Housie Balls
In the game of Housie, numbers are generated using special Housie balls that are mixed and randomly dispersed.
About Housie Balls
In 90-Ball Housie games there are, of course, 90 balls, marked with numbers one to 90.
Here is more information about Housie balls:
- During the game, the balls are mixed and released for the caller to announce.
- Once a ball has been used, it is withdrawn from the game.
- The game then continues until the player who has gotten all of their numbers shouts ‘Housie!’
- Housie can be won on anything from 30 balls to 60 and above, and varies per game.
Housie Cage
The traditional method of mixing and releasing the balls is by placing them into a Housie cage.
The cage resembles a large wire barrel on a stand with an opening on one end and a handle on the other. The Housie balls are placed inside and the handle is turned quickly to shake them up well. Once the balls have been mixed, a single ball is released through the opening.
The biggest advantage to using a Housie cage is that they are not very expensive, and they are easy to transport to venues. They are also not very large, so they do not take up much space.
Housie Blower
Many modern parlours use a Housie blower to sort the balls.
Blowers are special machines that resemble bubble gum dispensers. The base is usually solid plastic or wood, and the container is made from glass. A high pressure air jet is fitted into the base, and when the Housie balls are inside and the machine is switched on, the pressure causes the balls to blow up into the glass container. A built-in timer blows and releases the balls at regular intervals.
Blowers are ideal for large Housie groups, especially if they can be kept at the Housie venue. While they are not cheap, it is a good investment as a well-made Housie blower will last for many years.
Learn more about the number board on the Housie Boards page.