How to Play French Roulette

What is French Roulette?

When we talk about French Roulette, we’re referring to the classic table game as it was when the French aristocracy invented it in the 1700s. It spread from there to the general public in France and eventually around the globe. Since then, both European and American versions have appeared, with the American one being the least favorable for players. Did you know that when the game first reached the U.S., a “eagle” was added to the wheel? This symbolized freedom and gave the casino extra income, supposedly to help build the new country.

Over time, the game has evolved, and now you’ll find at least a dozen different variations at any online casino. However, the French version remains almost identical to the original tables from the 1800s. You’ll see the beautiful “little wheel” in the middle, along with two betting areas on each side of this spinning circle with red and black slots. The goal remains the same: place your bets on the number (or combination of numbers) you think will win in the upcoming round, and wait for the ball to determine the winner.

What Are the Rules?

One of the biggest advantages of this table game is its simple rules, clear mechanics, and the elegant atmosphere that often surrounds the rounds. Even if you’ve never played any version of roulette before, it won’t take more than a few minutes to understand how it works. Place your chips on the table, wait for the next round to begin, and remember that certain unique rules may apply during the game. We’ll explain everything below.

Overview of the Table

While the classic table places the wheel in the middle with the betting areas around it, that’s not what makes the French version stand out. The setup is quite standard: you can bet on numbers from 1 to 34, alternating between red and black, while the 0 is green. Of course, you can also create combinations, such as betting on a column of numbers or broader outcomes like red/black. What sets French roulette apart is the additional, independent row of bets often called the “racecourse,” which offers special combinations with French names. We’ll explain these later—but the key takeaway is that the game is user-friendly, easy to understand, and you can always ask the dealer for help (if you’re playing live).

How to Place Bets

Unlike slot machines, table games like roulette revolve around your bets. So, it’s important to place your chips wisely, consider your chances of winning, calculate the odds, and weigh the probabilities to avoid losing too quickly. In online play, you simply click on one of your digital chips and then on the different betting areas—this places your chips on various numbers and combinations. At a physical table, you can either place your chips by hand or hand them to the dealer and specify your bet. In short, the betting process is a key and exciting part of the rounds, and it can be just as enjoyable as the rest of the game.

The La Partage Rule

One of two unique rules often found in French roulette is the “La Partage” rule, which translates to “sharing” from French. If La Partage is in effect and the wheel stops on 0, you don’t lose all your “even money” bets, like red/black or odd/even. Instead, the money is split—half goes to the house, and you get the other half back!

The En Prison Rule

The second unique rule is called “En Prison,” which means “in prison” in French. Unlike the La Partage rule, with En Prison, you don’t lose any money at all if the ball lands on 0 while you’ve made an even-money bet. Instead, your bet stays on the table for the next round, giving you another chance to win. If your bet wins in the next round, you get your money back—no losses!

What Types of Bets Can You Place?

If you’ve played roulette before, perhaps in a version other than French, you’ll find that the betting options are generally the same. However, the French table offers a few extra special combinations, and some of the bet names are written in French. Keep an eye out for the following areas on the so-called “racetrack”:

• Voisins du Zero: This means “neighbors of zero” and is a bet on all the numbers surrounding zero on the wheel.
• Le Tiers du Cylindre: Meaning “a third of the wheel,” this bet covers the numbers on the opposite side of zero.
• Jeu Zero: This means “zero game” and is a bet on six numbers located next to zero in one direction.
• Orphelins: This means “orphans,” and this is a bet on the eight numbers not covered by the other groups above.

Inside Bets

These are the more standard bets, familiar to most roulette players. But if you’re new to the game and want to learn about the betting options in advance, we’ll break them down for you. These are known as inside bets, where chips are placed on or between the various numbers from 1 to 36 (or on the zero):

• Single Number: A bet on one specific number.
• Split: A bet on two numbers (the chip is placed on the line between them).
• Street: A bet on three consecutive numbers.
• Corner: A bet on four numbers that meet at a corner (the chip is placed in the shared corner).
• Six Line: A bet on six consecutive numbers.

Outside Bets

Inside bets tend to offer lower odds of winning but higher payouts, so it’s usually best to focus on outside bets until you’re more confident and ready to explore various strategies. On the outside of the table, you’ll find broader bets with higher odds of winning but smaller payouts:

• Red or Black: Bet on whether the next number will be red or black.
• Odd or Even: Bet on whether the next number will be odd or even.
• Low or High: Bet on either all low numbers (1-18) or all high numbers (19-36).
• Dozen: Bet on one of three groups of 12 numbers (1-12, 13-24, or 25-36).
• Columns: Bet on one of the three columns of 12 numbers.

Odds and Payouts

Roulette uses mathematical calculations to balance risk with reward, with a slight house edge due to the green zero. For example, the bet on red or black is almost 50/50 since all numbers are either red or black, except for the zero. If you win, your payout is double your bet! Here’s a simple overview of the odds and payouts:

• Single Number: 1/36 chance of winning, 35x payout
• Split: 1/17.5 chance of winning, 17x payout
• Street: 1/11.3 chance of winning, 11x payout
• Corner: 1/8.25 chance of winning, 8x payout
• Six Line: 1/5.16 chance of winning, 5x payout
• Red or Black: 1/2.05 chance of winning, 2x payout
• Odd or Even: 1/2.05 chance of winning, 2x payout
• Low or High: 1/2.05 chance of winning, 2x payout
• Dozen: 1/3.20 chance of winning, 3x payout
• Columns: 1/3.20 chance of winning, 3x payout

Strategies You Can Use

Ever since roulette was introduced, people have tried to come up with a “foolproof” strategy or system that guarantees winnings. It’s important to note that there is no way to beat the mathematical algorithms in place, which gives the house a slight advantage. However, following a suitable betting system can be fun, and it helps you manage your budget better. Here are a few popular strategies:

The Martingale System

This is likely the simplest system—here, you double your bet after every loss and return to your initial bet when you win. This method is designed to eventually bring you back to profit or, at the very least, avoid significant losses.

• Pros

• In theory, you never lose in the long run.

• Cons

• Your bets can quickly grow large if you hit a losing streak.

The Reverse Martingale

As the name suggests, this strategy is the reverse of the original system—you double your bet after each win and return to the starting bet after a loss. The goal is to capitalize on winning streaks.

• Pros

• You avoid losing streaks more easily.

• Cons

• You need a large budget to maximize its effectiveness.

The D’Alembert System

With this system, you start with a basic bet and increase it by the same amount after each loss while decreasing it by the same amount after each win. The aim is to balance out wins and losses over time.

• Pros

• Simple and easy to follow.

• Cons

• The potential for growth is minimal compared to other systems.

The Fibonacci System

This system is based on the famous Fibonacci sequence (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, and so on). After each loss, you move forward in the sequence, and after each win, you move two steps back.

• Pros

• It’s a fun system that adds an element of strategy.

• Cons

• The stakes can get high quickly, requiring larger bets.

The James Bond System

This system involves covering various parts of the table to offset potential losses. The idea is to bet 1 unit on zero, 5 units on numbers 13-18, and 14 units on high numbers (19-36).

• Pros

• A fun strategy with a wide coverage of numbers.

• Cons

• The system can be quite dull after a while.

Differences Between French and American Roulette

We’ve mentioned this in many of our detailed articles—you should avoid the American version of the game because it has two zeroes (0 and 00), which gives the house a much bigger advantage. Regardless of what you bet on, the odds of winning are much lower on American tables compared to French ones. Here are a few other key differences:

• French tables have special, classic combinations.
• French tables often feature the La Partage and En Prison rules.

Differences Between Online and Land-Based Roulette

Although you can find roulette at nearly every land-based casino around the world (with the exception of some U.S. cities where American roulette dominates), most people now prefer playing online. There are many reasons for this, and we’ll outline the pros and cons so you can decide for yourself:

• Benefits of Playing Online

• You can play from the comfort of your home.
• No travel costs involved.
• You have a wide selection of tables to choose from.
• You can earn plenty of bonus money.
• There’s no pressure from the surrounding environment.

• Downsides of Playing Online

• You miss out on the unique casino atmosphere.
• You don’t get the social experience.
• You can’t physically handle chips or hear the wheel spin.
• You won’t get to visit new cities or countries.
• You don’t get your winnings instantly.

However, we should mention that part of the social aspect is available online—thanks to advancements in live casino games, you can now enjoy real-time games with actual dealers and interact with other players via chat.

Getting Started

Since this popular table game is available at practically every top-rated online casino, you’re only a few minutes away from starting your first round—whether on your computer or mobile device. Here’s how to get started:

Conclusion

There’s something special about these classic table games—their atmosphere, their history, and the elegance they bring. It’s no wonder millions of people worldwide have flocked to online casinos to enjoy this aristocratic entertainment from the comfort of their own homes.