Housie

Housie rules in New Zealand

Housie is the New Zealand name for 90-ball bingo. You mark off called numbers on a ticket of 15 numbers and win by completing a line or a full house. Online, tickets are bought in NZ$ and the numbers are called by software, so you simply follow your card.

Housie is a game of pure chance, which is a big part of its charm. Nobody needs a strategy or any special skill: you buy a ticket, listen to the numbers as they are called and tick them off. The version most Kiwis grew up with at the club or the hall is the 90-ball game, and that is also what you will find in most online rooms. Every number from 1 to 90 is in play, and each number can only be called once per game.

1
Get your ticket

A standard ticket has 3 rows and 9 columns, with 15 numbers printed on it. The other squares are left blank.
2
Wait for the first call

Numbers between 1 and 90 are drawn at random, one at a time. Online, a random number generator does the calling.
3
Mark matching numbers

If a called number is on your ticket, cross it off. Online rooms usually mark it for you, so you can just watch.
4
Aim for one line

The first prize goes to the player who completes any full row of five numbers on their ticket.
5
Go for two lines

The second prize goes to whoever completes two full rows. Your first line still counts toward it.
6
Chase the full house

The final and biggest prize goes to the first player to mark all 15 numbers. The game then ends and a new one begins.

Prize	What you need	Order
One line	One full row	First
Two lines	Two full rows	Second
Full house	All 15 numbers	Last

Prize amounts depend on the room and on how many tickets are sold, so check the details shown in the game before you buy. If two players complete a prize on the same call, the prize is normally shared between them.

One of the best things about traditional housie is the calling. Many numbers have a nickname that gets shouted out across the hall: one is Kelly's eye, eleven is legs eleven, twenty-two is two little ducks and ninety is top of the shop. Some online rooms keep the nicknames in the chat window, which gives the game a bit of that community feel even when you are playing alone on your phone.

A useful tip: buying more tickets raises your chances of completing a line, but it also raises your spend for the game. Pick a ticket count you are comfortable with before the first number is called, and stick to it for the whole session. Playing a few tickets over several games is often more relaxing than loading up on a single round.

How to play housie for money

Playing housie for real money works the same way as the hall version, only the ticket is digital and the payment goes through your account. You deposit in NZ$, choose a room, buy one or more tickets for the next game and the prizes are paid into your balance. Before you start, it helps to decide how much you want to spend for the whole session, not just for a single game.

Create an account and confirm your details, which you can start from the sign-up page.
Add funds in NZ$ using a payment method available to you in the cashier.
Open the bingo or housie section of the lobby and pick a room.
Check the ticket price, the number of players and the prizes on offer.
Buy your tickets before the countdown ends and the game begins.
Watch the numbers being called while the game marks your tickets.
Collect any winnings in your balance and decide whether to play on or stop.

On payments, use a debit card or another method you are happy with. In New Zealand a credit card deposit counts as a cash advance, which usually means extra fees and interest from your bank, so a debit card is the simpler choice. The cashier lists the methods available for your account, along with any minimums, so look there before you deposit.

Strengths

Easy rules that anyone can pick up in a minute
Low ticket prices let you play for longer
Social feel thanks to chat rooms and shared games
Tickets are marked automatically, so you never miss a number

Worth knowing

Results are down to luck, so no approach can guarantee a win
Fast rounds can add up if you buy lots of tickets

Where to play housie online

Kiwis can still find housie in community halls, clubs and fundraisers, and many people like the atmosphere there. Online, the game is usually listed as bingo, often as 90-ball bingo, so that is the word to look for in a lobby. Whichever site you try, a few simple checks will tell you whether it is a good place to spend your time.

Clear operator details

The site should state which company runs it and which regulator licenses it, with a number you can look up.

90-ball rooms

Look for a bingo section with 90-ball games, since that is the format that matches classic housie rules.

NZ$ friendly cashier

A cashier that shows your limits and methods up front makes it easy to plan your spend.

Player protection tools

Deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion should be easy to find in your account settings.

Studio	Popular games
Evolution	Red Baron Live, Red Baron RNG, American Roulette by Evolution
Play'n GO	Book of Dead, Captain Xeno's Earth Adventure, Cat Wilde and the Lost Chapter
NetEnt	Big Money Wheel, Babylon Riches, Beach Invaders

Playzee Casino is operated by White Hat Gaming Limited, which holds UK Gambling Commission account 52894. The UKGC public register lists bingo among the licensed remote activities for that account, alongside casino and gambling software. After you register, open the lobby to see which bingo rooms are currently running. Between housie games, the lobby also offers slots and live tables from studios like the ones above. You can create your account here or go straight to [[aff:Open Playzee Casino]] to look around.

Is housie legal in New Zealand?

Housie has a long history in New Zealand, and the traditional hall version is a familiar part of community life. Gambling in general is covered by the Gambling Act 2003, and the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) oversees the sector. Playing housie at a club or a charity night is a different matter from playing online, because online gambling rules are treated separately.

Online casino rules in New Zealand are being reshaped under a DIA-led regime.
There is no local online casino licence available yet.
The cut-off date for operators outside the new regime is 1 December 2026.
Players should always check the age limit that applies to the activity they choose.
Rules can change, so it is worth rereading official guidance from time to time.

Whatever the legal picture, the practical advice stays the same: keep to your own limits, only use money you can afford to spend and use the support tools that are built into your account. It is also a good idea to keep an eye on official announcements as the new regime takes shape, since dates and details can shift. If you want more games to browse in the meantime, the lobby has slots and live tables to look through.

What players say about online housie

Players who move from the hall to the screen tend to share the same positive points. Most say the appeal is how easy and relaxed the game feels, and that it is a pleasant change from faster casino games. The summary below is a general paraphrase of what players often highlight.

Simple rules mean new players feel at home after a single game.
Auto-marking removes the stress of missing a number.
Chat rooms bring back some of the friendly hall atmosphere.
Small ticket prices make a short session affordable.
Playing on a phone means a game fits into any spare ten minutes.

Many people also like that housie suits a mixed group. Parents, grandparents and friends who would never sit down at a poker table are happy to follow a bingo card together, and the slower rhythm leaves room for a chat. Others enjoy it as a quiet wind-down after a busy day, with a cup of tea and a handful of tickets.

Housie questions answered

What is housie?

Housie is the name many New Zealanders use for 90-ball bingo. Each player has a ticket with 15 numbers, numbers from 1 to 90 are called out at random and the first to complete a line, two lines or a full house wins the matching prize.

Is housie the same as bingo?

Mostly yes. Housie is the traditional name for the 90-ball game, while bingo is the wider name that also covers 75-ball and other formats. Online lobbies usually list it as bingo, so look for 90-ball rooms to find the classic game.

Can I play housie for NZ$ online?

Online rooms normally let you buy tickets with funds from your account. Check the cashier for the currency and methods available to you, and note that a credit card deposit counts as a cash advance in New Zealand, so a debit card is usually simpler.

How many tickets should I buy?

That is up to you. More tickets give you more chances of completing a line, but they also cost more. A good habit is to decide your budget for the session first, then buy only as many tickets as fit inside it.

Is housie a game of skill?

No. Numbers are drawn at random, so the outcome is down to luck. The only choices you make are how many tickets to buy and when to stop, which makes it a relaxed game that is easy to enjoy.

What do the housie number nicknames mean?

They are traditional calls shouted in halls to make the game more fun. Kelly's eye is one, legs eleven is eleven, two little ducks is twenty-two and top of the shop is ninety. They do not change the rules or the odds, they just add atmosphere.

Where can I get help if gambling stops being fun?

The Gambling Helpline offers free, confidential support in New Zealand, and pgf.nz, the Problem Gambling Foundation, has advice and tools. You can also set deposit limits or take a break from within your account at any time.

Play at Playzee Casino

Open the lobby, check the cashier in New Zealand dollars and set your own limits before you deposit.

Written by Rachel Green

Mobile Gaming Expert • 5+ years mobile reviews

All casino information is verified through hands-on testing, direct contact with customer support, and cross-referencing multiple sources for accuracy.