Quick Navigation
- Understanding the French Roulette Table Layout
- French Roulette Rules and Gameplay
- Types of Bets in French Roulette
- Payouts and Odds in French Roulette
- Common Roulette Mistakes to Avoid
- Basic Winning Strategies for French Roulette
- Advanced French Roulette Strategies
- Online vs. Land-Based French Roulette
- French Roulette Tips from Experienced Players
- Conclusion
- FAQ
French roulette is a casino game played on a wheel with 37 numbered pockets. It originated in France in the 17th century and remains the top choice of roulette enthusiasts due to its straightforward rules and low house edge.
This guide breaks down the various bets in French roulette and how to play online and in real life. Stick to the end to also discover my personal approach for sizing bets, managing bankroll, and the best bets to improve your winning chances in French roulette.
- French roulette has the best house edge and rules, making it the best variant for savvy bettors.
- A game of French roulette features several types of bets, including inside, outside, and sector bets. Outside bets have better winning odds, but inside bets pay the most.
- Utilise various betting systems to manage your bankroll, but approach them cautiously to preserve your capital.
- Use bankroll management, safe betting choices, and responsible gambling principles to extend your gameplay.
Understanding the French Roulette Table Layout
The first step to playing roulette in a casino is understanding the wheel and table layout. So let’s quickly go over how the French roulette wheel works and table features:
✅ The French Roulette Wheel
The French roulette wheel is a circular wheel comprising 37 pockets of numbers (1-36 and a single 0), and an ivory ball in the centre.
The numbers are arranged randomly in alternating red and black to ensure a fair outcome, with the number 0 painted green.
✅ The French Roulette Table Layout
The French roulette table comprises 2 sections:
- The rectangular/box section
- The oval section or racetrack.
✔️ Features of Rectangular Section
The rectangular section of the roulette table is where you place your bet. It consists of two layers too: the inside and the outside.
- Inside Section: The inside section is your go-to for betting on singles (e.g, bet on 1 or 2) and numbers in adjacent rows or columns (e.g., 1 and 4 or 7,8,9). It consists of 12 columns and 3 rows of numbers arranged linearly from 1-36. Each number is colored in alternating red and black with the green 0 at the top or left, depending on the table orientation.
- Outside Section: The outside section surrounds the inside box, and this allows you to bet on groups of numbers in one spin. Some of the notable regions in the outside section of the roulette table include red/black (rouge/noir), even/odd (pair/impair), low/high (manque/passe), and others.
- Racetrack: The racetrack is the oval section of the French roulette table where you bet on groups of numbers in the same region.
It is labeled in French and features 37 numbers (0-36) in the same order as the wheel. Some of the key areas of the racetrack include:
- Voisins du Zero: This refers to neighbors of zero and covers a total of seventeen numbers, including 0 and the sixteen numbers that surround it from 22-25
- Tiers du Cylindre: This refers to the third region of the wheel and covers the twelve numbers facing 0 from 27-33
- Orphelins: Known as an orphan, this region comprises the eight numbers outside the voisins du zero and tiers du cylindre region, ranging from 6 to 17 on one side and 1 to 9 on the other side.
French Roulette Rules and Gameplay
In French roulette, your mission is to predict the number, nature of the number (even/odd, high/low), or color of the number (red/black) the ball will rest on after the dealer spins the wheel.
✅ How to Play Online French Roulette
Below are the steps to play your first game of online French roulette:
- Sign up for a reputable French roulette casino site
- Fund your account for a chance to play for real money
- Go to the roulette section and choose a game you like. Read the game instructions to understand the rules, available bets, and table limits.
- Tap the number or region you want to bet on to place your bet.
- Click play and watch the wheel spin automatically. Winnings are credited instantly if your bet wins.
✅ La Partage and En Prison Rules Explained
The La Partage and En Prison rules determine the outcome of an either/or bet when the ball lands on green zero instead of an actual number in French roulette. Here is how they work:
- La Partage Rule: The term “La Partage” refers to “dividing” or “sharing,” and the rules state that players get half of their stake back when the ball lands on green 0 in an either/or bet instead of losing it all. This means that if you bet $10 per spin on a game of roulette and the ball lands on green zero, you get $5 back instead of losing outright. As a result, the casino hedge for either/or bets reduces from 5.26% in American roulette to 1.35% only in the French variant.
- En Prison Rule: En Prison means “imprisoned” and the rule states that the wager remains on the table till the next round if the ball settles on green 0 in an either/or bet. So if you stake $10 per round and the ball lands on green 0 on a French roulette table that uses the En Prison rule, the total bet remains on the table till the next round. Therefore, you have a chance to recoup your total stake if you succeed in the next round, or lose it all if you miss. The En Prison rule also reduces the house edge in French roulette.
Types of Bets in French Roulette
The major betting options in French roulette are:
- Inside Bets
- Outside Bets
- Announced Bets
Inside Bets
These are bets on single numbers or groups of numbers in the inside section of the French roulette table. The most common inside bets in French roulette are:
- Single (Plein): This is a bet on an individual number (e.g., 1 or 13). To place a single bet, put your chip directly on the exact number you have in mind on the roulette table.
- Split (Cheval): This is a bet on two adjacent numbers on the French roulette table (e.g, a bet on 1 and 2 or 4 and 7). To place a split bet, insert your chip between the two numbers you intend to bet on.
- Street (Transversale): This bet covers three numbers on the same row. Examples include bet on (1,2,3) or (34,35,36). Put your chip at the end of the row to place a street bet.
- Corner (Carré): The corner bet covers four numbers in two adjacent rows that form a square or corner. An example of a corner bet is a wager on (1, 2, 4, 5) or (16,17,19,20).
- Six lane (Sixaine): This bet covers all six numbers in two adjacent rows (e.g, 1,2,3,4,5,6). To place a six-lane bet, put your chips next to the line where the two rows meet.
Outside Bets
Outside bets are bets on the outside section of the French roulette table that allow players to cover several numbers (more than half of the whole table in some cases) per spin. Some of the most common French roulette outside bets are:
- Red/Black (Rouge/Noir): This is a bet on whether the roulette ball will land on a red or black colored number. The odds of winning a red/black bet in French roulette are ideally 18 in 37 (or 48.65%) and pays 1:1.
- Even/Odd (Pair/Impair): This is a bet on whether the winning number will be even or odd. To place a bet on an even outcome, put your chip on “Pair” in the outside section of the roulette table. Alternatively, place the chip on “impair” to stake on an odd outcome. It pays 1:1.
- High/Low (Passe/Manque): This is a bet on whether the winning number will fall in the low (1-18) or high range (19-36). Place your chip on the “Passe” section of the roulette table to stake on a high number outcome, and vice versa
- Dozens (Douzaine): Here, you stake on the winning number to fall among the first dozen (premiere (1-12)), middle (moyenne (13-24)), or third dozen (derniere (25-36)) of numbers on the roulette table. To bet on a dozen, place a chip on P12, M12, or D12, depending on where you think the ball will land.
- Columns (Colonne): This is a bet on a column of the French roulette table, predicting that the winning number will fall within that column. To place a column bet, put chips at the end of the column that the winning number will fall on.
- Split Dozen/Column: This bet covers two columns or dozens of numbers. For example, a split dozen bet on P12 and M12 wins if the winning number belongs to either the first or middle dozen of the French roulette table. To place a split dozen bet on the first and second dozen, put your chip on the line between P12 and M12.
Announced/Called Bets
Announced bets are special bets in French roulette that allow you to cover several numbers per spin. Think of call bets as placing a series of inside bets (singles, splits) in a spin. For each option, you’ll invest some chips, and you get to win if any of the numbers you covered land. The announced bet takes place on the racetrack, which is only accessible to the croupier, so you need to call them to place the bet for you, hence its name.
Some notable announced bets worth playing in French roulette include
| Announced Bet Type | Description (English meaning) | No. of Chips Required | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voisins du Zéro (Neighbours of Zero) | Covers 17 numbers closest to 0 on the wheel and 0 itself (22 through 25). | 9 chips | Straights: 35:1, Splits: 17:1, Corners: 8:1 |
| Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel) | Covers 12 numbers opposite zero (27 through 33). | 6 chips | Splits: 17:1 |
| Jeu Zéro (Zero Game) | A smaller section around zero, covering seven numbers (12–35). | 4 chips | Straights: 35:1, Splits: 17:1 |
| Orphelins (Orphans) | The remaining eight numbers that are not in Voisins or Tiers. | 5 chips | Straights: 35:1, Splits: 17:1 |
| Finales (Final bets) | Bets on all numbers ending in the same digit (e.g., 3, 13, 23, 33). | 3–4 chips (depending on digit) | Straights: 35:1 |
Payouts and Odds in French Roulette
Payout refers to the amount of profit you earn when your bet wins, while odds are the chances or probability of a bet resulting in a win.
Both metrics are variables and change from one bet to another. Below is the standard payout and odds for various French roulette bets.
✅ French Roulette Inside Bet Payouts and Odds
| Bet Type | Number of Pockets Covered | Payout | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight Up | 1 | 35:1 | 1 in 37 (≈ 2.70%) |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 2 in 37 (≈ 5.41%) |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 3 in 37 (≈ 8.11%) |
| Corner (Square) | 4 | 8:1 | 4 in 37 (≈ 10.81%) |
| Six Line (Double Street) | 6 | 5:1 | 6 in 37 (≈ 16.22%) |
| Trio | 3 numbers including 0 (e.g. 0, 1, 2 or 0, 2, 3) | 11:1 | 3 in 37 (≈ 8.11%) |
| Basket (First Four) | 0, 1, 2, 3 | 8:1 | 4 in 37 (≈ 10.81%) |
✅ French Roulette Outside Bet Payout and Odds
| Bet Type | Numbers Covered | Payout | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red / Black | 18/18 | 1:1 | 18 in 37 (≈ 48.65%) |
| Odd / Even | 18/18 | 1:1 | 18 in 37 (≈ 48.65%) |
| Low / High | 1–18 (Low)/ 19–36 (High) | 1:1 | 18 in 37 (≈ 48.65%) |
| Dozen Bets | 1–12, 13–24, or 25–36 (12 numbers each) | 2:1 | 12 in 37 (≈ 32.43%) |
| Column Bets | One vertical column of 12 numbers | 2:1 | 12 in 37 (≈ 32.43%) |
The charts above show that:
- Inside bets offer higher payouts than outside bets but have lower odds.
- Beginners are better off sticking with outside bets, while high rollers should try their hands on inside bets.
- The sweet spot is the column and dozen bets, which offer a great payout (2:1) for decent odds (32.43%).
✅ House Edge in French Roulette
Also known as house advantage, the house edge in roulette is the amount of money the casino retains on your stake. It’s baked into every single bet you place and serves as the casino’s profit.
The house edge of a roulette game is obtained thus:
= (No of zeros on the wheel/Total number of pockets on the wheel).
Therefore, a typical French Roulette bet’s house edge is 2.7% (1/37), which means the casino retains $0.027 on every $1
It gets even better in even money bets (red/black, high/low, even/odd), where the La Partage and En Prison rule allows you to split bets, therefore reducing the house edge of this bet to 1.35% in French roulette.
The table below compares the house edge of French vs European vs American roulette variations.
| Roulette Variant | House Edge |
|---|---|
| French Roulette | 2.7% (Standard )
1.35% (Even money bets) |
| European roulette | 2.7% |
| American Roulette | 5.26% |
Some of the significant deductions and value bets insights from the above chart include:
- French Roulette is the best version for players, thanks to La Partage and En Prison rules.
- European Roulette offers a decent return of 2.70% across all bets.
- American Roulette is the least favourable, with a 5.26% house edge on most bets.
Common Roulette Mistakes to Avoid
Later on, we will explore common betting strategies to practice. But before then, here are common rookie mistakes to avoid when playing a game of French roulette:
| Beginner Mistake | Quick Fix |
|---|---|
| Undisciplined Gameplay, such as chasing losses, ignoring your plan | Practice strict bankroll management and stick to your strategy |
| Overcomplicating Bets, e.g, starting with advanced wagers | Begin with simple even-money bets and practice on free French roulette |
| Using High-Risk Betting Systems like Martingale | Stick to fixed or conservative betting styles to preserve your bankroll |
| Lack of an Exit Plan | Set time and bet limits, plus a win goal, before you start playing |
Basic Winning Strategies for French Roulette
The best roulette betting strategy is effective capital allocation. Listed below are some of the best roulette-specific betting systems for sizing your bets:
🎰 Martingale System
In the Martingale system, you double your bet size each time you lose and go back to your original stake when you win. So if you start with a $1 bet and lose on the first spin, your next bet will be $2, $4, and so on until you win.
🎰 Fibonacci System
In the Fibonacci system, the number in the Fibonacci sequence serves as your stake.
Here are the numbers for the first 10 sequences: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55…
So, your first wager is going to be $1. If you lose, your next wager will be the second number in the sequence ($1), while your fourth bet will be ($3), and so on. Once you win, you’ll go back two numbers in the sequence.
🎰 D’Alembert System
The D’Alembert betting system involves increasing your next bet by a unit size after each loss. So, if you start with a $3 bet, and a unit size of $2, your second bet will be $5 ($3+$2) if you lose the first bet. Similarly, your third wager will be $7 ($5 + $2) and so on until you win. Once you win, you’ll reduce your wager by the unit size.
🎰 Paroli System
Paroli is the exact opposite of the Martingale system and involves doubling your bet after each win. It enables you to take advantage of winning sprees. Once you lose, you’ll go back to the base amount.
Advanced French Roulette Strategies
The key to netting big wins in French roulette is taking calculated risks, using advanced money management techniques, and avoiding common pitfalls. Below are advanced strategies for boosting your winning chances in French roulette
✅ Sector Betting
Sector bets enable you to cover more numbers on the wheel, get more mileage out of your chips, and earn massive rewards when you win. They are less risky than straight-up bets and pay better than even-money wagers. One of the best situations to use sector betting in a live casino is when you notice a pattern in machine outcomes. In such cases, you can place a sector bet on the neighbors of the frequently occurring numbers to capitalize on the trend.
✅ Complete Betting
This is a special bet that allows you to cover all the inside bets around a single number for a price of 18-30 chips. For instance, a complete bet on 8 includes placing a single, split, street, corner, column, and double, etc on 8. As a result, you stand a chance to win multiple rewards from a spin when you hit.
✅ Bankroll Management
While all the above roulette betting strategies are effective, bankroll management is the only one that never fails. Here are actionable tips for managing your budget in French roulette:
- Establish a Budget: The first money management tip to help you win in roulette is to dedicate a specific amount to betting. Your bankroll size should be an amount you’re comfortable losing, as wins are not guaranteed in roulette.
- Set Loss Limit and Win Goal: Setting a loss limit prevents overspending when you lose, while a win goal enables you to walk away while still in profit.
- Refrain from Chasing Losses: Increasing your bets sporadically to recoup losses in one spin can quickly deplete your bankroll. Keep to your bet limit in every condition to preserve your capital.
- Play Safe Bets: Certain bets, such as even money and columns, have a higher probability of success. To optimize your bankroll, consider balancing frequent but smaller wins from outside bets with occasional higher-paying inside bets.
Online vs. Land-Based French Roulette
Online French roulette and brick-and-mortar games are pretty similar but differ slightly in their table stakes, ambience, and pace, as shown below:
| Features | Land-Based French Roulette | Online French Roulette |
|---|---|---|
| Atmosphere | A genuine casino experience with the opportunity to interact with dealers and fellow players. | Convenient, but less social unless in live dealer mode. |
| Betting Pace | Slower. It takes time to place bets, observe the wheel, and engage in conversation. | RNG controls the game, making it faster and giving you a chance to play more rounds per hour. |
| Betting Options | Standard table + announced bets on racetrack layout. | Includes racetrack, quick-click betting panels, repeat/auto-bet features. |
| Minimum Stakes | Often higher ($5–$10+ per spin). | Lower limits online (as little as $0.10 per spin). |
| Game Variety | Usually one or two tables. | Dozens of French roulette versions, including RNG and live dealer options, with varying limits. |
| Accessibility | Requires visiting a casino. | Available on desktop, mobile, and live streams 24/7. |
✅ Why Play Online French Roulette
Below are the merits and limitations of online French roulette to help you make an informed decision:
Credit: 888Sport
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
|
|
✅ Live Dealer vs. RNG-based Online French Roulette
Live dealer and RNG-based games are great online roulette options, and you’ll have no regret trying any of them. Check the table below to understand what sets the two apart and pick the perfect match for your playing style:
| Feature | Live Dealer French Roulette | RNG-Based French Roulette |
|---|---|---|
| Gameplay | A human dealer spins the wheel from real casino studios | Spins and outcomes are formulaic and computer-generated |
| Experience | Immersive, social, and close to land-based play. | Fast-paced, ideal for solo play. |
| Transparency | You see the wheel and ball spin in real time. | Relies on Random Number Generator (RNG) software. |
| Speed | Slower | Much faster |
| Betting Range | Usually medium to high stakes. | Flexible, from micro-stakes to high roller. |
| Best For | Players seeking authenticity and social interaction. | Players who prefer speed, convenience, and practice. |
RNG-based French roulette games are more flexible, while live dealer games deliver a more authentic experience. I recommend starting with RNG-based roulette to learn the game’s flow and build confidence. Once you have more experience and a comfortable bankroll, move on to live dealer French roulette for a truly immersive experience.
✅ Top Online French Roulette Casinos
Some of our top recommended sites to play roulette online include:
1️⃣ Wazamba
Wazamba offers dozens of French roulette games from top software providers, including NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and Playtech.
Credit: Wazamba
It holds a license from the Curacao Gaming Authority. Wazamba games have stunning graphics, load smoothly, and are available in RNG and live dealer options.
2️⃣ 888Sport
888Sport holds multiple licenses from the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC). It offers several French roulette variants, including tables featuring La Partage and En Prison variants. We appreciate that it offers free demo games, enabling you to familiarise yourself with the table layout before committing your funds. 888Sport’s roulette games also have a wide range of betting limits, making it accessible to players with varying budgets.
3️⃣ William Hill
With a strong French roulette, video poker, and online blackjack roster, William Hill is a top destination for casino table game lovers. It holds top gambling licenses, accepts deposits as low as $5, and operates smoothly on both mobile devices and PCs.
French Roulette Tips from Experienced Players
Indeed, there have been many lucky roulette winners over the years, such as Joseph Jagger, who won $3000,000 by capitalizing on imperfections in the roulette wheel, and Chris Boyd, who doubled a $220,000 stake with an even-money bet on red. However, all these winnings are mere guesses at best.
The key to boosting your edge in roulette is to protect your bankroll, choose your bets wisely, and know when to walk away. Check out some of my favorite bets and betting approaches below:
💡 My Favorite Roulette Bet
After experimenting with different French roulette bets, even money bets remain my personal favorite. They have high winning chances, and I can always get half of my stakes back when the ball lands on zero. I occasionally venture into sector betting too to spice up my adventure.
💡 Bankroll Management Best Practices
By now, you can tell I’m pretty big on protecting my bankroll and playing cautiously. Before I start playing, I set a grand budget which I split into various sessions to spread my luck. If I have a weekly budget of $1000, I’ll split it into $200 across five days. I also set how much I bet per round, e.g $2-$5, and the maximum loss limit after which I take a cooling break.
Additionally, I also set a win margin and a take profit when I reach a 30-40% profit.
💡 Session Tracking and Analysis
Session tracking takes discipline but pays off in the long run. By recording your opening and closing bankroll, bet types, win/loss patterns, and average bet size, you gain clarity on how you actually play. This helps you identify which bets drain your bankroll, which ones work better for you, and whether you’re managing risk effectively.
Conclusion
French roulette offers the most player-friendly rules and lowest house edge, making it the best roulette variant to play. However, remember that roulette is a game of chance where every spin is independent, and no strategy can guarantee a win. Play only with money you can afford to lose. Track your sessions and refine your approach over time to optimize your results. With consistent practice, discipline, and intelligent money management, you’ll put yourself in the best position to enjoy the game and chase your next big win. Good luck!
FAQ
What is French Roulette?
French roulette is a luck-based casino game featuring a wheel with 37 pockets and a ball at its center. To bet on French roulette, you need to place chips on the number or groups of numbers you want to bet on (from 0-36). You can also call on the dealer to place a bet on your behalf.
Can I Win Real Money from French Online Roulette?
Yes, French roulette pays real money if the number the roulette ball falls on matches your bet. A typical French roulette game pays between 35:1 ($35 profit on a $1 stake) when you bet on singles to 2:1 on an even money bet. In slot lingo, French roulette has a standard 97.32% RTP, which increases to 98.6% in even-money bets courtesy of the La Partage and En Prison rules.
What is the Difference Between La Partage and En Prison Rule in French Roulette?
La Partage rules allow you to get back half of your bets when the ball falls on zero in an even money bet. While the En Prison rule states that your bet remains on the table till the next round if the ball falls on zero in the even money bet. You get to win or lose all your bets depending on the outcome of the next round.
Does 0 pay in French Roulette?
Yes, 0 is treated as a number in French roulette, and you can place various bets on 0. The amount that zero pay depends on the bets you place on it. A straight bet on zero pays 35:1, while a split (0-1) and street bet (0-1-2) on zero pays 17:1 and 8:1, respectively.
What are the Most Successful Winning Strategies for French Roulette?
The best practices for boosting your chances in roulette are to place even money bets (red/black, high/low) with high winning odds and use bankroll protection to prolong your gameplay.
What is the Best Bet in French Roulette Online?
My personal favorite and best roulette bet is an even-money bet.
