| Updated: September 25, 2025Many researchers believe that roulette is one of the oldest casino games and that it originated in France. Its origins can be traced back to the mid-17th century, when the renowned mathematician Blaise Pascal inadvertently invented the first roulette wheel while trying to create a perpetual-motion machine. Over the years, roulette has evolved into the game we know today.
Because roulette is one of the most popular games, many online and land-based casinos offer it. If you visit an online casino, you will find a wide variety of roulette titles. Limited space in land-based gambling establishments means you will see fewer roulette tables; however, you will most likely encounter French Roulette, as it often takes center stage.
Differences Between French and European Roulette
French Roulette is a unique version of the game. A trained player’s eye would immediately notice the difference between French and European Roulette. Even though both variations of the game use the same wheel with 36 numbered pockets alternatively colored red and black and one green zero pocket, they differ in terms of the table layout.
In land-based casinos, the French roulette wheel might be placed in the middle of the table and the felt might be red;
In European Roulette, the felt is always green and the wheel is placed at one end of the table;
The boxes for placing even-money bets in French Roulette are located on both sides of the number grid;
The boxes for placing outside bets in European Roulette are positioned on one side of the number grid;
French Roulette features special rules, and more precisely “La Partage” and “En Prison”, reducing the house edge to 1.35%. These rules apply only to even-money bets.
Some European Roulette tables offer the “La Partage” and “En Prison” rules;
French Roulette offers announced bets and an additional betting area – the racetrack.
Some European Roulette tables feature racetracks, thus providing players with the opportunity to place announced bets.
The names of the bets are written in French. However, some casinos offer English translation below the French names.
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French vs American Roulette
When comparing French and American Roulette, the most noticeable distinction is the number of pockets on the wheel. American Roulette features 36 numbered pockets, plus both a single zero and a double zero. The addition of the double-zero pocket raises the house edge to 5.26%.
Table Layout Special French Roulette RulesTable Layout
Furthermore, the layout of the American Roulette table is very similar to that of the European Roulette table. However, you will not find a variation of American Roulette that offers the “La Partage” or “En Prison” rule. Additionally, roulette fans who prefer the American version of the game will not be able to place announced bets, which we will discuss later in this article.
It is also worth noting that the number sequence on the American Roulette wheel differs from the sequence on the European and French Roulette wheels.
- American Roulette (clockwise): 0, 28, 9, 26, 30, 11, 7, 20, 32, 17, 5, 22, 34, 15, 3, 24, 36, 13, 1, 00, 27, 10, 25, 29, 12, 8, 19, 31, 18, 6, 21, 33, 16, 4, 23, 35, 14, 2.
- European and French Roulette (clockwise): 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25, 17, 34, 6, 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9, 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26.
Special French Roulette Rules
When discussing the house edge, it is important to note that French Roulette has two special rules that can further reduce the house edge to 1.35%. The first rule is called “La Partage,” and it allows you to reclaim half of your wager provided you place an even-money bet and the ball lands in the zero pocket. Of course, this comes at a price – the house keeps the other half of your original stake.
“En Prison” is the other rule that many French roulette tables offer. It allows players who lose their even-money bets because the ball landed in the zero pocket to try to win their wagers back by leaving their original bets on the same spot for the next spin. Winning bets are returned to the players, while losing wagers are claimed by the house.
These two rules tip the odds in the player’s favor, which is why many experienced roulette fans prefer French Roulette. Please note that you might also come across European roulette tables that feature these rules.
How to Play French Roulette
If you know how to play European Roulette, you will not encounter any difficulties when playing French Roulette. This is because French Roulette is no different from the European version in terms of rules. To win, you simply have to guess which pocket the ball will settle in. If you decide to visit a land-based casino to enjoy French Roulette, be sure to follow proper roulette etiquette.
Online French Roulette Popular French Roulette Variations Among Online Players Live Dealer French RouletteOnline French Roulette
Playing French Roulette at an online casino is extremely easy. First, you need to find a legitimate web-based casino that offers this variation of the game. You may come across many versions of French-style roulette, but they all follow the basic rules. These variations, however, come with different betting limits, so be sure to choose a table that matches your bankroll. Also, remember to check the chip denominations.
When playing software-based French Roulette, keep in mind that the outcome is determined by a random number generator (RNG). In other words, no live croupier is manning the table.
Popular French Roulette Variations Among Online Players
Some of the most popular French Roulette variations include Microgaming’s French Roulette Gold, Playtech’s Premium French Roulette, and NetEnt’s French Roulette. If you try any of them, you will likely be impressed by their remarkable graphics and intuitive interface.
Live Dealer French Roulette
Online casinos also offer live dealer games for players who miss the land-based casino experience. Live French Roulette unfolds just as it does in a brick-and-mortar venue. Simply take a seat and place your wager when the croupier announces “Place your bets”. The game begins when the dealer spins the wheel in one direction and launches the ball in the opposite direction.
While the wheel is spinning, you can continue to place bets until the croupier declares “No more bets”. After that, wait for the ball to come to rest; its final position will determine the winning number.
French Roulette Bets Explained
French Roulette features the same bet categories as European Roulette, namely inside and outside bets. Inside bets are placed on a specific number or a group of numbers; they carry higher risk but also higher payouts. As the name implies, outside bets are placed on the outer section of the betting layout. These bets offer better odds of winning, but the payouts are lower. Let us examine the different types of bets:
Inside bets Outside Bets Announced Bets The Difference Between Call and Announced BetsInside bets
- En Plein (Straight-Up Bet) – a bet on a single number. It pays 35:1.
- En Cheval (Split Bet) – this bet is placed on two adjacent numbers (for example, 14 and 15). Place the chips on the line between the two numbers. A winning split bet pays 17:1.
- Carre Simple/Transversale (Street Bet) – players can wager on a row of three numbers (for example, 16, 17, and 18). Chips are placed on the line at the end of the row. A winning street bet pays 11:1.
- Carre (Corner Bet) – often referred to as a square bet, this wager covers four numbers (for example, 5, 6, 8, and 9). To place a corner bet, put the chips at the intersection of the four numbers. It pays 8:1.
- Sixain (Line Bet) – this bet covers two rows of three numbers each (for example, 1, 2, 3 and 4, 5, 6). Chips are placed between the two rows along the side of the betting area. A winning line bet pays 5:1.
Outside Bets
- Colonne (Column Bet) – the number grid is divided into three columns, each consisting of 12 numbers (for example 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34). Its payout is 2:1. To make a column bet, you have to place chips at the end of the selected column.
- Premier Douzaine (P12) – this bet covers the numbers from 1 to 12. Its payout is 2:1.
- Moyenne Douzaine (M12) – it covers the second dozen of numbers, and more precisely 13 – 24. The payout is 2:1.
- Derniere Douzaine (D12) – it covers the third dozen of numbers – 25 to 36 and winning bets are paid out at odds of 2:1.
- Rouge (Red) / Noir (Black) – a bet placed on all red or black numbers. Since there are 18 red and 18 black numbers on the French roulette wheel, this bet covers 18 numbers. It pays out 1:1.
- Impair (Odd) / Pair (Even) – players can place a bet on all odd or even numbers. It means that the bet is made on 18 numbers. Its payout is 1:1.
- Manque (Low) / Passe (High) – the numbers on the roulette wheel are divided into low (1 to 18) and high (19 to 36) numbers. Roulette players can bet on all low or high numbers and if they win, they will collect a payout of 1:1.
Announced Bets
Bets are typically placed on the betting layout. However, most French Roulette tables, as well as some European variations, offer a special betting tool that lets you cover different sections of the wheel (announced bets). This tool is called a racetrack because of its oval shape. You will find it next to the main betting area. Let us discuss the different types of announced bets and how to place them:
- Voisins du Zero (neighbors of zero) – this bet covers 17 numbers, including 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25. If you look at a single-zero roulette wheel, you will notice that these numbers are close to the zero pocket.It is one of the most complex bets and it requires a total of 9 chips of equal denomination (two chips on the 0, 2, 3 trio; two chips on the corner 25, 26, 28, 29; one chip on each of the following split bets – 4/7, 12/15, 18/21, 19/22, and 32/35). Depending on the winning number, the payout may reach 17:1.
- Orphelins (Orphans) – this bet covers two sections of the wheel that are not connected. The numbers it includes are 9, 31, 14, 20, and 1 on one side of the wheel and 17, 34, and 6 on the other side of the wheel. If you want to make an Orphelins bet, you have to place one chip on the following splits: 6/9, 14/17, 17/20, 31/34, and a straight-up bet on the number 1. The maximum payout associated with this bet is 35:1.
- Le Tiers du Cylindre (third of the wheel) – it covers a total of 12 numbers, including 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 23, 24, 27, 30, 33, and 36. This bet requires a total of 6 chips as one chip is placed on each of the following split bets: 5/8, 10/11, 13/16, 23/24, 27/30, and 33/36. Winning Le Tiers bets are paid out at odds of 17:1.
- Jeu Zero (zero game) – this bet covers the numbers closest to zero on the wheel. These include 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, and 15. The bet is a combination of three split bets (0/3, 32/35, and 12/15) and one straight-up bet on 26. The maximum payout associated with this announced bet is 35:1.
- Les Finales (final digits) – this is an interesting type of announced bet that allows players to bet on all numbers ending in the same digit. In its essence, it is a combination of straight-up bets and thus, the payout is 35:1.If you want to bet on the numbers ending in 0 to 6, you will have to place 4 chips on the betting area as there are 4 numbers on the French roulette wheel ending in one of these numbers. The other option is to bet on the numbers ending in 7, 8, or 9. Then, you will need a total of 3 chips.
The Difference Between Call and Announced Bets
Many roulette fans believe that announced bets are synonymous with call bets, but there is a subtle difference between the two. Players do not have to place any money on the table when they make call bets; they simply announce the wager they wish to make, and the croupier marks it on the betting area.
Because call bets are made on credit, they are illegal in many countries, such as the UK. By contrast, roulette enthusiasts who place announced bets must immediately put money on the table.