When you hear of a roulette game, you might think of the European or American versions. But did you know there is another type of roulette called French roulette? That shouldn't come as a surprise, as roulette originated in France!
French roulette is different from other roulette games, offering its own unique flair and gameplay.
In this Wizard Slots blog post, we will take a closer look at what French roulette is, its rules and wheel layout, odds and the difference between French roulette and American roulette, so continue reading to learn more!
What Is French Roulette?
French roulette is a variation of roulette, like American or European roulette. Like all the other variations, it features a roulette wheel that contains numbered pockets, a ball, and a betting table.
What sets this particular variation apart from the other two is its unique set of rules, but more on that later. It also has a unique table layout. Moreover, compared to the other two variations, French roulette offers the lowest house edge.
However, it may not be an easy variation to find.
French Roulette Rules
As mentioned above, French roulette has a number of unique rules that set it apart from the other variations, with the La Partage and En Prison rules being the most popular. Other rules may be similar to those of its counterparts, such as inside and outside bets, but in French roulette, they are modified a bit.
For example, the American and French roulette games have outside bets, but in the French version, the bets are on both sides of the table instead of just the left side.
La Partage Rule
In other roulette variations, if the ball lands on zero, all bets automatically lose unless you specifically bet on the ball landing on the zero pocket.
However, in French roulette, the La Partage rule makes it so that if the ball lands on zero, all red/black, high/low, or odd/even bets are split in half. That means both you, as the player and the house, will split the bets in half. The term "La Partage" literally translates to "dividing".
For example, if you have placed a red/black bet of £5 and the ball lands on zero, you will receive £2.50 back, and the house will keep the other £2.50.
En Prison Rule
The En Prison rule means "in prison" when translated into English. It is another rule typically found in land-based French roulette, especially in Monaco. However, most online casinos may not have this rule, so it is best to check in with the casino first if you are looking for a French roulette game with one.
If the En Prison rule is part of the game, all the red/black, high/low, or odd/even bets, also known as even-money bets, are kept in place or "in prison" until the next round should the ball land on zero. Then, the dealer or the croupier will place a marker on them to indicate their imprisonment.
However, if these bets win in the next round, they are returned to you as is, but if they lose, the house keeps them. So, you essentially do not "win" anything, but you do receive your bet back.
French Roulette Wheel Layout
The French roulette wheel layout is similar to the European layout. It contains a single zero and numbers 1 to 36. The numbers are divided into black and red, except for the zero, which is in a green pocket. The wheel spins in one direction, and the ball will spin in the opposite direction.
French roulette also has a table which contains 12 rows of three blocks of numbers in a grid. The betting zones may be labelled in French words such as Pair for even, Impair for odd, Manque for low, and Passe for high numbers.
What's The Difference Between French Roulette & American Roulette?
French and American roulette have several differences, including the number of zeros on the wheel and the rules that may apply. For example, French roulette has a single zero pocket, while American Roulette contains a single (0) and double zero (00) pockets.
Additionally, the numbers in American roulette are placed differently than the numbers in French roulette. For example, in American roulette, the numbers are displayed on the wheel in the following manner:
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
However, in French roulette, the numbers are placed in the following sequence:
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
And of course, these two variations have different rules and betting rules, with the French roulette having its outside bets placed on either side of the table, while in the American version, the outside bets are placed on the left.
French Roulette Odds
French roulette is generally believed to have better odds than other variations. However, the exact odds for this roulette version would depend on the type of bet you are placing.
For example, if you place a single-number bet, your odds of potentially winning dramatically decrease, but if you bet on even numbers, your odds may be slightly higher.
For example, if you bet on red/black, you have 18 in 37 odds of winning, but your potential payout will be 1 to 1.
How To Play French Roulette Online
Once you get the hang of the rules and bets you can make in French roulette, the game can get relatively easier to play. All you have to do is:
- Select a French roulette table and wager your preferred stake. Online casinos typically have a limited time for players to place their bets, usually between 30 and 40 seconds. After the timer reaches zero, you can no longer place any bets.
- Wait for the game to begin and see if the ball lands on your numbers or columns. If it does, you may win, depending on the rules.
Remember to set a bankroll budget and stick with it. Most importantly, always play with money you can afford to lose.
Play Roulette Games at Wizard Slots
We currently do not have French Roulette available to play at Wizard Slots, but we do have many other Roulette variations, including:
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins, etc.) mentioned in relation to this game are subject to change at any time.