French Roulette – Master This Wheel Game & Try It Online
10 minutes
Last Updated: November 24, 2023
If you like playing roulette online and want the best value for your bankroll, the French roulette variation is easily among the top choices.
It’s a very interesting roulette game with a few unique rules and exciting bets. Moreover, it can be an even more favorable variation than European roulette.
So, how does French roulette work, and which other variations are closest to it in terms of similarity? We’ll answer these and many more questions all in one place and help you master this exciting wheel-based game!
French Roulette Rules
Before we go into the more advanced aspects, let’s cover the most important basics. French roulette has the same number of pockets on its wheel, numbering 37 of them. This includes numbers from 0 to 36.
The 0 pocket is green, while the remaining 36 numbers are equally divided into 18 black and 18 red pockets. While these numbers don’t follow any sequence on the wheel, each side of the 0 pocket up to the halfway point of the wheel includes nine black numbers and nine red ones.
When playing roulette in a land-based casino, the croupier handles all of the action. When you’re playing French roulette online, you’re controlling every aspect of the game and can play as slow or fast as you want.
What Is The House Edge in French Roulette?
French roulette, alongside European roulette, has the lowest house edge out of all roulette variations. French roulette’s house edge is just 2.70%.
Moreover, unlike casino games like craps, French roulette has the same house edge no matter which bet you place. This makes it a great casino game for those who like to have fun with their bets and experiment.
In addition to its generally low house edge, French roulette even includes some rules that enable you to cut the house edge to an even lower percentage. Rules like La Partage and En Prison help you reduce the house edge to just 1.35%.
Overview of the French Roulette Wheel & Table Layout
French roulette shares a lot of the same visual and gameplay features as European roulette. In fact, the two variations have identical-looking wheels, so you won’t be able to differentiate them just by looking at the wheel.
However, where you can spot the difference is the betting table itself. When playing French roulette, you’ll notice that all the words are in French, not English.
Moreover, some French roulette tables include unusual designs in which the outside bets are literally on the outside of the entire betting table.
In that case, you’d find some even-money betting options on top of the betting table and others at the bottom of it. Still, these differences are purely cosmetic and don’t influence gameplay in any way.
What Bets Can You Make In French Roulette?
French roulette includes all of the bets you’ll find in European and American roulette, only lacking the latter’s basket bet option. With that in mind, all available bets in French roulette are divided into two groups: inside and outside bets.
Inside bets cover wagers placed on individual numbers or small groups of numbers. They offer high payouts but have low winning probabilities. In contrast, outside bets offer much lower payouts but with higher winning probabilities.
This is because outside bets cover larger groups of numbers, most often dividing the entire wheel into two groups you can choose from based on certain classifications.
Outside Bet in French Roulette
Like American and European roulette, this popular roulette variation also includes five types of outside bets. Here are the outside bets you can place when playing French roulette:
Odd/Even
The odd/even bet lets you cover all 18 odd or all 18 even numbers with one wager. It’s an even-money bet that pays 1:1.
However, due to the 0 number being excluded from both bets, the odd/even bet has a winning probability of 48.64%. In French roulette, the odd bet is called Impair, while the even bet is called Pair.
Low/High
The low/high bet divides all of the numbers into two groups. If you bet low, you’ll cover numbers from 1 to 18. If you bet high, you will cover numbers 19 to 16.
As an even-money bet, it has the same winning probability and payout as the odd/even bet. Numbers 1-18 are usually accompanied by the word Manque (low), while the 19-36 box includes the word Passe (high).
Red/Black
The last of the even-money bets in French roulette, the red/black bet pays out 1:1 and has the same 48.64% winning probability as the previous two bets. By betting on one of the two options, you cover all 18 numbers that share the same color.
Like in the two other popular online roulette variations, the red/black bet is marked by appropriately colored areas on the betting board. Most of the time, there’s nothing written on them, but sometimes the boxes will say Noir (black) and Rouge (red).
Columns
Excluding the number 0, the French roulette divides the remaining 36 numbers into three columns of 12 numbers.
Each of the three columns includes numbers increasing by increments of three. For example, the lowest column includes numbers 1, 4, 7, and so on, until 34.
The payout for the column bet is 2:1. Each of the three columns has a 32.4% winning probability.
Dozens
Like the column bet, the dozens bet divides the 36 numbers into three equal groups of 12. However, in this bet, the numbers are grouped based on their value. The first group covers numbers 1 to 12, the second 13 to 24, and the third group covers numbers 25 to 36.
Unlike the European roulette variation, the French version doesn’t include the betting boxes right under the individual numbers on the board. Instead, the three dozens bets are located in the bottom right corner of the betting board.
The bets are listed as P12 (Premier Douzaine, or first dozen), M12 (Moyenne Douzaine, or middle dozen), and D12 (Derniere Douzaine, or last dozen). Each of the three bets pays 2:1 and has a 32.4% winning probability.
Inside Bets in French Roulette
As is the case with the previously listed outside bets, French roulette has the same number of inside bets as European roulette. These include:
Straight-up Bet
The straight-up bet is the easiest bet in roulette, but also arguably one of the worst ones. It includes betting only on one number. If your bet is correct, the payout is 35:1. However, while the payout is very generous, the winning probability is a meager 2.7%.
Split Bet
The split bet is a safe alternative to the straight-up bet, as it covers two adjacent numbers on the French roulette betting board. The winning probability is a significantly more favorable 5.4%, but the payout is cut to 17:1.
Street Bet
The street bet can cover any three numbers located in a row on the French roulette betting table. It has a payout of 11:1 and a winning probability of 8.1%. It’s important to note that the street bet can also include the 0 in two combinations. These are 0, 1, and 2 and 0, 2 and 3.
Corner Bet
The corner bet is a bet that includes four numbers that share a corner on the board. It has a winning probability of 10.8% and a solid payout of 8:1. Like the street bet, it can also include the 0, this time only in one combination of 0, 1, 2, and 3.
Line Bet
The last of the inside bets, the line bet also includes the most numbers out of any in this group. It covers two adjacent rows of three numbers, making six numbers in total. It pays 5:1 and has a 16.2% winning probability.
Announced Bets in French Roulette
Besides the two main groups of bets listed above, French roulette also offers you the option of placing announced or called bets. These are a bit more advanced and cover unique number groups, accompanied by French names.
That said, these bets are still fairly straightforward once you learn your way around them. Here’s a rundown of the announced bets available in French roulette:
Voisins du Zero (Neighbors of Zero)
The Voisins du Zero bet covers a total of 17 numbers, located between numbers 22 and 25 on the French roulette wheel. This includes the numbers 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, and 25.
This is a fairly complex bet, as it includes placing several types of bets. You place one street bet, five split bets, and one corner bet. Of course, in online roulette, you can easily cover all of these groups by clicking on the Voisins du Zero bet option.
Jeu Zero (Zero Game)
Jeu Zero is a narrowed-down version of the previous type of called bet. It covers the zero, two numbers on its right side, and four on its left side.
Like the previous one, it’s a fairly advanced bet that includes several types of bets within itself, as you place three split bets and one straight-up bet.
Le Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel)
As the name implies, this bet covers 12 numbers or one-third of the French roulette wheel. While it’s impossible to place at exactly a third of the numbers, as the wheel has 37 pockets, this bet comes as close to it as possible.
The numbers that this bet includes are 27,13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, and 33. When it comes to placing bets, Le Tiers du Cylindre actually involves placing six split bets.
There are some variations on this that include placing an additional chip for a straight-up bet on some of the numbers.
Orphelins (Orphans)
The Orphelins bet includes the remaining numbers not covered by any of the previous three bets. This includes two groups of numbers located on opposite sides of the wheel. The first group consists of numbers 17, 34, and 6, while the second group includes numbers 1, 20, 14, 31, and 9.
Depending on the online casino you’re playing at, you will have two options in terms of your overall bet amount. You can use a basic Orphelins en Plein version, which basically requires you to place eight straight-up bets, covering each number with at least one chip.
Alternatively, you can place an Orphelins en Cheval bet. In that case, you would place four split bets and one straight-up bet. The splits would cover numbers 6 and 9, 14 and 17, 17 and 20, and 31 and 34, while the only straight-up bet would be placed on 1.
Finales (Final Bets)
Lastly, Finales are bets that cover numbers that end on a matching number. For instance, you can place a Finales 6 bet, which covers the numbers 6, 16, 26, and 36.
n this case, you would need to place at least four chips. However, your bet can vary depending on your choice, as not all options cover the same total of numbers.
Additional French Roulette Casino Rules
Although French roulette is identical to European roulette in almost every way, it does come with some distinct rules you won’t find in the European roulette version.
When playing French roulette, you’ll have two additional player-friendly rules to add to your roulette strategy.
These are the two previously mentioned rules, La Partage and En Prison. Both rules only apply if the ball lands into the 0 pocket after the spin.
En Prison enables you to put your losing even-money bet “in prison” for an additional spin. If your bet wins on the next spin, you will get back the entire amount you previously wagered.
La Partage works similarly, but is arguably even more favorable, as you can get instant money back, albeit less of it. If you placed an even-money bet and the ball landed in the 0 pocket, you will get half of your bet back instantly.
Is French Roulette Worth Playing Online?
With special rules and the addition of announced bets, French roulette might seem like a complicated game at first. However, it won’t take you much time to learn your way around the French roulette wheel.
With this in mind, it’s best to practice the game for free first before playing it for real money. Many online casinos allow you to play French roulette for free in demo mode. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the game without risking any money.
Overall, French roulette is a great variation and a game every roulette fan should try out. It offers plenty of betting options and a very favorable house edge that can be as low as 1.35%.
