Popular tambola dividends (prizes)
In tambola, each prize is called a dividend. Mix a few of these into your game - just agree on the list before the first number is called.
- Early Five (Jaldi 5): the first player to mark any five numbers. Short and fast - it gets everyone excited early.
- Top, Middle and Bottom Line: all five numbers in one row.
- Four Corners: the first and last numbers of the top and bottom rows.
- Star: the four corners plus the middle number of the middle row.
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner: every number in the first three columns (1–29), the middle three (30–59), or the last three (60–90).
- Pyramid: one number from the top row, two from the middle row and three from the bottom row, forming a triangle. Groups define the exact cells differently, so show an example first.
- Full House: all 15 numbers - usually the biggest prize. Add a Second Full House to keep more players in the game until the end.
Team Housie online games play the six classic prizes (three lines, Four Corners, Full House and Second Full House) and check them automatically. For custom dividends, use printed tickets with our number caller.
Tambola theme ideas
Give each dividend a themed name and match the decorations, snacks and prizes:
- Diwali tambola: name the dividends after sweets - Gulab Jamun for Early Five, Rasgulla, Barfi and Jalebi for the lines, Kaju Katli for Full House. Give boxes of mithai as prizes.
- Bollywood tambola: name dividends after films - Sholay for Four Corners, Queen for Early Five, Dilwale for Full House - and have the caller hum a song for each number.
- Holi tambola: a colour per dividend, with gulal packets and thandai as prizes.
- Christmas or New Year tambola: Santa, Reindeer and Snowman lines, and a Midnight Full House.
- Foodie tambola: link each number to a dish (number 1 is Gulab Jamun, 25 is Paneer Tikka) and read the dish out with the number.
Fun tambola variations
- Speed tambola: call a number every 3–5 seconds instead of the usual 8–10. Chaotic and very funny.
- Reverse tambola: the last player to complete a Full House wins a booby prize.
- Musical tambola: play a song clip instead of calling the number. Players guess the song, and the host reveals the number linked to it.
- Lucky number: before the game, the host secretly writes down a number. Whoever has it on their ticket when it is called wins a bonus.
- Team tambola: split into teams that share a set of tickets - great for office events.
Tambola for kitty parties
Tambola is a kitty party staple because it needs no skill and everyone stays involved until the end. A few tips:
- Keep tickets cheap (or free) and split the pot across five or six dividends so more people win.
- Let the hostess choose the theme and dividend names for each month’s kitty.
- Use an automatic caller so the hostess can play too, and keep the traditional number calls handy for banter.
- If some members can’t make it in person, play tambola online so they join from home.