French Roulette: Odds, Special Rules & Player Advantages
French Roulette is the pro’s choice and for good reason. It uses the same single-zero wheel as European Roulette, but adds two rules that dramatically shift the mathematics in your favour. With La Partage active on even-money bets, the house edge drops to just 1.35% lower than most blackjack tables and a fraction of what the American wheel costs you. If you can find a French Roulette table, play it.
What Is French Roulette?
French Roulette is the original form of the game. It was developed in 18th-century France and refined in the casinos of Monte Carlo, where it remains the prestige variant to this day. The wheel is identical to European Roulette 37 pockets, numbers 0 through 36 but the table layout, terminology, and crucially the rules governing zero outcomes are different.
The French table traditionally uses a red baize cloth with French terminology: Impair for Odd, Pair for Even, Manque for Low (1–18), Passe for High (19–36). The layout can look intimidating at first, but the underlying bets are identical to European Roulette.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Feature | French Roulette |
|---|---|
| Wheel pockets | 37 (0–36) |
| Green zeros | 1 (single zero) |
| Base house edge | 2.70% |
| House edge with La Partage | 1.35% (even-money bets only) |
| RTP with La Partage | 98.65% |
| Straight-up payout | 35:1 |
| La Partage rule | Always present |
| En Prison rule | Present on many tables |
| Announced (call) bets | Yes — Voisins, Tiers, Orphelins |
La Partage & En Prison: The Rules That Change Everything
These two rules are the defining feature of French Roulette. Both apply exclusively to even-money outside bets (Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low) when the ball lands on zero. Without them, French and European Roulette would be mathematically identical.
La Partage
Example: You bet €20 on Red. Zero lands. Under La Partage, you receive €10 back immediately. Net loss: €10 instead of €20.
En Prison
Some tables offer both rules En Prison on the first zero, and if zero hits again while your bet is imprisoned, La Partage applies (you receive half back). This can reduce the effective edge further in rare scenarios.
How Much Does This Save You?
| Variant | House Edge (even-money) | Expected Loss 500 × €10 |
|---|---|---|
| French Roulette (La Partage) | 1.35% | €67.50 |
| European Roulette | 2.70% | €135 |
| American Roulette | 5.26% | €263 |
French Roulette Rules & Table Layout
The mechanics are the same as all roulette variants. A croupier spins the wheel, releases the ball, and players bet on the outcome. Bets close when the croupier calls “Rien ne va plus” (No more bets). Winning bets are paid; losing bets are cleared.
Inside Bets
| Bet (French name) | Coverage | Payout | Win Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plein (Straight Up) | 1 number | 35:1 | 2.70% |
| Cheval (Split) | 2 numbers | 17:1 | 5.41% |
| Transversale (Street) | 3 numbers | 11:1 | 8.11% |
| Carré (Corner) | 4 numbers | 8:1 | 10.81% |
| Sixaine (Six Line) | 6 numbers | 5:1 | 16.22% |
Outside Bets
| Bet (French name) | Coverage | Payout | Win Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rouge / Noir (Red / Black) | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 48.65%* |
| Impair / Pair (Odd / Even) | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 48.65%* |
| Manque / Passe (Low / High) | 18 numbers | 1:1 | 48.65%* |
| Douzaine (Dozen) | 12 numbers | 2:1 | 32.43% |
| Colonne (Column) | 12 numbers | 2:1 | 32.43% |
Call Bets: Voisins, Tiers & Orphelins
French Roulette is the home of announced (call) bets sector-based wagers placed on specific sections of the physical wheel. They are called out to the croupier or placed on a separate racetrack layout. Most online French Roulette tables include this racetrack interface.
Voisins du Zéro — Neighbours of Zero
Covers the 17 numbers surrounding zero on the wheel: 0, 2, 3, 4, 7, 12, 15, 18, 19, 21, 22, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 35. Requires 9 chips and uses a combination of splits, a trio, and a corner bet.
Tiers du Cylindre — Third of the Wheel
Covers the 12 numbers on the opposite side of the wheel from zero: 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 23, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36. Placed as 6 split bets requiring 6 chips.
Orphelins — Orphans
Covers the 8 numbers not included in Voisins or Tiers: 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, 34. Placed as one straight-up and four splits. Requires 5 chips.
French Roulette Odds & Payouts
All payouts in French Roulette are identical to European Roulette. The difference is entirely in the house edge on even-money bets, which La Partage halves from 2.70% to 1.35%. Inside bets, Dozens, and Columns carry the standard 2.70% edge.
Full payout reference: Roulette Odds & Payouts chart · Payout Calculator
Free French Roulette Simulator; La Partage Included
Practice on a French single-zero wheel. The simulator shows the La Partage rule in action when zero hits on your even-money bets. No registration, no download required.
Best Strategies for French Roulette
French Roulette with La Partage is the best mathematical environment for any roulette strategy. The 1.35% house edge on even-money bets is low enough that disciplined bankroll management can extend your session significantly. All standard systems apply and they perform better here than on any other variant.
D’Alembert System
Add one unit after a loss, subtract one after a win. The gentlest and most sustainable system perfectly suited to French Roulette’s low-edge even-money bets. La Partage softens losing streaks by returning half your stake on zero hits. Full guide: D’Alembert Strategy.
Martingale System
Double after every loss on an even-money bet. The lower 1.35% edge makes the Martingale statistically more sustainable on French tables than on European or American ones. Still requires a high maximum bet relative to your starting unit. Full guide: Martingale Strategy.
Paroli System
Double your bet after each win. Low starting exposure, rides winning streaks. Zero hits are less painful under La Partage you lose only half your stake rather than the full amount. Full guide: Paroli Strategy.
All systems across all variants: Roulette Strategy Hub.
Where to Play French Roulette for Real Money
French Roulette is harder to find than European or American variants. Land-based casinos often restrict it to high-limit rooms because the La Partage rule reduces their margin. Online, the situation is better most quality casinos offer at least one French Roulette option, and several live dealer providers run dedicated French tables with standard limits.
What to Look for
- La Partage confirmed — verify the rule is active, not just advertised. Check the paytable before betting.
- Licensing — MGA, UKGC, or equivalent authority.
- Live Dealer option — physical wheel, real croupier. Our recommendations: Live Dealer Roulette.
- Table limits — French tables sometimes have higher minimums. Confirm before sitting down.
- Responsible gambling tools — deposit limits, session timers, self-exclusion available before you start.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the house edge in French Roulette?
1.35% on even-money bets when La Partage is active. All other bets (inside bets, Dozens, Columns, call bets) carry the standard 2.70% edge; the same as European Roulette.
What is La Partage?
La Partage is a French Roulette rule that returns half your even-money stake when the ball lands on zero. Instead of losing your full bet, you lose only half. This halves the house edge on even-money bets from 2.70% to 1.35%.
What is En Prison?
En Prison locks your even-money bet for one more spin when zero hits. If you win the next spin, you get your full original stake back. If you lose, the stake is forfeited. The mathematical effect is identical to La Partage house edge 1.35%.
What is the difference between French and European Roulette?
The wheel is identical, 37 pockets, single zero. The differences are the rules and the table layout. French Roulette always includes La Partage (and often En Prison), which halves the house edge on even-money bets. European Roulette rarely includes these rules. The French table also uses French terminology and a different visual layout.
Is French Roulette better than European Roulette?
Yes,for even-money outside bets. The La Partage rule cuts the house edge to 1.35% compared to 2.70% on European Roulette. For inside bets, both variants are mathematically identical. If you primarily play Red/Black or Odd/Even, French Roulette is significantly more favourable.
Can I play French Roulette for free?
Yes,use the free simulator on this page. The La Partage counter tracks every time zero triggers the rule, so you can see exactly how often it applies over a session.
What are Voisins du Zéro, Tiers and Orphelins?
These are the three main announced (call) bets in French Roulette, covering specific sectors of the wheel. Voisins du Zéro covers 17 numbers around zero. Tiers du Cylindre covers 12 numbers on the opposite side. Orphelins covers the remaining 8 numbers. Together they cover the entire wheel. House edge on all three is 2.70%; La Partage does not apply.
Why is French Roulette harder to find than European Roulette?
The La Partage rule reduces casino revenue on even-money bets. Land-based casinos often restrict French tables to high-limit rooms or VIP areas to offset the lower margin. Online casinos tend to offer French Roulette more widely it is worth searching specifically for it rather than accepting the default European table.