Come si gioca a Tombola

How to play Tombola

Born in 18th-century Naples, Tombola is not just a game: it is a cherished Italian tradition that brings people together at Christmas.

WHAT YOU NEED

  • The Caller Board containing all 90 numbers
  • 1–3 cards for each player
  • 90 numbers (wood or paper tokens)
  • A bag or basket for shuffling and drawing numbers
  • Dried beans, buttons or coins to cover the numbers drawn

PREPARATION

  1. The Caller is chosen. This player is responsible for drawing numbers, announcing them, and guarding the prize pool.
  2. The Caller buys 6 special cards that cover all the numbers from 1 to 90. The other players buy 1 to 3 cards each. Each card has a symbolic price (e.g. €1).
  3. The sum collected constitutes the prize pool, which is divided among the winners of the various combinations. The more difficult the combination, the higher the prize.

GAME

  1. The dealer shuffles the numbers in the bag and draws them out one at a time, announcing them out loud, often accompanied by their meaning in the Neapolitan Smorfia.
  2. Players check their cards and cover any numbers drawn, if any.
  3. It continues until someone makes one of the winning combinations.

WINNING COMBINATIONS

AMBO → 2 numbers on the same line
TERNA→ 3 numbers on the same line
QUATERNA → 4 numbers on the same row
CINQUINA → 5 numbers on the same line
TOMBOLA → All 15 numbers on the card

NEAPOLITAN TOMBOLA

In Naples, tombola is “spoken”: those who draw the numbers comment on them with jokes, double meanings, family memories and improvised stories. It is a show within a show.

Here Tombola isn’t just a game. It’s a ritual.
You need a loud voice, a quick hand, and a grandma yelling in the background.


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