Here at UK bingo news, we don’t just report on bingo in our fair homeland, oh no! We bring you bingo news from across the globe! Bingo is something of a national treasure in the UK, but in France you’ll also find bingo fanatics who could probably give us bingo bonkers Brits a run for our money!

A look back into the history books shows us that France actually got the game before we did, in the form of ‘Le Lotto’ which originated from Italy in the 18th century. We didn’t get it for around another 100 years, so technically the French were a little ahead of us! 

The game was extremely popular with the French intelligentsia, a select group of individuals who had to be privileged enough to play. The development of the game across Europe and subsequently the globe has led to bingo being one of the best loved games in France, just as it is in many countries across the globe!

In France, Bastille Day is celebrated every year on 14th July.  It is an occasion which commemorates the French Revolution and the day that a huge group of people in Paris stored the Bastille prison in 1789. Bastille Day is a very important occasion in France, with many events going on all over the country including a march in Paris itself.

One way that French school children celebrate Bastille Day is through playing Bastille Day Bingo! The game format is similar to the traditional game that we all know and love but with one important and educational difference! Each bingo card has images related to the French Revolution or France on it, and children have to explain the meaning behind each image before marking off the numbers! It’s a way to encourage children to improve their mathematical skills with number recognition and to get them learning about their country!