A rifle is the traditional name for the nonprofit loto in Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence. Same rules as the French loto: 90 balls, 27-square cards (3×9), three stages — line, double line, full house. Only the name changes by region.
The word “rifle” is attested in French since the 16th century with the meaning of “large quantity” or “whole bunch”. In Provence and Languedoc, it took on the specific meaning of a collective game of chance where you win many prizes — hence the persistence of the term in local nonprofit vocabulary.
Today, in the villages of the Cévennes, Lozère, Hérault, Gard, Var and Vaucluse, people still say “la rifle” rather than “le loto”. Parishes and rural nonprofits organize these evenings in autumn and winter to fund their activities, in the tradition of Mediterranean conviviality.
Four names, one game. It's a pure regional linguistic marker.
Each rifle card has 27 squares organized in 3 rows × 9 columns, of which 15 squares are filled with numbers (1 to 90) and 12 are empty. A full game runs in three stages:
For complete rules (ties, penalties, variants), see our nonprofit loto rules guide.
Organizing a rifle is identical to a classic loto. Southern parishes have a long tradition of organizing them and volunteers have been passing down the methods for decades. The essential steps:
BingoShow is French software designed for nonprofits organizing rifles, quines and lotos. The publisher (Digital Truffle) is itself a French nonprofit (loi 1901), based in France.
Benefits for your rifle:
Pro plan at €9 / month or a 30-day pass at €14 with no commitment, VAT not applicable. See all plans →
A rifle is the traditional name for the nonprofit loto in Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence. The game uses 90 numbered balls and 27-square cards (3 rows × 9 columns). The rules are strictly identical to the French loto: line, double line, full house. Only the name changes.
The word rifle is attested in French since the 16th century with the meaning of “large quantity” or “whole bunch”. In Provence and Languedoc, it took on the meaning of a collective game of chance with many prizes. Rifle has remained the usual word for the nonprofit loto in these regions, especially in the villages of the Cévennes, Lozère, Hérault and Gard.
No difference in rules. Rifle (Languedoc-Provence), quine (Southwest, Catalonia), poule au gibier (Brittany) and loto (all of France) refer to the same game: 90 balls, 27 squares, line / double line / full house. It's strictly a regional usage. The word “riffle” is also used in some regions as a synonym.
The steps are identical to a classic loto: (1) town hall declaration at least one month before, (2) find prizes (gourmet hamper, ham, local wine, vouchers), (3) print numbered cards, (4) host on game day. Parish rifles in Languedoc often use prizes from Catholic tradition (devotional items, books, grocery hampers).
Yes, under conditions. Article L322-3 of the Code de la Sécurité Intérieure authorizes lotos (and therefore rifles) organized by nonprofits, in a restricted circle, with prizes not redeemable in cash and a modest entry fee. A town hall declaration is mandatory.
A traditional rifle usually costs between €2 and €5 per card, with 1 to 5 cards per player. For the organizer, the main costs are prizes (€300 to €2,000 depending on format) and venue rental. Gross income from a 150-card rifle at €5 is €750.
Yes, BingoShow handles exactly the format of a traditional rifle: 90 balls, 27-square cards, hosting the three stages (quine / double quine / full house). The room display is in French, and you can customize labels to use the word “rifle” instead of “loto”.
On average, a nonprofit rifle gathers between 50 and 300 players, depending on village size and outreach. Parish rifles for the Téléthon or patronal festival can exceed 500 attendees. With BingoShow, you handle up to 500 cards per session on the Pro plan.
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