How to host a Tambola game

The caller sets the mood of the whole evening. A calm, well-prepared host means a game where everyone hears every number, claims are settled in seconds, and nobody goes home grumbling. Here is a checklist you can follow, whether your group meets in one room or across five cities.

Before the game

Decide the prizes. Choose which patterns you will play and what the winner of each receives. Announce the list before the first number.
Decide what happens on a wrong claim. Some groups disqualify the ticket, others simply carry on. Either is fine, as long as everyone knows beforehand.
Decide how many tickets each player gets. The app allows 1 to 3 tickets per player. One ticket is best for beginners. Three keeps experienced players busy.
Test the sound. Open the game, turn the media volume up and check that the voice is switched on in Settings. If you are on a video call, ask someone at the other end whether they can hear you.
Share the link 10 minutes early. Send the game code or link to your group and ask people to join before the start time. Someone always needs help finding the message.
Charge your phone. Every number is called from the host's phone, so start with a good battery or keep the charger plugged in.

A game can have 2 to 20 players. You play too: the host gets tickets like everyone else, plus the CALL NUMBER button.

Planning the prizes

Prizes do not need to be grand. A small wrapped gift, handed over with applause, is plenty. Match the number of prizes to the size of the group, so that a fair share of players win something.

Group size	Prizes to play	Gift ideas
6 players	4 prizes: Early Five, Four Corners, any one Line, Full House	A bar of chocolate, a packet of dry fruits, a scented candle, and a box of sweets for the Full House
12 players	6 prizes: Early Five, Four Corners, Top Line, Middle Line, Bottom Line, Full House	Tea lights, a steel container, a hand towel set, a potted plant, a photo frame, and a gift hamper for the Full House
20 players	8 prizes: the six above, plus Second Full House and the Lucky Number bonus	Add a shopping voucher for the Second Full House and a box of mithai for the Lucky Number

Groups that play every week often skip gifts and keep points on a sheet of paper instead. The player with the most points at the end of the month chooses the snacks for the next meeting.

Tambola Pro is for social play with token prizes. Groups should follow the rules that apply where they live.

Setting the pace

A number roughly every 8 to 10 seconds works for most groups. At that speed, calling all 90 numbers would take about a quarter of an hour, plus the time spent checking claims.

Slow down for beginners, for players holding three tickets, and for anyone joining by phone from a place with a weak signal. Watch the faces, or listen on the call. If people are still searching when you are ready to call, wait.

You can add a nickname after the app reads the number. Our guide to number calls has a list to start with.

Handling claims

Stop calling. When someone claims, do not tap CALL NUMBER again until the claim is settled.
Ask the player to read out the numbers. For a line, that is five numbers. For a Full House, go row by row.
Check each number on the History board. History shows all 90 numbers, with the called ones marked. If every number in the pattern has been called, the claim is good.
Announce the result and close the prize. Say clearly who won and which prize is finished. Then carry on with the next number.

The app does not award prizes. That decision stays with you and your group. The full list of patterns is on the rules and prizes page.

When someone drops off

Phones lose signal and calls come in. If a player disappears, ask them to open the app or the page again and tap Rejoin Game. Their ticket and their marks are kept. Read out the numbers they missed from History, give them a moment to catch up, and continue.

Playing in person with paper tickets

If everyone is in one room and prefers pen and paper, use Call Numbers Only. The phone becomes the caller: a large number on the screen, the voice announcement, and the History board. Nobody needs to join anything. Progress is saved on the phone, so if the screen locks you can continue from the same number.

You can print tickets for free with our printable tickets generator. Connect the phone to a Bluetooth speaker if the room is large.

Mixed groups: some on phones, some on paper

A synced game on phones gives tickets only to the players who have joined with the code. Paper tickets cannot be added to that game. There is a simple way round it. A guest with a paper ticket can sit with the group, follow the numbers as they are called, and mark with a pen. If they claim, check their paper ticket against History in the same way.

Common mistakes

Announcing prizes halfway through. Rules added in the middle of a game always look unfair to somebody.
Calling the next number during a claim. It muddles who completed what, and when.
Starting before everyone has joined. Check that everyone is in before you tap Start Game.
Rushing the last few numbers. The Full House is the most exciting part. Let it breathe.
Forgetting to unmute. On a video call, check that your microphone is on before each game.

Theme nights

Once your group is comfortable, a theme keeps the weekly game fresh.

Festival editions. For Diwali, Holi, Christmas or Eid, match the gifts to the season: diyas, colours, cake or dates. Ask players to dress for the occasion.
Couple tickets. Partners share one ticket. One looks for the number and the other marks it. It is slower, louder and great fun.
Children's round. One ticket each with a grown-up helping, a slower pace and simpler prizes such as pencils, stickers or a storybook. Play only Early Five, one Line and Full House.