French Roulette Guide
French roulette is the original form of the game and offers the best odds of any roulette variant. The La Partage rule cuts the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% to just 1.35% — the single best bet in any standard casino outside of blackjack with perfect strategy.
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French Roulette vs European vs American
All three variants use a numbered wheel, but differ in wheel layout, rules, and house edge.
| Feature | French | European | American |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zeros | Single (0) | Single (0) | Double (0 and 00) |
| House edge (standard bets) | 2.70% | 2.70% | 5.26% |
| House edge (even-money with La Partage) | 1.35% | N/A | N/A |
| La Partage rule | Yes | No | No |
| En Prison rule | Some tables | No | No |
| Call bets (French bet names) | Yes | Sometimes | No |
| Table layout language | French | English/Multi | English |
La Partage: The Rule That Changes Everything
La Partage (French for 'the sharing') is the rule that makes French roulette uniquely valuable.
How it works: When the ball lands on 0 and you have an even-money bet (Red/Black, High/Low, Odd/Even), you receive half your bet back instead of losing the full amount.
Mathematical effect:
Without La Partage: Even-money bet loses when 0 hits — full loss included in the 2.70% house edge.
With La Partage: Even-money bet loses only half when 0 hits.
House edge on even-money bets with La Partage = 1.35% — exactly half the standard rate.
This makes Red/Black on French roulette with La Partage the best roulette bet available in any standard casino.
En Prison Rule
En Prison (French for 'in prison') is an alternative to La Partage found on some French tables.
How it works: When 0 hits on an even-money bet:
• Your bet is held 'in prison' (marked) for the next spin
• If the next spin wins your bet, you receive your stake back (no profit)
• If the next spin loses, your entire bet is lost
Mathematically, En Prison and La Partage are equivalent in expected value — both reduce the house edge on even-money bets to 1.35%.
Player preference: La Partage immediately returns half your stake, eliminating suspense. En Prison keeps money at risk for another spin — higher variance, same expected outcome.
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French Call Bets (Announced Bets)
French roulette offers call bets — bets covering specific sections of the wheel rather than the felt layout. These are announced to the dealer and placed on a special oval track (racetrack).
Key French call bets:
Voisins du Zéro (Neighbours of Zero): Covers 17 numbers around the zero sector. Requires 9 chips.
Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel): Covers 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from the zero. Requires 6 chips.
Orphelins (Orphans): Covers 8 numbers not included in Voisins or Tiers. Requires 5 chips.
Les Voisins (Neighbours): Bet on a specific number plus the two numbers on each side of it on the wheel (5 numbers total). Common bet for players who have favourite wheel sections.
Where to Find French Roulette and How to Play It
French roulette is less common than European roulette but available at most online casinos and high-end land-based establishments.
Live casino French roulette: Many live dealer platforms offer French roulette with La Partage, identifiable by the French table layout and racetrack betting interface.
Strategy tip: Always play French roulette over European or American when available. On even-money bets, La Partage at 1.35% house edge is dramatically better than European (2.70%) or American (5.26%).
Call bet tip: Call bets have the same house edge as standard number bets (2.70%) — they cover specific wheel sections but offer no mathematical advantage. Use them for fun and variety, not as a strategic edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is La Partage in French roulette?
La Partage is a rule that returns half your stake when the ball lands on 0 and you have an even-money bet. It reduces the house edge on those bets from 2.70% to 1.35%.
Is French roulette better than European roulette?
Yes, on even-money bets. La Partage reduces the house edge to 1.35% — half the European rate. For number bets (single numbers, splits, streets), both variants have the same 2.70% house edge.
What is En Prison in roulette?
An alternative to La Partage: when 0 hits on an even-money bet, your stake is held 'in prison' for the next spin. Win and you recover your stake; lose and it's gone. Mathematically equivalent to La Partage (1.35% edge).
What are call bets in French roulette?
Bets covering specific sections of the wheel, announced to the dealer and placed on an oval racetrack layout. Key call bets include Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre, and Orphelins.
Can I play French roulette online?
Yes — most online and live casino platforms offer French roulette. Look for tables displaying the La Partage rule and a racetrack betting interface for call bets.
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