Birthday tambola is the party game that works for every age. Print up to 600 unique tickets with the birthday person’s name on each one, call the numbers from the caller sheet and hand out prizes such as the Cake Line and the Birthday Bumper. These free birthday tambola tickets come in real strips of six, with a prize list and a rules page, and you can also play birthday tambola live on phones with no printer at all.
Birthday tambola to print (PDF)
These four pages show a birthday tambola set for a 50th birthday: a page of tickets with “Asha’s 50th Birthday” on every one, the 1 to 90 caller sheet, the prize list with space to write each winner, and the one-page rules. Click a picture for the PDF, or use the generator at the top of the page to change the name, the date, the paper size and the number of tickets.
What is in the birthday tambola pack
Everything below is made in your browser, and nothing you type is uploaded. Choose a title and a party name, set the number of tickets, and press Download PDF or Print.
| Page | What you get | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tickets | Real strips of six: each strip uses every number from 1 to 90 exactly once | Up to 600 tickets, pink with a balloon motif, with your title, the party name and the date on every ticket |
| Caller sheet | A 1 to 90 grid to cross off as you call | Keep it to check every winning claim |
| Prize list | The six birthday prizes, from Candle Five to Birthday Bumper | Space to write each prize and the winning ticket number |
| Rules page | A one-page script to read out before the first number | Covers claims and what happens after a wrong one |
Birthday tambola prizes and what they mean
The birthday theme renames the six standard tambola prizes so that every win sounds like part of the party. Read the list out before the first number, and you have a ready-made script for the afternoon.
| Prize | How to win | Where the name comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Candle Five | Early Five: the first five numbers marked on a ticket | The first candles on the cake, and a quick win to start the excitement |
| Balloon Line | Top Line: all five numbers on the top row | Balloons rise to the top of the room |
| Cake Line | Middle Line: all five numbers on the middle row | The middle of the ticket is the cake, and the prize is often a slice |
| Gift Line | Bottom Line: all five numbers on the bottom row | Presents sit at the bottom of the pile |
| Four Candles | Corners: the first and last number of the top and bottom rows | Four candles, one in each corner of the ticket |
| Birthday Bumper | Full House: all fifteen numbers marked | The big prize, usually saved for last |
Number calls for your birthday tambola
Every number from 1 to 90 can be an age, so a birthday tambola has a ready-made set of calls. Say the age first and the number second, and the room will cheer for its own decade.
| Number | Call it | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The first birthday | Everyone has been one, and many guests will be holding one |
| 16 | Sweet sixteen | A classic bingo call and a classic party age |
| 18 | Coming of age | The age of adulthood in many countries |
| 21 | Key of the door | The traditional 21st birthday gift |
| 30 | The big three-oh | A good moment to ask who is still in their twenties |
| 40 | Life begins at forty | The old saying, always worth a groan |
| 50 | Half a century | A traditional bingo call that suits a 50th perfectly |
| 60 | Five dozen | Twelve times five, and another traditional call |
| 70 | Three score and ten | The lifespan given in the Book of Psalms |
| 90 | Top of the shop | The last number on the board, and a salute to the oldest guest |
How long does a birthday tambola game last?
A birthday tambola should fit between the food and the cake, so it helps to know how long the game will run. The table shows when each prize is usually won and how many minutes the whole game takes at the default speed of 10 seconds a call.
| Tickets | Typical crowd | Early Five | First full line | Full House | Time at 10 s a call |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 tickets | a family party at home | call 14 (12 to 17) | call 43 (36 to 49) | call 76 (71 to 78) | 13 min |
| 24 tickets | a 40th with close friends | call 13 (11 to 15) | call 38 (33 to 42) | call 73 (69 to 76) | 12 min |
| 48 tickets | a hall party with 50 guests | call 11 (10 to 13) | call 32 (27 to 37) | call 70 (67 to 73) | 12 min |
| 90 tickets | a milestone party with everyone invited | call 10 (9 to 11) | call 29 (25 to 33) | call 68 (64 to 70) | 11 min |
The numbers come from real simulations of this generator: 300 games for each ticket count, with the typical call number and the middle half of results in brackets. More tickets mean the first prizes arrive sooner, but with 12 to 90 tickets the Full House still comes around call 68 to 76, because someone must complete all fifteen numbers. For a quick 10-minute slot, choose 6 or 8 seconds a call in the live game, or simply read the numbers faster from the printed caller sheet.
Birthday party games for adults: why tambola works
Many birthday party games for adults fail because they ask guests to perform. Tambola asks only for attention. Every guest starts with the same chance, the numbers are random and nobody needs to know anyone else, which is why the game suits a mix of friends, colleagues and relatives of every age. It can be played seated, with a drink in hand, while the music keeps going, and because the result is pure luck, a ten-year-old can beat a grandfather. The chatter between numbers does the mixing for you.
50th birthday games and milestone parties
For 50th birthday games and other milestone parties, make the tickets part of the gift. Type the name and the age in the title box, add the party date, and print a set that guests can keep. Call 50 as “half a century” and let the birthday person choose the first prize. The same idea works for a 60th, a 70th or a first birthday: change the title and the age calls, and the rest of the pack stays the same.
Birthday housie and birthday kitty parties
Birthday housie is the same game under its other name. Housie, housey-housey, tambola and 90-ball bingo are all names for one game, and the words in use depend on where you live. A birthday kitty party, where a group of friends meets every month and takes turns to host, usually builds the afternoon around a game like this. The host brings the tickets and the prizes, and the group agrees on a small prize for each line.
How to run a birthday tambola in six steps
- Two weeks before: choose the title, count your guests and decide the prizes. Allow one ticket each for children and two for adults who want more chances.
- One week before: type the name and the date into the generator, print the tickets on A4 or Letter paper and cut the strips into single tickets.
- At the party: hand each guest a ticket and a pen, or a small pile of buttons or candies as markers.
- Before the first number: read the prize list out loud, including the Candle Five and the Birthday Bumper.
- During the game: call a number every 10 seconds, cross it off the caller sheet and repeat it clearly.
- After the game: check each winning ticket against the caller sheet, hand out the prizes and keep the tickets as souvenirs.
Prize ideas for a birthday tambola
- A candle, a card or a small cupcake for the Candle Five
- A balloon bundle or party hat for the Balloon Line
- A slice of cake or a box of chocolates for the Cake Line
- A wrapped gift or a gift card for the Gift Line and the Birthday Bumper
- A badge or a tiara for the last winner of the day
Type any of these into the “Extra fun prizes” box and they print on the prize list:
- Age Number: the first guest to mark the number of the birthday person’s age
- Birthday Month: the first to mark the number of the birthday month, from 1 to 12
- Lucky 7: the first to mark the number 7
- Five Candles: the first to mark five numbers that end in 0 or 5
Host tips for a smooth game
- Print two or three spare tickets for latecomers, and set the tickets-per-page to 3 for older guests who like large numbers.
- Use sweets or buttons as markers so that tickets stay clean and can be reused for the next game.
- Give each prize a name before the game starts, and write the name of every winner on the prize list.
- Call slowly at the start, then speed up as the game gets going.
Curious where the game comes from? Wikipedia’s tombola article explains the history of the game and how it is played.
Play birthday tambola live on phones
No printer? Host the same birthday game on a phone or a TV. Guests open your link, type the ticket number you give them and their e-ticket marks itself as each number is called. Numbers are called automatically at the speed you choose, read aloud in English or Hindi if you like, and you can check any winning claim by ticket number. No app and no sign-up.
Birthday tambola: frequently asked questions
Can I put the birthday person’s name on the tickets?
Yes. Use the title box (up to 40 characters) for the name or message, such as “Asha’s 50th Birthday”, and the host or party name box. Both print on every ticket, together with the date.
What are good birthday party games for adults with tambola?
Play the six standard prizes, then add fun extras such as the Age Number and the Birthday Month. A game of birthday tambola takes about 10 to 15 minutes, so it fits between the food and the cake.
Are the tickets unique?
Yes. Tickets are made in strips of six, like real tambola books: within each strip every number from 1 to 90 appears exactly once, each row has exactly five numbers and every column is used.
How many tickets can I print?
From 1 to 600 in one go, with 3, 6, 8 or 12 tickets per page. Press New tickets for a completely different set, and choose Letter or A4 paper, in color or black and white.
Are the birthday tambola tickets free?
Yes. The tickets, caller sheet, prize list, rules page and live game are all free for home, club and classroom use, with no sign-up.