudest phone, and set auto-call to 8–10 seconds so the host isn’t stuck calling. Members mark tickets with a pen — claims are checked against the board on screen. More kitty games: Kitty Party Games.
Game setup
How to play Tambola Number Caller
- Hand out tickets.
- Tap Call to draw the next number and read it aloud.
- Players mark it on their tickets.
- First to shout a completed pattern wins — verify against the board.
What the screen does for you
Tambola Number Caller on AllPartyGames.com is the referee, not the whole game: it gives the host Call next number, Board of called numbers, Reset, while you bring printed or app tickets for players and this screen as the caller. Tap the ? button inside the game for these rules at any time, or 📺 for TV mode on a big screen.
How many players?
Tambola Number Caller works with 3+ players and a typical round takes about 20–40 min. Recommended age: All ages.
Best occasions
Variations
Tips
- Use fullscreen on a TV or projector for groups.
- Sound and theme settings are remembered on this device.
Tambola Number Caller FAQ
Does it repeat numbers?
Never. The 90 numbers are shuffled once per game and called in that order. Reset starts a new shuffle.
Can players use paper tickets?
Yes — the caller only calls numbers; players mark their own printed or app tickets.
Is Tambola Number Caller free?
Yes — 100% free with no account required.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes, it is designed for phones first and works on tablets, laptops and TVs.