La Partage rule or prison rule
La Partage and En Prison are two French roulette rules that apply exclusively to even-money bets when zero lands. Both rules cut the house edge from 2.70% to 1.35%, the lowest available in standard roulette. If you play even-money bets, these rules are the single most valuable thing to look for when choosing a table.
How La Partage Works
“La Partage” means “the sharing” in French. When the ball lands on zero, all even-money bets lose half their stake automatically. The other half is returned to the player without any further action required.
- You place a €20 bet on Red. The ball spins on a French Roulette table with La Partage active.
- The ball lands on zero (0). Without La Partage you would lose your full €20. With La Partage, the croupier splits your stake.
- €10 is returned to you. Half your stake comes back automatically. The other €10 goes to the casino. You do not win, but you only lose half.
How En Prison Works
“En Prison” means “in prison.” Instead of returning half the stake immediately, the entire even-money bet is locked, imprisoned, for one additional spin. The outcome of that next spin determines whether you recover your stake or lose it entirely.
- You place a €20 bet on Red. The ball spins on a French Roulette table with En Prison active.
- Zero lands and your bet is imprisoned. The croupier places a marker on your €20 chip. It stays on the table, locked, for the next spin.
- Next spin, Red lands. Your full €20 stake is returned. No profit: you simply get your original bet back and leave even.
- Next spin, Black or Zero lands. Your full €20 is lost. If zero lands again, some tables apply En Prison a second time; rules vary by casino.
La Partage vs En Prison
Both rules produce the same mathematical house edge of 1.35% on even-money bets. The practical difference is how zero is handled: immediate half-return versus a locked bet on one more spin.
| Feature | La Partage | En Prison |
|---|---|---|
| When zero lands | Half stake returned immediately | Full stake locked for one more spin |
| Player action required | None, automatic | Wait for next spin result |
| If next spin wins | N/A | Full original stake returned, no profit |
| If next spin loses | N/A | Full stake lost |
| House edge (even-money bets) | 1.35% | 1.35% |
| Variance | Lower: predictable half-loss | Higher: all-or-nothing recovery spin |
| Most common on | French Roulette, some European tables | Traditional French casino tables |
Impact on House Edge
On a standard European wheel, zero lands on average once every 37 spins. Without La Partage, that zero costs you your full even-money stake each time. With La Partage, it only costs half. Over 37 spins at €10 per spin, the difference looks like this:
| Scenario | Total wagered (37 spins × €10) | Expected loss | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Roulette, no rule | €370 | €10.00 | 2.70% |
| French Roulette, La Partage | €370 | €5.00 | 1.35% |
| American Roulette, no rule | €380 | €20.00 | 5.26% |
Expected loss per 37-spin cycle at €10 per spin. La Partage saves €5 per cycle versus standard European Roulette, which works out to €6.75 per 100 spins.
Which Bets Qualify?
La Partage and En Prison apply only to even-money outside bets. Inside bets and other outside bets are not affected: when zero lands, they lose in full regardless.
| Bet type | La Partage applies? | When zero lands |
|---|---|---|
| Red / Black | Yes | Half stake returned |
| Even / Odd | Yes | Half stake returned |
| Low (1–18) / High (19–36) | Yes | Half stake returned |
| Dozen (1st / 2nd / 3rd) | No | Full stake lost |
| Column | No | Full stake lost |
| Straight Up / Split / Street / Corner | No | Full stake lost |
| Straight Up on zero (0) | No, wins 35:1 | Zero pays 35:1 |
Where to Find These Rules
La Partage and En Prison are standard on French Roulette and occasionally available on European Roulette tables. They are rarely found on American Roulette.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does La Partage apply to all roulette bets?
No, only the three even-money bets: Red/Black, Even/Odd and Low/High. Dozens, columns and all inside bets lose in full when zero lands regardless of La Partage. Only 1:1 bets qualify for the half-return.
Is La Partage better than En Prison?
Both produce exactly the same house edge of 1.35%. La Partage returns half immediately: lower variance, certain outcome. En Prison locks the full stake for another spin: higher variance, chance of full recovery. For most players La Partage is preferable because the outcome is predictable and requires no additional wait.
What happens if zero lands again during En Prison?
Rules vary by casino. Some tables apply En Prison a second time and the bet stays locked for another spin. Others treat the second zero as a loss and take the full stake. Always check the specific table rules before playing, as there is no universal standard for this scenario.
Do betting systems work better with La Partage?
La Partage reduces the house edge from 2.70% to 1.35%, which means any even-money betting system (Martingale, D’Alembert, Fibonacci) loses at half the rate per spin compared to a standard European table. The systems themselves do not change, but their long-run expected cost is halved. See our strategies hub for a full comparison.
Is La Partage available at online casinos?
Yes, most online live dealer casinos offer French Roulette with La Partage. It is also available in RNG (software) versions of French Roulette. Look for tables explicitly named “French Roulette” or listing “La Partage” in the game rules. Standard European Roulette at online casinos typically does not include La Partage unless specifically stated.