French Roulette – Best Guide for UK Players
In the past few decades, the American and European roulette variants have become super popular amongst casino players globally, including the UK. However, many players don’t know that the French roulette is the game’s original version. It was invented by famous French philosopher and mathematician Blaise Pascal in his attempt to create a perpetual motion machine. Despite the drop in popularity, this roulette variant is still a preferred option for many online casino players in the UK, and in this review and guide, we’ll be exploring:
- How to play French roulette
- Rules of the game
- Types of French roulette
- Online French roulette strategies and tips
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How to Play French Roulette Online
French roulette, like American and European variations, is easy to learn and play. You have to place your bets on a chosen number, colour, or option before the dealer spins the wheel. Any French roulette online casino will offer you a layout of different types of bets you can make. After placing your bets, the dealer spins the wheel, and you wait for the ball to stop on one of the numbered pockets. If the ball lands on a number or group of numbers you bet on, you win based on the odds and the size of your bet. So basically:
- Make a card, bank transfer, or e-wallet deposit and place your bets.
- The dealer spins the roulette wheel.
- Wait for the ball to stop.
- Collect your winnings.
French Roulette Terms
Check out the table below to learn the essential terms used in French roulette:
| Terms | Explanation |
|---|---|
| En Plein | This is a roulette French term that describes a bet placed on a single number, predicting the ball to land on a specific number on the wheel. |
| Cheval | These wagers are placed on two adjacent numbers on the roulette wheel. |
| Carré | A corner or four-number bet is placed on a group of four numbers touching each other in a square on the roulette layout. |
| Transversale | Also called street bets, they’re wagers placed on a single row of three numbers. |
| Sixain | A bet on two lines or three numbers next to each other, making six numbers. |
| Roulette | A casino game played with a ball and a spinning wheel with 37 pockets. |
| Tiers | A specific group of numbers (27-33) on the roulette wheel. |
| Voisins | A group of numbers covering one-third of the roulette wheel, including numbers 22 to 25. |
| Orphelins | A section of the wheel covering eight numbers 17,34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, and 9. |
| Finale | Bets placed on numbers that end with the same digit, 14, 34, 24. |
| Croupier | A person in charge of spinning the wheel, dropping the ball, and announcing the winning number. |
| Rien ne va plus | The French term used to announce the end of the betting period, after which the croupier spins the wheel. |
| En prison | A roulette rule that allows players to recover their stake if the ball lands on zero and they made an even-money bet. |
| La Partage | Similar to En Prison, this rule allows players to recover half of their bet if the ball lands on zero. |
| Jeton | A casino chip used by players to place bets on the roulette table. |
| Manque | A group of low numbers (1-18) on the roulette wheel. |
| Passe | A group of high numbers (19-36) on the roulette wheel. |
Advantages of Playing French Roulette
Here are some of the advantages of playing French bets roulette.
- Single Zero. Unlike the American and European variants with a double zero, the French roulette table has a single zero, reducing the house edge and increasing your chance of winning.
- En Prison and La Partage rules. The En Prison rule allows you to keep your even-money bets in prison for the next spin if it lands on pocket zero, while the La Partage rule returns 50% of your wager for even-money bets that land on pocket zero.
- Relatively low house edge. The game has a low house edge boosting your chances of winning.
Additional French Roulette Rules
In addition to the En Prison and La Partage French roulette rules, other rules can help better your chances of winning and your playing experience. They include:
- Call bets. In French roulette, you can place them by verbally announcing them to the dealer rather than using chips. Call bets are unique because they allow players to cover various roulette wheel sections.
- Orphelin bets. French roulette lets players place straight or split bets on a special betting section on the roulette wheel called the Orphelin. This section includes the numbers 17,34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, and 9.
Types of Roulette French Bets
Before you play French roulette online or at a land-based casino, knowing the different bet types is best. Here are the two types of French roulette bets:
Inside Bets
These are bets placed on numbers in the centre field of the French roulette table layout. They include:
- Straight bet. A straight bet is a simple bet placed on a single number. In French roulette, these could be any number from 0-36. Straight bets pay the most and are the riskiest.
- Split bet. This bet is made by placing the chip on the line between the two numbers and is won when the ball stops at either of the numbers. They have odds of 17/1.
- Street bet. This is a bet on a row of three numbers where the player wins if the ball stops on any of the numbers after the spin, and payouts are 11-1 for successful wagers.
- Corner bet. This is a bet on any four numbers that form a square on the roulette table and has an odds of 8-1.
- Line bet. Also called the Sixain bet, the Line bet is placed on two rows with three numbers each, making six numbers. It has a payout of 5-1 for winning bets.
Outside Bets
In French roulette, outside bets provide a range of betting options covering broader outcomes like red/black or odd/even, offering higher winning probabilities. Let’s take a closer look at their variations:
- Column bet. A bet is placed on one of the three vertical columns in the roulette table, with each column having 12 numbers.
- Douzaine = Dozen bet. This bet is placed on one of the three sets of 12 numbers. There are three dozen on a roulette table: 1-12, 13-24, and 25-36.
- Rouge/Noir = Red/Black bet. This is a bet on whether the ball will land in a black or red number. It has a payout of 1-1.
- Pair/Impair = Odd/Even bet. This is an even-money bet on whether the ball will land on an even or odd number. It also has a payout of 1-1.
- Manque/Passe = Low/High bet. A money bet on a ball landing on a low number(1-18) or a high number (19-36).
French Roulette Wheel Explained
The French roulette wheel is one of the most popular variants of the classic game and is being played in hundreds of casinos worldwide. There are multiple versions of French roulette, and they all feature the same layout.
- Like other roulette wheels, the French roulette wheel is a spinning wheel with 37 numbered pockets. These pockets are numbered 0-36, with pockets 1-36 having either red or black colours. The pocket numbered zero is green in colour.
- The wheel’s design is standard across European casinos, offering players better odds than the American counterpart due to the single zero.
- Players place bets on various combinations of numbers or colours, and the croupier spins the wheel, releasing a small ball in the opposite direction. The ball eventually settles in one of the pockets, determining the winning bets.
French Roulette Online Table
The numbers on the wheel are thoughtfully arranged in three columns on the table layout. Each column boasts 12 numbers, coloured in either red or black, except for the green number zero. The arrangement follows a specific order, with even numbers being followed by odd numbers.
Inside bets are placed on the areas inside the number columns. These bets are placed on single numbers or a group of numbers. Outside the columns are boxes for outside bets, and the wordings are in French.
While you might occasionally find French roulette slots or Live French roulette games that have them translated, this is rare. Instead of Low/High bets, you might see Manque/Passe and also Impair/Pair in place of Odd/Even. Also, Rouge/Noir is sometimes used to describe red/black.
There’s also the racetrack, a separate area that allows placing bets on specific sections of the wheel like a Voisins Du Zero bet that covers a series of numbers close to zero and the Orphelins bet that covers numbers on either side of the wheel. These bets are known as call bets and are mostly announced to the dealer instead of using the chips on the table.
French Roulette Strategy and Tips
Like most casino games, the French roulette game can be a great way to have fun and make extra cash, but this is only possible when you play it right. Here are some expert-recommended strategies and tips to help you beat French roulette odds and win more.
Play Outside Bets
Outside bets in a French roulette casino refer to the bets placed on larger sections of the roulette wheel instead of single numbers. Focus on outside bets like Manque/Passe, Impair/Pair, and Rouge/Noir. These bets cover larger sections of the wheel and offer higher chances of winning, making them less risky than single-number bets.
Use the En Prison Rule
By removing zero as a potential losing outcome, the En Prison rule can help reduce the house edge on even money bets from 2.7% to 1.35%, significantly increasing your chances of winning. Furthermore, it gives you a 50/50 chance to win the bet on your next spin, so our experts recommend you use the En prison rule to boost your odds.
Practice
There are dozens of sites offering French roulette free play to help you practise and improve your playing skills. These free French roulette games are a great way to familiarise yourself with the game’s rules and try different strategies without risking real money. Our expert recommends taking advantage of these French roulette free online games to master the game, hone your skills, and build a plan.
Consider Combination Bets
Combination bets are wagers that cover multiple numbers on the roulette wheel. These bets offer higher potential payouts compared to even money bets because you’re covering multiple numbers. Some examples are the Voisins du Zero and Tiers du Cylindre bets that cover a total of 17 numbers (zero and the seven numbers on each side) and one-third of the wheel (12 numbers between 27 and 33), respectively. These bets offer lower winning probability and increased risk but can be greatly rewarding.
Bankroll Management
To avoid losing money, you must create a budget and stick to that budget while playing at French roulette casinos. Our experts recommend that you only play with what you can afford to lose and never try to chase losses.
French Roulette Online Odds and Payouts
French roulette has different bet types. The table below shows their payouts and probability.
| Type of Bet | Bet Payout | Bet Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Plein (Straight) | 35/1 | 2.7% |
| Cheval (Split) | 17/1 | 5.4% |
| Transversale (Street) | 11/1 | 8.1% |
| Carré (Corner) | 8/1 | 10.8% |
| Colonne (Column) | 2/1 | 32.4% |
| Douzaine (Dozen) | 2/1 | 32.4% |
| Rouge/Noir (Red/Black) | 1/1 | 48.6% |
| Impair/Pair (Odd/Even) | 1/1 | 48.6% |
| Manque/Passe (Low/High) | 1/1 | 48.6% |
The type of bet you choose will heavily depend on your playing style and betting strategy. Before you make a choice, ensure the odds align with your bankroll strategy and that you’re capable of taking the risks.
Difference Between French, European, and American Roulette
Here are the significant differences between French, European, and American roulette.
| Roulette | Wheel | Table Layouts | Differences in Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| French Roulette | 37 pockets (1-36, 0) |
Impair/Pair | En Prison and La Partage rules |
| Cheval | Unique call bets like “Voisins du zéro” and “Tiers du cylindre” | ||
| Plein | |||
| European Roulette | 37 pockets (1-36, 0) |
Odd/Even | No special rules |
| Split | “Call Bets” such as “Neighbors.” | ||
| Straight | |||
| American Roulette | 38 pockets (1-36, 0, 00) |
Odd/Even | No special rules |
| Split | Basket bet (0, 00, 1, 2, 3) | ||
| Straight |
The terminology can be also considered one of the most recognisable differences between the roulettes. They all have distinct wordings on their table layouts due to their diverse origins. For example, Odd/Even in American is Impair/Pair in French, Split is Cheval, and Straight is Plein.
French roulette real money games feature two unique rules called En Prison and La Partage. These rules remove zero as a potential losing outcome in even-money bets and reduce the house edge to 1.35%.
The wheel designs in the three variants are another critical differentiation point affecting winning odds.
- French. 37 pockets with numbers 1-36 in red or black and a single green one with zero.
- American. 38 pockets, including an extra green one with double zero (00).
The extra green pocket in American roulette gives it a higher house edge than the other two variants. The house edge in French and European roulette is 2.7%, while that of American roulette is 5.26%.
