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How to Play French Roulette: Everything You Need to Know

French Roulette is a standout among casino classics, offering players something special that other roulette games simply can't match: better odds.

While it uses the familiar European wheel with a single zero, French Roulette adds unique twists like the La Partage and En Prison rules, significantly reducing the house edge on even-money bets and giving you more value from every spin.

In this guide, you'll discover exactly how French Roulette works, decode the essential French betting terms, and master the strategic call bets unique to this style.

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What is French Roulette?

French Roulette is one of the earliest versions of the game and remains closely tied to its original format. The game uses a single-zero wheel with 37 numbered pockets, ranging from 1 to 36 in alternating red and black, along with a single green zero. Bets are placed on where the ball will land once the wheel comes to a stop.

These can cover individual numbers, numerical ranges, colours, or whether the result will be odd or even. With only one zero, even-money bets carry a reduced edge of 1.35%, offering a statistical advantage over versions like American Roulette, which features both a zero and double zero.

En Prison Rule Explained

The En Prison rule is a feature in French Roulette that offers a second chance when the ball lands on zero. This rule applies only to even-money bets, which are wagers that pay 1:1, including red or black, odd or even, and high or low (covering either 1 to 18 or 19 to 36). If one of these bets is placed and the ball lands on the green zero, the entire stake is not immediately lost. Instead, the bet is marked as "en prison" and remains on the table for the next spin.

During the following spin, the outcome determines whether the imprisoned bet is returned or forfeited. If the ball lands on a result consistent with the original wager, for example, red after betting on red, the original stake is returned with no additional winnings. If the ball lands on an outcome that contradicts the original bet, like black after betting on red, or on zero again, the full amount is lost.

La Partage Rule Explained

The La Partage rule in French Roulette reduces losses when the ball lands on zero. This rule applies exclusively to even-money bets, which include red or black, odd or even, and high or low. If one of these bets is placed and the outcome is zero, only half of the stake is lost.

The remaining half is immediately returned, while the other half is taken by the house. For example, with a wager of $20 on black and a result of zero, $10 is returned, and the other $10 is retained by the casino.

La Partage differs from the En Prison rule by offering an immediate resolution without the need for a second spin. There is no chance of recovering the full stake, but there is also no risk of losing it entirely on a follow-up result. This clarity makes La Partage a straightforward option where zero outcomes are resolved at once.

Call Bets

Call bets, also known as announced bets, are wagers in French Roulette that cover specific sections of the wheel rather than individual numbers on the betting layout. These bets correspond to predetermined groups of numbers based on their position around the wheel.

Instead of manually placing chips on each number, players simply announce the wager to the dealer, who then places the chips accordingly. The main types of call bets are detailed below, each with its own structure and coverage area.

Voisins du Zéro (Neighbours of Zero): This wager covers 17 numbers on the roulette wheel, centred around the zero. To place this bet, you'll need nine chips arranged strategically as splits and corners, ensuring full coverage of this section. The selected numbers span from 22 through 25, including zero and all of its closest neighbours on the wheel
Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel): This bet covers 12 numbers located directly opposite the zero on the roulette wheel. It requires six chips, each placed as a split bet covering two adjacent numbers within this section, providing complete coverage of the chosen segment
Orphelins (Orphans): Consisting of the eight numbers not covered by Voisins du Zéro or Tiers du Cylindre, this bet uses five chips arranged across the wheel. The structure includes one straight-up bet and four split bets to reach the outlying segments
Neighbours Bets: This bet covers a selected number along with the two numbers on either side of it on the wheel, forming a group of five in total. For example, choosing "17 and the neighbours" includes 2, 25, 17, 34, and 6
Jeu Zéro (Zero Game): A narrower version of Voisins du Zéro, this bet covers seven numbers closest to zero using four chips. The selection includes 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, and 15
Finales: A type of wager that targets all numbers ending in the same digit. For example, placing a Finale 7 covers 7, 17, and 27. The number of chips required varies depending on whether it is a Finale en Plein, which consists of straight-up bets, or a Finale à Cheval, which uses split bets

How to Play French Roulette

French Roulette largely follows standard roulette gameplay, but it introduces unique rules and bet types that significantly affect the outcomes.

Special rules like La Partage and En Prison, along with announced wagers such as call bets, change how even-money bets are settled and numbers are grouped on the wheel. Once players place their bets and the wheel starts spinning, these distinctive features shape each round, from the initial spin to the final result.

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how a round of French Roulette is played:

Choose Your Bet: Place your chips on the layout to make your bet, or announce it directly to the dealer if you're placing a call bet. All standard bets and previously mentioned special bets are available, each offering its own balance of risk and coverage
Wait for the Spin: Once all bets are placed, the croupier spins the wheel in one direction and releases the ball in the opposite direction. As the ball slows, it eventually settles into one of the wheel's 37 numbered pockets, which range from 0 to 36
Determine the Outcome: If the result aligns with the chosen number or category, returns are issued according to the bet’s odds. A straight-up bet pays 35:1, while an even-money wager pays 1:1

Applying Special Rules

As covered earlier, La Partage and En Prison come into play when a zero outcome affects even-money bets. La Partage returns half the stake and forfeits the rest, while En Prison holds the full amount for one additional spin. Though both serve to reduce losses, they do so in different ways.

Learning the Terms in French Roulette

French Roulette uses several traditional terms on the betting layout, found in both land-based and online games. Becoming familiar with these terms will help you clearly understand the table and how each type of bet is structured.

The following are some of the most commonly used terms in this version of the game:

Manque/Passe: Manque covers numbers 1 through 18, while Passe includes numbers 19 through 36. These are even-money wagers that pay 1:1 and correspond to low and high bets on standard roulette layouts
Pair/Impair: Pair refers to even numbers, and Impair refers to odd numbers. These are even-money bets, like Manque and Passe, and are subject to La Partage or En Prison when the result is zero
Rouge/Noir: Rouge represents red, and Noir represents black. This is another even-money wager that functions the same way as in standard formats and remains one of the most frequently used bets
Douzaine: This category pertains to dozen bets, which are divided into three groups: 1re Douzaine (first dozen, covering numbers 1 to 12), 2e Douzaine (second dozen, covering 13 to 24), and 3e Douzaine (third dozen, covering 25 to 36). Each of these pays 2:1
Colonne: Denotes a column wager that spans one of the three vertical groups of 12 numbers displayed on the roulette table. Like dozen bets, it pays 2:1 if the winning number appears within the selected column
Plein: A Plein is a straight-up wager placed on an individual pocket, for example, betting directly on 17. This type of bet carries a higher risk but offers a potential return of 35:1
Cheval: Though it translates to “horse,” in roulette, Cheval describes a split bet placed on two neighbouring numbers. The chip is positioned on the line dividing the two and pays out at 17:1
Carre: Refers to a corner bet covering four numbers that form a square on the layout. The chip is placed at the point where all four numbers meet, and the return is 8:1

Tips for Playing French Roulette

French Roulette remains a popular choice at casinos around the world. While outcomes are always decided by chance, particularly online, where results rely on random number generators (RNGs), understanding essentials such as house edge and bankroll management can help you play smarter and maintain greater control during your sessions.

Taking time to review table rules and any casino-specific terms before playing can help you avoid misunderstandings and prevent unnecessary losses.

Understanding the House Edge in French Roulette

House edge is the percentage of each bet the casino expects to keep over the long term. This number varies between roulette types.

French Roulette, played on a single-zero wheel, has a standard house edge of 2.70%. However, when the special rules La Partage or En Prison are active, the edge on even-money bets drops to just 1.35%.

In comparison, European Roulette maintains a 2.70% house edge across all bets, while American Roulette, featuring both a single zero and a double zero, increases the house edge significantly to 5.26%.

As mentioned earlier, La Partage and En Prison rules only apply to even-money bets. Other bet types, such as splits or straight-up bets, are unaffected and retain their standard house edge.

Being aware of this distinction can help you make more informed betting choices, but keep in mind that roulette outcomes are always determined entirely by chance, particularly in digital versions of the game.

Since rule enforcement can vary by table, it is worth checking whether La Partage, En Prison, or neither is in use. The presence or absence of these rules directly affects the overall house edge and potential returns over time.

Bankroll Management in French Roulette

Good bankroll management helps you minimize unnecessary losses and extend your playing time. Here are some practical steps to follow:

Set a clear budget before starting and divide it into smaller units to avoid overcommitting in a single session
Limit each wager to a small portion of the total bankroll instead of placing large bets all at once
Avoid chasing losses, as increasing the bet size does not improve the odds of winning
Be cautious during winning streaks; overconfidence can lead to losses if the stakes increase too rapidly
Use demo versions, if available, to understand the game’s features before playing with real money
Take advantage of deposit and loss limit tools offered by many online casinos to support responsible play
Consider setting session time limits to avoid prolonged gameplay that can lead to poor decision-making or impulse betting

You can find a full list of safer gambling tools available at LeoVegas if you are looking to place limits around your play.

Is French Roulette a Worthwhile Choice Compared to Other Versions?

French Roulette remains a strong alternative to other roulette variants, primarily due to the lower house edge offered by the La Partage and En Prison rules on even-money bets.

Statistically, this makes French Roulette more favourable than both European and American versions. Additionally, structured bets such as call bets provide unique strategic options beyond standard bets.

Although results always depend on chance, these distinctive rules can significantly influence your sessions over time. To ensure you benefit fully, always choose licensed casinos where these rules are correctly applied and the game operates fairly.

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