French Roulette
French Roulette is the original form of roulette as developed in 18th-century France and the basis for all subsequent variants. It uses the same single-zero 37-pocket wheel as European Roulette, but features two unique rules — La Partage and En Prison — that apply when the ball lands on zero, reducing the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% to just 1.35%. This makes French Roulette, with its La Partage rule applied, the lowest house-edge variant of roulette available and one of the best table games in the casino by expected value. The table layout also uses French terminology and a distinctive dual-sided betting design.
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The wheel is identical to European Roulette: 37 pockets, numbers 0–36, single green zero. Betting options and payouts are identical to European Roulette. The key distinction is the treatment of zero: La Partage rule: when 0 hits, all even-money bets (Rouge/Noir, Pair/Impair, Manque/Passe — the French equivalents of Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low) lose only half their stake, with the other half returned to the player. House edge on even-money bets with La Partage: 1.35%. En Prison rule (variant): instead of returning half, even-money bets are 'imprisoned' — left on for the next spin. If that spin wins, the original stake is returned (not a win, just recovery). If it loses, the bet is lost. En Prison and La Partage are mathematically equivalent in expected value. Inside bets (straight, split, etc.) still carry the full 2.70% house edge.
Basic Strategy
Always choose French Roulette over European or American Roulette when available. When La Partage or En Prison applies, restrict all play to even-money outside bets (Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low) to access the 1.35% house edge. With La Partage, prefer it over En Prison if you want the half-stake returned immediately rather than risking it again. Inside bets in French Roulette carry the same 2.70% edge as in European Roulette — the La Partage advantage applies only to even-money bets. No betting system can improve expected value, but even-money bets with La Partage provide the best possible roulette experience for bankroll longevity.
At a Glance
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The Wheel Sequence
The 37 pockets read clockwise from the green zero in this fixed, non-sequential order:
Bets, Payouts & Odds
| Bet Type | Payout | Win Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Straight Up (1 number) | 35:1 | 2.70% |
| Split (2 numbers) | 17:1 | 5.41% |
| Street (3 numbers) | 11:1 | 8.11% |
| Corner (4 numbers) | 8:1 | 10.81% |
| Six Line (6 numbers) | 5:1 | 16.22% |
| Column (12 numbers) | 2:1 | 32.43% |
| Dozen (12 numbers) | 2:1 | 32.43% |
| Even-Money w/ La Partage (18 numbers) | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Red / Black (18 numbers) | 1:1 | 48.65% |
| Odd / Even (18 numbers) | 1:1 | 48.65% |
European vs American vs French
| Variant | House Edge | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| European | 2.70% | 37 pockets with a single green zero. The standard wheel in Macau and most of Europe. |
| American | 5.26% | Adds a second 00 pocket (38 total), which nearly doubles the house edge. Avoid where possible. |
| French | 1.35% | Same single-zero wheel, but La Partage and En Prison apply to even-money bets by default. |
The French Roulette Wheel
French Roulette uses exactly the same wheel as European Roulette: 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36, with a single green zero and 18 red and 18 black numbers. The pocket order is identical too, reading clockwise from the zero in the standard single-zero sequence.
What sets French Roulette apart is not the wheel but the table. The layout is labelled in French, the even-money bets carry special rules that lower the house edge, and the classic 'call bets' around the wheel are a standard part of the game rather than an optional extra.
La Partage: Half Your Stake Back
La Partage (French for 'the division') applies to even-money bets — Rouge/Noir, Pair/Impair and Manque/Passe. When the ball lands on zero, instead of losing the whole bet you lose only half; the other half is returned to you immediately.
That single rule cuts the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% to just 1.35% — the lowest edge you will find on any standard roulette wager. It is the reason French Roulette, where available, is the best value roulette game in the casino.
En Prison: A Second Chance
Some French tables use En Prison ('in prison') instead of La Partage. When the ball lands on zero, your even-money bet is not lost — it is 'imprisoned' and held for the next spin.
If that next spin wins, you get your original stake back with no winnings; if it loses, the bet is gone. Mathematically En Prison delivers the same 1.35% edge on even-money bets as La Partage, just through a different mechanism. Either rule is a clear win for the player over the plain single-zero table.
French Bets & Call Bets
On a French table the outside bets read Rouge/Noir (red/black), Pair/Impair (even/odd) and Manque (1–18) / Passe (19–36). The dozens are Premier, Milieu and Dernier. Learning these labels is all that separates a French table from a European one for most bets.
French Roulette also formalises the announced 'call bets' that follow the physical wheel: Voisins du Zéro (the numbers neighbouring zero), Tiers du Cylindre (the third opposite zero), Orphelins (the orphans in between) and Jeu Zéro (the numbers closest to zero). They cover sections of the wheel rather than the grid, and are placed by announcing them to the dealer.
French vs European vs American
All three games share the same bet types and payouts, so the only thing that really changes is the house edge. American Roulette, with its extra 00, is the worst at 5.26%. European Roulette, with a single zero, is far better at 2.70%.
French Roulette starts from that same single-zero wheel and then adds La Partage or En Prison, halving the even-money edge to 1.35%. For anyone who favours red/black or odd/even bets, French Roulette is comfortably the best roulette game to sit at.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the house edge in French Roulette?
French Roulette has a 2.70% house edge on most bets, but on even-money bets (Rouge/Noir, Pair/Impair, Manque/Passe) the La Partage or En Prison rule halves it to just 1.35% — the best odds in roulette.
What is the La Partage rule?
La Partage means that when the ball lands on zero, you lose only half of an even-money bet instead of the whole stake. It cuts the edge on those bets from 2.70% to 1.35%.
What is the En Prison rule?
With En Prison, an even-money bet is 'imprisoned' when the ball hits zero and held for the next spin. Win that spin and you get your stake back; lose and it is gone. It gives the same 1.35% edge as La Partage.
What is the difference between French and European Roulette?
They use the same single-zero wheel and layout, but French Roulette applies La Partage or En Prison to even-money bets by default, lowering their edge to 1.35%. European tables often do not, leaving the edge at 2.70%.
What are call bets in French Roulette?
Call bets cover sections of the physical wheel rather than the grid: Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre, Orphelins and Jeu Zéro. They are announced to the dealer and are a standard feature of French tables.
What is the best bet in French Roulette?
Even-money bets (Rouge/Noir, Pair/Impair, Manque/Passe) are the best value because La Partage or En Prison reduces their house edge to 1.35%, the lowest of any common roulette bet.
Can you win consistently at French Roulette?
No. Even at 1.35%, the house edge on even-money bets is still positive, and every spin is independent. No betting system overcomes it long term, though the low edge makes for a slower, more forgiving game.
Is this French Roulette game free to play?
Yes. This French Roulette game runs free in your browser with no signup and no download, so you can practise the French bets and see La Partage in action with no money at stake.
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