4 Mar 2025
Roulette is one of the world’s most popular casino games. Since its initial creation in the 1700s, the game has been played at casinos worldwide and, as such, many different variations have been created. One of the most popular variations is French roulette.
In this blog about French roulette, Genting Casino will explore the history of the game, the rules, and more.
French Roulette History
The year the current version of French roulette was created is not 100% clear. What is clear, however, is that the game underwent a number of different iterations until it come to its current position.
History suggests that the roulette wheel was invented accidentally in the 1790s. A description of a roulette wheel in the Palais Royal is found in the novel La Roulette, ou le Jour by Jacques Lablee. The description references the zeros we still use on roulette wheels today. It says there are “two betting spaces containing the bank's two numbers, zero and double zero.”
This has clearly changed on the continent, with the double-zero version of the game now being heavily associated with America. Exactly when the single-zero we currently use was adopted is unknown.
The French Roulette Wheel
The French roulette wheel is identical to the European one, and both are different from an American wheel. The French consists of 37 pockets containing the numbers 0 to 36 alternately coloured red and black, with the zero in green. The numbers are not arranged sequentially. At some point in history, the French roulette wheel shedded the additional slot for the double zero described in Lablee’s novel.
The ball track, also known as the rail, runs around the wheel. This is where the croupier spins the ball. Players can watch the ball spin around the wheel as they anticipate where it will fall - the fun aspect of playing roulette. This experience can now be experienced at home thanks to live roulette technology and the development of RNG online roulette games. The best roulette live dealer at trusted UK casinos create the same anticipation for players at home as they would for those in a brick-and-mortar casino.
The French Roulette Table: Layout and Betting Options
The French roulette betting table can be divided into two overarching categories: inside bets and outside bets. Inside bets are placed at different places across the number table, while outside bets are any wagers outside of the 0 to 36 range.
Inside Bets
Inside bets offer the highest odds with the largest payouts. Beyond betting on a single number, there are other inside bets you can make, such as:
- Single bet: Place your chips on a number square to wager on that number at odds of 36-1.
- Split bet: Place your chip on the border between two numbers to wager on these two numbers with odds of 17-1.
- Street bet: Place your chips on the outside edge of a row of numbers to wager on that row of three at odds of 11-1.
- Corner bet: Place your chips on the corner where four numbers meet to bet on those four numbers at odds of 8-1.
- Line bet: Place your chips on the outside edge of the border between two rows of numbers to bet on all six numbers in the two rows at odds of 5-1.
Outside Bets
Outside bets include a broader group of categories beyond just the numbers. They tend to have smaller payouts as they cover more ground. The outside bets that UK roulette casinos tend to include are:
- Red or Black: An even bet on whether the winning number will be red or black.
- Odd or Even: An even bet on whether the winning number will be odd or even.
- High or Low/Manque or Passe: An even bet on whether the winning number will be between 1 to 18 or 19 to 36.
- Dozen bet: A 2/1 bet on whether the number will be between 1 to 12, 13 to 24, or 25-36.
- Column bet: A 2/1 bet on which the winning number appears on one of the long columns.
French Bets
French roulette also offers the following three bets that are not available in other forms of roulette:
- Voisins du Zero: Place nine chips on splits, corners, and trios to wager on the “neighbours to zero” - the numbers between 22 and 25 on the wheel.
- Le Tiers du Cylindre: Place six chips across six split bets to bet on the “third of the wheel” - the twelve numbers from 27 to 33 on the wheel.
- Orphelins: Place five chips on four splits and a single to bet on the “orphans” - the eight numbers outside of the previous two categories.
Additional Rules
Another difference between European and French roulette is the La Partage and En prison rules. These are often available in online and live roulette games.
- The La Partage Rule means that players who placed outside bets will receive half their stake back if the ball lands on zero.
- En Prison means that players who placed an outside bet with evens odds on a spin that landed on zero, can leave their stake “in prison” for the next spin.
French Roulette FAQs
How much can I bet in French Roulette?
This will depend on the individual version of French roulette you are playing, as well as the UK online casino you are playing at.
Is online French roulette fair?
Absolutely! Online French roulette uses random number generators (RNG) to ensure that the outcome of each spin of the wheel is random and that neither the player nor the operator can have any impact on the outcome.
Is French roulette better than European roulette?
This comes down to personal preference. Some players will prefer to play French roulette because it has more rules and betting options, while others prefer to keep it simple with European roulette.
