How to Play French Roulette: Rules, Odds & Strategy
French Roulette is the original roulette format with special rules that make it the best version for players. The La Partage and En Prison rules reduce the house edge on even-money bets to just 1.35%—half that of standard European roulette.
Table of Contents
- What Is French Roulette?
- La Partage and En Prison
- Call Bets (Announced Bets)
- The French Betting Layout
- Odds and House Edge
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is French Roulette?
French Roulette uses the same single-zero wheel as European roulette but adds player-friendly rules that reduce the house edge. The table layout also differs, with French terminology and special betting options.
Why French Roulette Is Best
- 1.35% house edge on even-money bets (with La Partage)
- Lowest roulette edge available anywhere
- Call bets for betting wheel sections
- Classic experience in the original French style
La Partage and En Prison
These rules only apply to even-money bets (Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low) when the ball lands on zero.
La Partage ("The Divide")
When zero hits, you lose only half your even-money bet instead of all of it.
Example: You bet $20 on Red. Zero hits. You lose $10, get $10 back.
En Prison ("In Prison")
When zero hits, your even-money bet is "imprisoned" for the next spin.
- If your bet wins the next spin, your original bet is returned (no winnings)
- If your bet loses, you lose the entire bet
- If zero hits again, rules vary (usually lose half, or remain imprisoned)
House Edge Impact
| Rule | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Standard European | 2.70% |
| With La Partage | 1.35% |
| With En Prison | 1.35% |
Both rules effectively halve the house edge on even-money bets.
Call Bets (Announced Bets)
French Roulette features special bets covering sections of the wheel. These are "called" or "announced" verbally.
Voisins du Zéro (Neighbors of Zero)
Covers 17 numbers surrounding zero on the wheel: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25
Cost: 9 chips Coverage: Splits and corners
Tiers du Cylindre (Thirds of the Wheel)
Covers 12 numbers opposite zero: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33
Cost: 6 chips (6 splits) Coverage: Each chip covers 2 numbers
Orphelins (Orphans)
Covers the 8 numbers not included in Voisins or Tiers: 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 17, 34, 6
Cost: 5 chips Coverage: One straight-up, four splits
Jeu Zéro (Zero Game)
Covers 7 numbers closest to zero: 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15
Cost: 4 chips Coverage: Three splits plus one straight-up on 26
Neighbors Bets
Bet on any number plus its neighbors on the wheel. "17 and neighbors" covers 17 plus two numbers on each side.
The French Betting Layout
French tables use French terminology:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Pair | Even |
| Impair | Odd |
| Manque | Low (1-18) |
| Passe | High (19-36) |
| Rouge | Red |
| Noir | Black |
The layout is wider and the betting areas are positioned differently than American/European tables.
Odds and House Edge
Even-Money Bets (with La Partage)
| Bet | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Red/Black | 1.35% |
| Odd/Even | 1.35% |
| High/Low | 1.35% |
All Other Bets
| Bet | House Edge |
|---|---|
| Straight Up | 2.70% |
| Split | 2.70% |
| Street | 2.70% |
| All inside bets | 2.70% |
Best Strategy
Focus on even-money bets to take advantage of the 1.35% house edge—one of the lowest in any casino game.