1 Mar 2024
Elegant and classic, French Roulette offers a unique twist to the traditional roulette experience, with rules that may change the way you look at classic roulette gameplay.
In this online casino guide, we’ll be going through various points about French Roulette, including its layout and bet types, as well as the house edge and special rules. Whether you’re new to roulette, or just curious about this variant, this is your go-to explainer.
- What is French Roulette?
- The Layout: Familiar Yet Stylish
- Key French Roulette Rules: What Sets It Apart
- Bet Types and Payouts in French Roulette
- French Roulette: How to Play
What is French Roulette?
French Roulette is a classic and refined member of the roulette family. Its layout and structure are similar to European Roulette, with the single zero. However, it stands out due to two added rules: La Partage and En Prison.
Though these rules are known for lowering the house edge slightly when placing even-money bets, any outcomes in roulette are still based on luck and chance.
The Layout: Familiar Yet Stylish
If you’ve played European Roulette before, French Roulette will feel instantly familiar: same 37-pocket wheel (numbers 1 to 36 and a single zero), and a similar table layout.
So, what’s different?
- The betting layout is written in French.
- It includes special call bets that are not always present in other versions.
- Some tables use a racetrack layout to make neighbour bets easier.
The wheel design is the same, but the way you bet and the rules when the ball lands on 0 are what make this game stand out.
Key French Roulette Rules: What Sets It Apart
La Partage Rule
When you place an even=money bet, and the ball lands on 0, you get half your bet back.
For example:
- You bet £10 on Black.
- The ball lands on 0.
- Instead of losing your full bet, you only lose £5 and get the other half returned.
En Prison Rule
Alternatively, some versions of French Roulette also offer the En Prison rule. When a 0 hits on an even-money bet:
- Your bet is “imprisoned” for the next spin.
- If your bet wins on the second spin, it’s returned. No profit, no loss.
- If it loses, it’s gone.
Both rules are known to help reduce the house edge for even-money bets to as close as 1.35%, which is better than European Roulette, and even better than American Roulette.
However, always keep in mind that any outcomes are still based on chance and luck and the house will always have an edge. Always play responsibly and within your means.
Bet Types and Payouts in French Roulette
French Roulette includes all the classic Inside and Outside bets, but also features unique call bets, also known as advanced bets. Here’s a table including these and their payouts:
|
Bet Type |
Description |
Payout Ratio |
|
Inside Bets | ||
|
Straight Bet |
One specific number |
35:1 |
|
Split Bet |
Two adjacent numbers |
17:1 |
|
Street Bet |
A row of three numbers on the layout |
11:1 |
|
Line Bet |
Four numbers in a line |
8:1 |
|
Corner Bet |
Four numbers on the layout, sharing the same corner in a 2x2 square |
5:1 |
|
Outside Bets | ||
|
Column Bet |
A horizontal line of numbers |
2:1 |
|
Douzaine |
A group of 12 numbers |
2:1 |
|
Rouge/Noir |
Red (Rouge) or Black (Noir) |
1:1 |
|
Pair/Impair |
Even (Pair) or Odd (Impair) |
1:1 |
|
Manque/Passe |
Low (Manque) or High (Passe) |
1:1 |
This table only shows the descriptions and values of each bet’s payout. Any outcomes are still based on luck and chance, and will not be influenced by the bet type placed, or the amount wagered.
|
The Call Bets | ||
|
Type |
Name |
Description |
|
Fixed Call Bet |
Les Voisins du Zéro or Neighbours of Zero |
This bet covers 17 numbers around zero; eight numbers on one side and nine on the other. The numbers are: 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, and 25. |
|
Fixed Call Bet |
Tiers du Cylindre or Third of the Wheel |
This is a bet on the 12 numbers opposite the Les Voisins du Zero. These are: 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, and 33. |
|
Fixed Call Bet |
Jeu Zero or Zero Game |
This covers 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, and 15, the numbers directly around zero. |
|
Fixed Call Bet |
Les Orphelins or the Orphans |
This covers the numbers not bet on through Neighbours of Zero or the Third of the Wheel. These are 17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, and 9. |
|
Variable Call Bet |
Neighbours |
This is a bet on the numbers positioned around another number. For example, around number one would be 33, 16, 20, and 14. |
|
Variable Call Bet |
Final |
A bet on all numbers ending with the same digit. For example, a final two bet would cover 2, 12, 22, and 32. |
Any outcomes are still based on luck and chance, and will not be influenced by the bet type placed, or the amount wagered.
French Roulette: How to Play
French Roulette is a straightforward casino game. However, make sure to know the rules of the specific game you’re playing, as there may be some variations added by the game itself.
- Choose a number or set of numbers you want to bet on.
- Decide the amount to wager.
- Place your bet on your chosen number, or numbers, using the layout shown.
- Wait for the live dealer, or the computer, to spin the wheel and reveal the winning number.
- If your wager won, you may collect any winnings.
French Roulette Is All About Finesse and Fairness
French Roulette does not just look classy; it plays classy, too. With its interesting rules and elegant betting structure, it offers a nice change of pace for anyone looking for a unique roulette experience.
Various French Roulette games are available at UKGC-licensed casinos, including Genting Casino.
The house will always have an edge. Never try to recover losses by gambling more. Any outcomes in this casino game are based on chance and luck. Always play responsibly and within your means.
