Why French Roulette Has the Lowest House Edge

Do you ever wonder why French roulette is the favourite bet type among other versions? There is no other reason than its low house edge, which gives players an edge over professional roulette dealers. French roulette has a low house edge of 2.7% because the wheel has a single zero (0). Also, special rules, such as En Prison and La Partage, help reduce the house edge further for even-money bets.

In this guide, you will discover more facts about French roulette, including its winning strategies, and how it compares with European and American roulette versions.

What is House Edge in Roulettes?

In Albert Einstein's words, "No one can possibly win at roulette unless he steals money from the table while the croupier isn't looking" Why do you think players keep losing to casinos? It’s due to house edge. 

"House edge" in roulettes is a term that describes the advantage a casino has over its players, which also influences their payout rates. It is calculated using a certain percentage to calculate how much casinos get to keep after a period of time.

House edge varies depending on the type of roulette game being played.

1. European roulette has a house edge of 2.70% with a single zero (0) because there are 37 numbers (0-36), and the payout for winning a straight bet is 35:1.
2. American roulette has a house edge of 5.26% with double zero (0&00), as the additional zero increases the total numbers to 38.
3. French roulette has a house edge of 1.35% for the even-money bet type.

From the list above, French roulette has the lowest house edge, followed by European and American roulette. This means that the American roulette is the hardest for players to win.

French vs. American vs. European Roulette

According to Richard Epstein, roulette is one of the oldest casino games operating today. This popular casino game has three main variations: French Roulette, American Roulette, and European Roulette. While they all have basic concepts, each variation has distinct characteristics like house edge and betting odds that stand them out.

American roulette is common in the United States, while European roulette is the most common version you will find in engaging roulette UK casinos. European roulette has better odds than American roulette; however, it does not have the special rules of French roulette (En Prison and La Partage).

French roulette is known as the oldest version of roulette and offers the most favourable odds, thanks to its low house edge. The table layout is also different, with French-language terms and a racetrack section for advanced wagers.

Key Features that Reduce French Roulette House Edge

According to the British Casino Awards, a French Physicist and mathematician, Blaise Pascal, accidentally invented the roulette wheel to achieve a perpetual motion machine. It was also noted that French roulette was very popular throughout the 19th century, which resulted from a 0 model that was designed to cheat the house edge. Below are the other features that contribute to the low French roulette house edge we have today.

1. The La Partage rule contributes to French roulette's low house edge, as players get half their money when they place an even bet and the ball lands on 0. This rule reduces the house edge on even bets from 2.7% to 1.35%.
2. Another contributing feature is the En Prison rule, which imprisons players' bets for the next spins instead of losing their money when the wheel lands on 0 for an even-money bet. This rule also reduces the French roulette house edge drastically to 1.35%.
3. French roulette has a call bets feature for advanced wagering. This racetrack betting layout allows strategic bets like the Orpelins, which can provide better odds than random number bets.

Example: Bet Outcomes with La Partage vs. No Rule

Let's compare bet outcomes with and without the La Partage rule in French Roulette. The table below shows examples of bet outcomes for a bet value of £100, when the ball lands on 0.

From the table above, the La Partage rule recovers half of your bet, which is £50, reducing your long-term loss. In contrast, the bet has a higher long-term loss rate with no La Partage rule, as the casino gets to keep your full bet.

Best Strategies to Maximise Winnings in French Roulette

As a Chinese proverb says, "If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time.” Since French roulette is more favourable for players, they are usually not readily available, but you can find them on top UK roulette tables.

Other best strategies to consider when playing the French roulette:

1. Prioritise even-money bets, as they come with low risk and are suitable for steady profit gains.
2. Integrate the Martingale strategy, which doubles your bet after every loss, ensuring a win recovers all losses.
3. Consider the Fibonacci strategy if you prefer moderate risk, as it follows a gradual betting system, unlike the Martingale strategy, which has a higher risk rate.
4. Choose call bets, which cover larger wheel sections and improve players' winning chances. Call bets are a more advanced form of betting and best suited for experienced players.

The table below shows the common call bets in French roulette.

Conclusion: Should You Always Play French Roulette?

In summary, playing French roulette in a live casino is an excellent choice for people who prefer fast payouts live roulette. Even with other game types, French roulette works best for maximising your wins while minimising losses. French roulette's La Partage and En Prison rules also make it a player-friendly version of roulette. If French roulette is unavailable, European roulette is the next best option.