French Roulette Etiquette Everyone Should Know

Few casino games are capable of rivalling the timeless, sophisticated elegance of French roulette. It comes with its own terminology and extra special rules. French roulette isn’t just about betting; it’s about embracing the game as a whole. Understanding the etiquette involved will ensure you can enjoy the game in the best way possible. In this blog about French roulette, Genting Casino highlights some key pieces of etiquette every player should know. 

Keys Terms in French Roulette

French roulette uses several French phrases that refer to different types of bets, as well as some of the additional rules in the game. 

Three phrases refer to special call bets you can place in French roulette: 

• Voisins du zero means “neighbours of zero” and includes all the numbers between 22 and 25 on the wheel. 
• Le tiers du cylindre means “the third of the wheel” and it covers the 12 numbers between 27 and 33. 
• Orphelins, meaning ”orphans”, are the eight numbers that don’t fit into the previous categories.

La Partage and En Prison are the names of two rules used in French roulette that are not used in other versions of the game. 

Understanding the Layout and rules of French roulette

If you want to have the most authentic roulette experience playing French roulette, it is crucial that you understand the layout and rules of the table. 

The French roulette betting table contains numbers from one to 36 alternating in black and red. There are areas around the numbers to wager on red/black, odd/even (which may read impair/pair), and manque/passe. Manque refers to numbers one to 18, and passes is the other 18 numbers, 19 to 36. You will also have P12, M12, and D12, which divide the numbers into dozens, the first, second, and third dozen, respectively. This is the same layout you will find with high-quality UK roulette tables, but the terminology is slightly altered. 

French roulette includes two extra rules. La Partage, meaning “the split”. This occurs when a player makes an even wager. If the spin lands on zero, players get half their stake back. The En Prison rule also occurs when a player makes an evens bet and the spin lands on zero. Instead of half the stake, they can leave the full stake and get it back if it wins on the next spin.

Placing Bets in French Roulette

In a brick-and-mortar casino, knowing when and how to place your chips is crucial for maintaining good etiquette. Where you place your bets indicates different types of bets:

• Straight bet - Put your chip on the number you want to wager on.
• Split bets - Wager on two numbers by placing your chip on the border between those numbers.
• Street bet - Put your chips on the outside edge of a row of numbers to wager on three numbers.
• Corner bet: You can put your chips on a corner where four numbers meet to bet on all four of those numbers.
• Line bet: Bet on six numbers at once by placing your chips on the outside edge of the border between two rows of numbers.

When it comes to the call or French bets, they do not have their place on the table; there are specific ways to place these bets:

• Le Tiers du Cylindre - The simplest to place involves placing a chip on each of the splits between 5–8, 10–11, 13–16, 23–24, 27–30, and 33–36.
• Voisins du Zero - Use nine chips, one chip each on the splits of four–seven, 12–15, 18–21, 19–22, and 32–35. Two chips on the intersection between zero, two, and three as split bets. And finally, two chips on the corner bet that covers 25, 26, 28, and 29.
• Orphelins - Use five chips to place four between the splits of 31–34, 17–20, 14–17, and 6–9. Then use the remaining chip as a straight bet on one.

Once a spin is over, wait for the croupier to announce when you can place your bets - they need to deal with the winnings and lost stakes first. You must also avoid placing bets after the croupier has called “no more bets” and keep your hands off the table.

Interacting With Others

When playing French roulette at a real table, it is important to remember that other people are also playing. As such, you should stick to the following rules: 

• Be polite. This applies to players around the table, but also make sure you are thankful to the croupier.

• Be respectful. Treat the people around you with grace and respect, just as you would in any other situation in life. 

• Don’t touch other people’s chips - Keep your chips neatly stacked near where you’re sitting and don’t touch anyone else’s chips.

• Don’t be a sore winner - Celebrate modestly, graciously, and don’t gloat. Likewise, do not mock other people’s losses.

• Lose gracefully - It also goes for losing, venting or displays of frustration can be very uncomfortable for other players.

• Don’t excessively talk - Of course, friendly intermittent chatter is fine, but keep the volume levels low and don’t distract others too much.

Verdict

French roulette remains one of the most stylish and popular casino games in the world, and one of the big reasons for this is the etiquette surrounding the game. Maintaining these standards is best for everyone, so the next time you find yourself playing at a French roulette table, make sure you remain mindful to get the best experience possible. 

French Roulette FAQs

Does French roulette have different rules?

Yes. There are two additional rules in French roulette: La Partage and En Prison, as well as a range of extra call bets that are not available in European or American roulette. 

Do I need to speak French to play French roulette?

No. You do not need to speak French to be able to play French roulette. However, there are a few useful phrases you can learn to help enhance your experience of the game. 

Is French roulette fair?

Absolutely! If you play online French roulette, you can ensure its fairness by only playing at fully licensed UK online live casino like Genting Casino.