90-ball bingo
How to Play 90-Ball Bingo
The complete rules for UK-style 90-ball bingo — ticket layout, the three-prize structure, and how to run a proper housie or tombola session.
The rules of 90-ball bingo
A 90-ball ticket is a 3×9 grid with 15 numbers spread across three rows. Every row has exactly 5 numbers and 4 blank spaces, and numbers are grouped by column: column 1 holds numbers 1–9, column 2 holds 10–19, and so on up to column 9, which covers 80–90.
The caller draws numbers one at a time from the pool of 1 to 90 and announces each one. Players mark any number on their ticket that matches, working across whichever rows contain it. Because blanks are mixed in with numbers, players need to scan the full ticket rather than a single column.
90-ball is built around three separate prizes claimed within a single game. The first player to complete any one full row wins "one line." The first to complete any two full rows wins "two lines." The first to mark all 15 numbers on their ticket wins the "full house" — sometimes called "housie" or, in South Asia, "tambola." Each prize is claimed and verified before play continues, so up to three different players can win from one round.
This format dominates in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and much of Europe, and it goes by different names depending on the region — bingo in the UK, housie in Australia and New Zealand, and tambola across South Asia and its diaspora communities.
Setting up a 90-ball game
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Print or open tickets
Generate unique 3×9 tickets for each player, or have players use the online marker instead of paper.
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Explain the three prizes
Tell players upfront that one line, two lines, and full house are all won in the same round, in that order.
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Open the caller and start drawing
Use the 90-ball caller to draw numbers 1–90 at random. The call history tracks every draw for verification.
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Verify each prize as it is claimed
Check the winning ticket against the call history for each of the three prizes before moving to the next one.
90-ball bingo glossary
- One line
- The first prize — completing any single horizontal row of 5 numbers on the ticket.
- Two lines
- The second prize — completing any two of the three rows on the ticket.
- Full house
- The top prize — marking all 15 numbers on the ticket. Also called housie or, in some regions, tambola.
- Strip
- A set of six tickets that together contain every number from 1 to 90 exactly once, used in some traditional games.
- Eyes down
- A traditional UK call meaning play is about to begin — stop talking and watch the board.
Frequently asked questions
- How many prizes are there in a game of 90-ball bingo?
- Three: one line (any single row), two lines (any two rows), and full house (all 15 numbers). Each is won and confirmed separately within the same game, so up to three players can win a single round.
- What are the blank spaces on a 90-ball ticket for?
- Each row has 5 numbers and 4 blanks. The blanks are just empty cells — they are never called or marked, and they exist so the 15 numbers can be spread evenly across the 9 columns.
- Is 90-ball bingo the same as housie or tambola?
- Yes. "90-ball bingo" is the UK and international term, "housie" is used in Australia and New Zealand, and "tambola" is used across India, Pakistan, and South Asian communities worldwide. The rules and ticket structure are identical.
- How long does a 90-ball game take?
- A full game with all three prizes typically runs 15–25 minutes depending on calling speed, since the full house requires all 15 numbers to be drawn.
- What column does each number belong to?
- Column 1 covers numbers 1–9, column 2 covers 10–19, and so on through column 9, which covers 80–90. Numbers are always placed in the column matching their range.
- What happens if two players claim one line at the same time?
- Both are winners. Many hosts split the prize between tied claimants, or award both a full prize if the budget allows.