Home
French Roulette: How to Play, Bet, and Win
French Roulette is known for offering some of the best odds available at the roulette table. With its single-zero wheel and player-favorable rules like La Partage and En Prison, this version is designed to reduce the house edge and give players more control over risk.
In this article, I’ll explore how to play French Roulette, including the rules, betting options, odds, popular strategies, and practical tips to help you play smarter.
French Roulette Wheel Standard Layout
Above you will see the standard layout for a French Roulette wheel and betting area. This visual helps illustrate how players place their bets and how the table is structured during live play.
How To Play French Roulette
Understanding the basics is the first step to playing French Roulette confidently. Whether you’re new or need a refresher, knowing how the game works makes a big difference.
The Croupier Spins the Wheel: Once all bets are placed, the croupier spins the wheel and launches the ball in the opposite direction. As the wheel slows down, anticipation builds until the ball settles into one of the numbered pockets, determining the winning outcome.
No More Bets: Once the ball is about to settle, the croupier announces “no more bets,” meaning no additional wagers can be placed. At this point, all hands must be off the table, and players must wait for the result to be revealed.
Every player is given a specific chip color: In crowded tables, each player is assigned their own chip color. This helps the croupier identify individual bets and avoid payout confusion.
Verbal bets may be accepted at the table: In high-end casinos, bets like Les Orphelins s’il vous plaît can be announced, and the croupier will place chips on behalf of the player.
Table minimums apply per bet type: French Roulette often requires separate minimums for inside and outside bets. For example, a €10 table minimum may mean €10 must be placed on each section, not combined.
Winning Number Determined: The ball eventually lands in one of the numbered pockets, marking the outcome of the round. The croupier then announces the winning number and its corresponding color, and the layout is marked accordingly.
Payouts: Players with winning bets receive payouts based on the specific type of wager they placed. For example, 35:1 for a Straight Up bet or 1:1 for even-money bets like Red/Black or Odd/Even. The croupier distributes winnings, and all losing bets are cleared from the table before the next round begins.
French terms are commonly used: Expect terms like Passe (19–36) and Manque (1–18). Learning these phrases helps follow the table action more confidently.
La Partage Rule: If the ball lands on zero and you’ve placed an even-money bet, you get half your bet back instead of losing it all.
En Prison Rule: Some tables offer this variation, where your even-money bet is “imprisoned” after a zero. If it wins on the next spin, you recover it with no profit.
French Roulette Rules
French Roulette follows the same basic structure as standard Roulette, but it includes a few unique rules, which I’ve listed below as the most important to know.
Verbal disputes must be addressed before the next spin: If a player disagrees with a payout or bet placement, they must raise the issue immediately. Once the next spin begins, previous outcomes are considered settled.
Ball must complete a full spin If the ball doesn’t complete a full spin around the wheel, the result is void. The croupier will call a “no spin” and re-spin the ball.
Mobile phone use at the table is prohibited: For game integrity and etiquette, players must refrain from using phones or electronic devices while seated at the table.
Misplaced bets are the player’s responsibility: If a chip is placed between lines or on the wrong number, it’s the player’s error. The croupier will interpret it as placed and payouts will follow accordingly.
Personal belongings must stay off the table: Phones, drinks, and bags are not allowed on the betting surface.
Wheel or ball interference is prohibited: Players must avoid touching the wheel, leaning too close, or making gestures near the ball during a spin, as it is considered disruptive.
Players must bet to remain seated: At many tables, players occupying a seat must place a bet each spin.
Types of French Roulette Bets
Above you will see an example of all different types of bets and how/where to place them.
The most common types of bets available in French Roulette include the following:
Straight Up Bets: This is a bet placed on a single, specific number, such as 4 or 18. With 37 possible numbers on the French Roulette wheel (including 0), a winning straight-up bet pays out at 35 to 1.
Split Bets: A split bet is placed on two adjacent numbers on the betting layout, such as 23 and 24 or 14 and 17. The chip is positioned on the line between the two numbers, and the bet pays 17 to 1 if either number wins.
Street Bets: A street bet covers three numbers in a horizontal row, such as 16, 17, and 18. To place this bet, position your chip on the outer edge of the row’s first number. If any of the three numbers win, the payout is 11 to 1.
Corner/Four Bets: This bet covers a block of four numbers that meet at one corner on the layout. To place it, position your chip at the intersection point where all four numbers touch, for example, placing it at the corner shared by 10, 11, 13, and 14. If any of those numbers win, the payout is 8 to 1.
Line Bets: Also called six-line bets, these cover two horizontal rows of three numbers each, for a total of six numbers. To place the bet, position your chip on the outer corner shared by both rows, such as between the 3 and 4. If any of the six numbers come up, the payout is 5 to 1.
Column bets: This wager covers all 12 numbers in one of the three vertical columns on the layout (excluding zero). To place the bet, put your chip in the box marked 2 to 1 at the bottom of your chosen column. If the winning number is anywhere in that column, the payout is 2 to 1.
Even Money Bets: These bets cover 18 numbers and pay 1 to 1. Choices include Red or Black, Even or Odd, and Low (1–18) or High (19–36). Though they seem like 50/50 bets, the single zero gives the house a small advantage.
Announced Bets
One of the key features that sets French Roulette apart from European Roulette is the inclusion of special bets known as announced bets or call bets.
These wagers have traditional French names and are designed to cover specific sections of the wheel. Each follows a distinct pattern and is typically placed using multiple chips.
Voisins du Zéro – Neighbours of Zero
This bet focuses on the numbers surrounding zero on the wheel. It covers 17 numbers in total, starting from 22 on one side and extending to 25 on the other.
To place this bet, nine chips are used to create a combination of split bets, corner bets, and one straight-up bet, all strategically arranged to cover this key section of the wheel.
Above you will see an example of the Voisins du Zero bet. Note that 2 of the bets are 2 chips, the other 5 single chips giving a total bet of 9 chips.
Le Tiers du Cylindre Bet
The English translation of this term is Thirds of the Wheel. It covers a section of 12 numbers located opposite the zero, running from 27 to 33. The bet is made using six split bets that together cover all 12 numbers in this segment.
The above image is an example of a Le Tiers du Cylindre bet, a Split bet covering all 12 numbers opposite 0 on the wheel.
Orphelins Bet
The term Orphelins translates to Orphans, referring to the eight numbers on the wheel that are not included in the Voisins du ZĂ©ro or Tiers du Cylindre bets.
This wager requires five chips, four are used for split bets, and one is placed straight up on number 1. It covers a scattered section of the wheel, making it a more fragmented but strategic bet.
As shown in the image above, number 1 is covered with a single chip since it isn’t adjacent to any of the other numbers, while the remaining seven are all included in split bets, with number 17 appearing in two of them.
What Happens to Even Money Bets when 0 Lands
As I’ve mentioned before, some versions of French Roulette apply special rules to Even Money bets when the ball lands on zero. These rules, known as La Partage and En Prison, are intended to reduce the house edge by offering players either a partial return or a second chance rather than a full loss.
En Prison: When this rule is active, Even Money bets aren’t lost if the ball lands on zero. The bet is held for the next spin, giving another chance to win. It’s the most favorable rule for players, as it allows the full bet to be recovered. If zero hits again, the bet stays locked until a win or loss occurs.
La Partage: If the ball lands on zero, half of the Even Money bet is returned and the other half is lost. While not as favorable as En Prison, it’s better than losing the full amount.
French Roulette Strategies
While French Roulette is purely based on chance and not skill, certain betting systems can add structure to the way the game is played.
These systems don’t improve the odds of winning, but they help maintain consistency and discipline during betting. Here are a few of the go-to strategies I often use at the table.
The Martingale
Today I decided to try my go-to strategy, the Martingale, starting with a $5 bet on red. The first spin landed on black, so I doubled my next bet to $10, placing it on red again.
Unfortunately, the ball landed on black for a second time, so I raised my bet to $20, still sticking with red. After another loss, I doubled my bet to $40. The ball hit black again, so I doubled my next bet to $80.
Finally, on this fifth spin, the ball landed on red, and I won $160. This covered my total losses of $5 + $10 + $20 + $40 + 80 = $155, leaving me with a small profit of $25. While I walked away with a profit today, this example shows just how risky it can be. If I had hit another loss, I would have needed to double again, which could easily exceed table limits or intended bankroll.
Double Street
Another favorie starategy of mine is the Double Street system. This method involves betting on two rows of numbers, which covers twelve numbers total.
I started with a small bet size of $10 on each of the two streets. After a loss, I raise the bet to $20 on each street in the next round to try and recover. This betting pattern continued, adjusting my bets based on the outcomes. Initially, I had some wins that boosted my confidence.
However, the tables turned, and losses began to pile up more frequently than wins. Over several games, despite the careful adjustments and hoping for a turnaround, I ended up losing a bit more than I had won. It was a tough lesson, but I guess it’s just part of the game. Better luck next time!
Fibonacci Sequence
This time, I used the Fibonacci Sequence strategy on even-money bets, such as even/odd or high/low. I started with a $1 bet on even. After each loss, I followed the Fibonacci progression: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and so on, moving to the next number in the sequence with every loss.
For example, my first $1 bet on even lost, so I placed another $1. That one lost too, so I increased the next bet to $2. The losing streak continued, and my bets climbed through the sequence: $3, then $5, and then $8. When I finally won at the $8 level, I moved back two steps in the sequence and placed a $3 bet in the next round.
This time, I used the Fibonacci Sequence strategy on even-money bets, such as even/odd or high/low. I started with a $1 bet on even. After each loss, I followed the Fibonacci progression: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and so on—moving to the next number in the sequence with every loss.
For example, my first $1 bet on even lost, so I placed another $1. That one lost too, so I increased the next bet to $2. The losing streak continued, and my bets climbed through the sequence: $3, then $5, and then $8. When I finally won at the $8 level, I moved back two steps in the sequence and placed a $3 bet in the next round.
After a few intense hours at the table, I ended up about where I started. It’s a good reminder that while the Fibonacci system won’t guarantee profit, it can offer structure and help keep your betting disciplined.
The Houses Edge and Odds
In French Roulette, the odds and payouts vary depending on the type of bet you place. A straight-up bet on a single number pays out 35 to 1, but your chances of winning are low, around 2.7%. The “La Partage” rule in French Roulette reduces the house edge on even-money bets by returning half your bet if the ball lands on zero, lowering the house edge to 1.35%.
This makes French Roulette one of the best options for players looking to improve their odds compared to other roulette versions. Below is a table I put together to show the different types of bets in Roulette, along with their payout ratios and the chances of winning each one.
| Type of Bet | Payout Ratio | Winning Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Straight (Single Number) | 35 to 1 | 2.7% |
| Split (Two Numbers) | 17 to 1 | 5.4% |
| Street (Three Numbers) | 11 to 1 | 8.1% |
| Corner (Four Numbers) | 8 to 1 | 10.8% |
| Column (12 Numbers) | 2 to 1 | 32.4% |
| Dozen (1st, 2nd, or 3rd 12) | 2 to 1 | 32.4% |
| Red or Black | 1 to 1 | 48.6% |
| Even or Odd | 1 to 1 | 48.6% |
| Low (1–18) or High (19–36) | 1 to 1 | 48.6% |
The History Behind French Roulette
French Roulette, one of the oldest versions of the game, was first created in the 18th century in France. It became popular in the casinos of Paris where it was considered a game of high society. The design and rules of French Roulette set the foundation for what later became other variations, such as American and European Roulette.
Its creation is often attributed to the mathematician Blaise Pascal, who was originally trying to invent a perpetual motion machine. Over time, French Roulette has maintained its classic features and remains a favorite among casino games worldwide.
French Roulette Tips
Practice Online First: If you’re new to French Roulette, try practicing online. You can play free French Roulette right here on Casinoencyclopedia.com to get comfortable with the strategies and various betting options.
Learn the Bets: Know the difference between inside bets (on numbers) and outside bets (like red/black or odd/even). French Roulette also features the ‘La Partage’ and ‘En Prison’ rules, which can affect these outside bets.
Use ‘La Partage’ to Your Advantage: If you make an even-money bet and the ball lands on zero, ‘La Partage’ allows you to recover half of your bet. This rule reduces the house edge, making these bets a good choice.
Try ‘En Prison’: If this rule is in effect and you make an even-money bet that results in a zero, your bet is “imprisoned” for the next spin. If your bet wins on the next turn, you get it back.
Start with Small Bets: Especially if you’re new, start with smaller bets to extend your playtime and get a feel for the game without risking too much.
Manage Your Bankroll: Decide how much money you can afford to lose before you start playing. Stick to this budget to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Play Outside Bets for Better Odds: Bets on colors, even/odd, or high/low numbers don’t have the biggest payouts, but they do offer a higher chance of winning.
Don’t Chase Losses: If you’re having an off day, it’s better to stop and come back another time rather than trying to win back what you’ve lost.
Enjoy the Game: Remember that French Roulette is a game of chance. The most important tip is to have fun and enjoy the game without getting too caught up in winning or losing.
Roulette Related Articles:
About the author
