French Roulette is a single-zero game built on the same wheel as European Roulette, but two special rules set it apart: La Partage and En Prison. Both can return value to players when the ball lands on zero, making French Roulette especially appealing to careful bettors.
In this guide, you’ll discover how the game works, what La Partage and En Prison really do, and which bets you can place. We’ll also compare French Roulette with American and European Roulette, explain the house edge, and highlight what to look for when exploring roulette tables at iWild Casino.
What Is French Roulette?
Played on a 37-pocket, single-zero wheel like European Roulette, this classic game adds a more player-friendly twist. When zero appears, special rules can reduce the house edge on qualifying even-money bets.
Despite its name, French Roulette isn’t limited to casinos in France. It’s available online around the world, with its identity based on its distinctive rules rather than its location.
At iWild, you can enjoy this elegant table game alongside our full range of online slots and other exciting casino favourites.
How to Play French Roulette
Ready to give the game a spin? Start by choosing your stake and placing bets on the table layout before the dealer spins the wheel. You can select numbers, colours, ranges, or other available combinations.
The wheel and ball then move in opposite directions until the ball settles into a pocket. Winning bets are paid according to their odds, while losing wagers are cleared from the table.
The basic process is identical to European Roulette. The only important difference is how zero affects eligible even-money bets, a player-friendly feature explained in the next section. Once you understand that rule, you’ll be ready to explore French Roulette as part of our full game library.
La Partage and En Prison — The Rules That Define French Roulette
La Partage and En Prison are the rules that give French Roulette its biggest player advantage. They apply only to even-money bets, such as Red/Black, Odd/Even, and Low/High.
With La Partage, a zero result means you lose only half your stake. For example, a €10 bet returns €5, while the remaining €5 is lost.
En Prison offers the same protection differently. Your full stake is held for the next spin. If that spin wins, your original stake is returned with no extra profit. If it loses, the entire stake is forfeited.
A casino usually offers one rule or the other, not both. These protections are why French Roulette has a lower house edge on even-money bets.
Some physical casinos apply the rules table by table, so always check the rules card. Online players can also review current promotions that pair well with steady even-money betting styles.
Bet Types in French Roulette
French Roulette offers two main bet categories, arranged just like the European Roulette layout. Inside bets focus on specific numbers, while outside bets cover wider groups.
Both options have their own risk and reward balance. The right choice depends on whether you prefer bigger potential payouts or more frequent wins.
Inside Bets
Inside bets are placed directly on the numbered grid. They cover one number or a small cluster, offering higher payouts but a lower chance of winning.
Common types include:
- Straight Up: One number
- Split: Two numbers
- Street: Three numbers
- Corner: Four numbers
- Line: Six numbers
As more numbers are covered, the potential payout gradually decreases.
Outside Bets
Outside bets sit around the edges of the layout and cover larger groups of numbers. They usually offer smaller, more frequent payouts.
Standard options include:
- Red/Black
- Odd/Even
- High/Low
- Dozens
- Columns
La Partage and En Prison apply specifically to the even-money choices: Red/Black, Odd/Even, and High/Low. Once you understand the options, log in to play and try placing a few bets yourself.
Announced Bets — Voisins, Tiers, Orphelins, Jeu Zéro, Finales
Announced, or “call,” bets group numbers according to their physical position on the roulette wheel—not their location on the usual betting grid. They’re a classic feature of European-style games and add a little extra theatre to each spin.
- Voisins du Zéro: Covers the 17 numbers surrounding zero.
- Tiers du Cylindre: Covers 12 numbers on the wheel’s opposite arc from zero.
- Orphelins: Covers the remaining numbers outside those two sections.
- Jeu Zéro: Focuses on a tighter cluster immediately around zero.
- Finales en Plein or à Cheval: Groups numbers sharing the same final digit, either as straight-up or split bets.
Traditionally, players call these combinations aloud to the dealer, who places the chips. Online tables usually make things easier with a dedicated racetrack-style betting area, letting you select the same wheel-based bets with a click.
How French Roulette Compares to American and European Roulette
At first glance, French and European Roulette look almost identical, and mathematically, they share the same foundation. Both use a 37-pocket wheel containing numbers 1 through 36 plus a single zero.
The key difference appears when zero lands. French Roulette may offer La Partage or En Prison, giving players extra protection on even-money bets and lowering the house edge for those wagers.
American Roulette adds a second green pocket: double zero. With 38 pockets in total, it carries a noticeably higher house edge on every standard bet and typically offers no comparable player-friendly rule.
So, which should you choose? French Roulette is the better pick for even-money players. On other bets, it matches European Roulette, while both single-zero versions offer better odds than American Roulette.
Other Roulette Variants at a Glance
French, European, and American Roulette are the three main wheel variants most players will encounter. Each has its own layout, rules, and house edge.
Some casinos also offer less common formats, such as Mini Roulette, which uses a smaller wheel with fewer numbered pockets, or multi-wheel roulette, where one set of bets can play across several wheels at once.
These versions can be fun to explore, but they’re far less widespread than the three classic variants. Always check the wheel layout and paytable before playing.
French Roulette Odds and House Edge
French Roulette has a standard house edge of 2.70%, the same as European Roulette, on most bet types. This applies to wagers such as single numbers, splits, streets, corners, dozens, and columns.
However, La Partage or En Prison reduces the edge on even-money bets such as Red/Black, Odd/Even, and High/Low to approximately 1.35%.
That difference matters over time. Players who mainly choose even-money outcomes face a genuinely lower long-term house edge in French Roulette than in European Roulette, even though both games use the same wheel.
| Bet Type | French Roulette Edge | European Roulette Edge | American Roulette Edge |
| Even-Money Bets | 1.35%* | 2.70%* | 5.26% |
| All Other Bets | 2.70% | 2.70% | 5.26% |
* Assumes La Partage or En Prison applies.
French Roulette Strategy and Tips
Smart play is less about chasing a secret system and more about making informed decisions. Every spin is independent, so no pattern or betting sequence can change the game’s underlying odds.
The best approach is to use French Roulette’s player-friendly rules wisely, set a clear bankroll limit, and avoid predictions based on recent results. These simple habits can make your session more controlled, enjoyable, and better informed.
Favour Even-Money Bets to Maximise La Partage/En Prison Value
French Roulette’s main mathematical advantage over European Roulette applies only to even-money bets. These include Red/Black, Odd/Even, and High/Low.
If you want to benefit from La Partage or En Prison, place more of your bets on these options. Inside bets receive no special protection, so they carry the standard 2.70% house edge.
Ignore “Hot” Numbers
A number appearing several times recently has no greater chance of appearing again. Each spin is independent, random, and unaffected by previous results.
Tracking “hot” numbers may be entertaining, but it has no mathematical power. The same applies to “cold” numbers that seem overdue.
Do Standard Betting Systems Still Apply?
Systems such as Martingale and Fibonacci work the same way in French Roulette as in any other roulette variant. They change bet sizes, not the wheel’s probabilities or house edge.
La Partage and En Prison work more naturally with steady, flat betting on eligible even-money options. Aggressive progressions can quickly increase risk without improving your long-term chances.
For strategy ideas across other table games, you can also explore our bubble craps strategy guide.
A Few Fun Facts About French Roulette
Long before the American version added a second zero, the original single-zero format helped shape the modern roulette game we know today.
The French influence is still easy to spot in casino vocabulary. Words such as Voisins, Orphelins, and Tiers remain popular at online casinos worldwide, including in markets where French isn’t commonly spoken.
These terms have lasted because they describe precise sections of the wheel and are now part of the standard language of French Roulette.
Playing French Roulette on Mobile
Playing French Roulette on your phone should feel smooth, simple, and enjoyable. Look for a clean betting layout where numbers, outside bets, and racetrack-style announced bets are easy to find without constant zooming.
The wheel animation should run smoothly, even when you’re using regular mobile data. Before placing your first wager, open the game’s information panel and check the La Partage and En Prison rules so there are no surprises during play.
Why La Partage and En Prison Only Apply to Even-Money Bets
The reason is simple: Red/Black, Odd/Even, and High/Low bets all pay 1:1. Because the payout matches the original stake, La Partage can return half of it, while En Prison can hold the full amount for one more spin.
Imagine placing €10 on Black and seeing zero land. With La Partage, €5 comes back immediately. Under En Prison, the full €10 waits for the next result.
Other wagers don’t follow this simple structure. A straight-up bet pays 35:1, a corner pays 8:1, and Dozens or Columns pay 2:1. Applying the same protection would need a completely different calculation.
So, the lower French Roulette edge applies to even-money bets only, an important detail that’s easy to miss.
Frequently asked questions
French Roulette and European Roulette use the same 37-pocket, single-zero wheel. The difference is entirely in the rules: French tables may offer La Partage or En Prison on qualifying even-money bets when zero appears.
La Partage immediately returns half your stake when zero defeats an eligible even-money bet. En Prison holds your full stake for one more spin, returning it if the next result wins, without extra profit.
French Roulette offers the best odds specifically on eligible even-money bets when La Partage or En Prison applies. For all other bets, its mathematical performance is identical to European Roulette, not better.
You don’t need an entirely different strategy, but weighting your play toward even-money bets helps you use La Partage or En Prison fully. Bankroll control and realistic expectations remain just as important.
Yes, standard betting systems can be used because they only change bet sizing. Each spin remains independent, and the underlying odds stay the same regardless of the roulette variant you choose.
Yes, demo or free-play versions are commonly available. They let you practise the table layout, explore different bets, and understand La Partage or En Prison before risking real money.
Yes, French Roulette is commonly available on mobile devices. A good mobile version should offer the same bets as desktop, with clear layouts and easy access to the game’s rules.
