French Roulette

The roulette game isn’t just bound to one idea or one type of design. There are many variants and one of the biggest propagators of this comes from the French roulette version. In our pursuit to bring you the very best casino games in the UK, we had to make room for such a classic. Roulette is an iconic game and it is one of many that helps to make us a big online casino UK competitor. For this game guide to French roulette, we will be covering all the must-know information from the game’s history, down to the formats of playing French roulette as a live game or one that is digital. Ready for a bit of ‘Oh la la’ added to your gaming experience?

History of French Roulette

Roulette is a hybrid that took elements of an Italian game called Biribi and with it added a wheel which gives it the French element of the game. This all happened back in the 18th century, but at this stage, the roulette game is more commonly known as European roulette, so when did the transition come to being just French roulette? Well, there is no actual recorded date for this addition to the standard roulette game, but it would still have been within the 18th century. There are a number of traits to the game that didn’t transfer over into the American adaption, so French Roulette is a complete one-off that comes with some favourable features.

Rules of French Roulette

If you have played roulette before in its other variant formats, then you will know by now that the rules of play do not change with the French name. The ease of play of the game is why players keep on returning. Now, for those that have not yet played any roulette of any kind and have not branded themselves as online roulette UK players, then let’s explain how the rules work.

The aim of the game is to correctly predict the outcome of the roulette wheel. You have 37 numbers to pick from, you have two colours, high/low numbers, you can make group bets, and you can bet on odd or even. The outcome is decided by a ball that is placed into the wheel as it spins. Once the wheel slows, the ball will settle in a numbered and coloured pocket. If your bet matches where the ball lands, you then win a payout.

Now, this is the universal aim of any roulette game, however, with the French version, there are some additional rules that the player might benefit from.

La Partage Rule

In English, this bet means The Divide. This betting option is only open to even money bets. These are bets on Odd or Even, Red or Black, 1 to 18, and 19 to 36. If you place your money on any of these even money bets and the ball lands on the green zero, only then do you trigger the La Partage rule. When this happens, half of your stake is returned. With a rule like this in place, it changes the dynamic of the house edge, reducing it from 2.7% down to 1.35%

En Prison Rule

The En Prison rule might be offered by variants as a substitute for the La Partage rule. In the instance of this betting outcome, should you make an evens money bet and loses by landing on zero, this time half of your stake is kept by the dealer, and it remains in play for another spin. Thusly, keeping it ‘in prison’ for another go. Should you win the next spin, then you are paid out in full. The reduction to the house edge with this rule takes it down to 1.38%.

French Roulette Wheel

The French roulette wheel is the same as the one used in European variants. It carries the same single green zero and 36 alternating red and black coloured pockets. While there is no change to the roulette wheel French tables do have a minor alteration from the other variants and this is the positioning of the Outside Bet boxes.

French Roulette Bet Types

The glory of the roulette game in any of its amazing formats allows you to make so many different kinds of bets. There are two main betting groups known as the Inside Bets and the Outside Bets. Within them, several options allow you to spread your bets across the entire area of the table.

Inside Bets

The Inside Bets are formed by selecting any of the numerical options. You can bet on any number 0 to 36, you can place one single number bet, or multiple single number bets. Or else, you can group your bets into pairs, threes, fours, six, and 12 numbers.

Straight/Single

The Straight bet is the single number option that can just be one or multiple single numbers. This bet comes with the highest of all the odds in the game as it pays out at 35 to 1 if your bet is correct. At the same time, it is the hardest bet to guess correctly.

Split

The Split bet enables you to cover two numbers that must be adjacent to each other. A simple example of this is betting on numbers 1 and 2. You will place your chip on the dividing line between them for it to count. Make sure the chip is half on 1 and half on 2. You can make multiple bets like this, pairing as many as you like across the table.

Street

The Street bet is also known as the line bet, and it covers 3 numbers. If you look at the roulette table horizontally, the columns of numbers are what you bet on. An example of this would be numbers 4, 5, and 6. To make this bet, you must place the chip in the bottom line which number 4 sits on. Make sure this chip is half off the number 4. You can make multiple Street bets across the table to help hedge your bet.

Corner/Square

To cover four numbers, you opt to play the Corner or Square bet. This grouped betting is for adjacent numbers only and an example of this would be betting on numbers 4, 5, 7, and 8. You will place your chip central to all four numbers for the bet to count. You can make as many Corner bets across the table as you want.

Trio

The Trio bet works exclusively with the Zero number. This bet covers two different options, all depending on where you place your chip. You can bet on 0, 2, and 3, with your chip, placing half over the divide between 3 and 2 and half over 0. Alternatively, there is the option of 0, 1, and 2. Place your chip half over the dividing line of 1 and 2 and half into the 0 space.

Four-Number

The Four-Number bet allows you to bet on 1, 2, 3, and 0. Place your chip on the bottom line between 1 and 0, so that it is half off the two numbers but also half on them both.

Six-Line

This Six-Line bet is also known as the Double Street bet as it is a rendition of the Street bet. This bet covers 6 numbers, formed of two columns. An example of this bet would be selecting numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Your chip would be placed on the bottom line central to numbers 1 and 4, and half on both.

Outside bets

The outside bets of the roulette game cover all other areas of the table. It allows you to make larger grouped bets of 12 numbers, and it allows you to bet on other elements of the game. The Outside Bet all carry lower risk odds with even money bets being an option.

Column Bet

The Column bet covers 12 numbers and there are three rows available as betting options. You have the numbers that are rowed from 1 to 34, those that go from 2 to 35, and the row from 3 to 36. As you can see at the ends of each there is the betting box of 2 to 1 where you place your betting chip. The numbers of the columns go as follows:

Dozen Bet

This is another option that covers 12 numbers. There are three areas of play with this betting option. On the table, you have 1st 12 which covers numbers 1 to 12. Then there is 2nd 12 which covers numbers 13 to 24 and lastly the 3rd 12, which goes from 25 to 36. Place your chip within any of the three boxes to cover these grouped numbers.

Even or Odd

For this bet, you are predicting whether the ball will land on a number that is either odd or even. Place your chip on either the odd space or the even space.

Red or Black

For this bet, you are predicting whether the ball will land within a black or red pocket on the wheel. Place your chip on either the black or red areas.

1 to 18

Known as the low bet, this covers numbers 1 to 18, and your chip should be placed on this box to make the bet.

19 to 36

Known as the high bet, this covers numbers 19 to 36, and your chip should be placed on this box to make the bet.

Racetrack/Call Bets

The optional betting doesn’t end there. With the French variants, you will discover an additional side bet feature that is known as the Racetrack. This covers grouped betting of numbers that are in relation to the French roulette wheel layout. This is different from the table bets (inside and outside). This is all about the relationship of numbers on the wheel and where they are in relation to green zero.

Voisins du zéro

Meaning Neighbours of Zero, this bet covers the numbers 22, 18, 29, 7, 26, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, and 25.

Tiers du Cylindre

Thirds of the Wheel is the translation of this bet, and it will cover the numbers 33, 16, 24, 5, 10, 23, 8, 30, 11, 36, 13, and 27.

Orphelins

The Orphans bet covers the numbers left over, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 and 17, 34, and 6.

Finale

This bet is a bit niche and not as commonly known as the other special bets. For this, you are picking the numbers on the table that hold the same ending digit. An example of this is 2, 12, 22, and 32. Another would be 6, 16, 26, and 36.

Difference Between Announced and Call Bets

Announced bets are those that are played upon the racetrack option. When you make a call bet, it doesn’t lead you to putting any chips down. This process of play is not important to online gambling and is more for games set in real-world casinos because a call bet works on the premise of credit between the player and the casino.

French Roulette’s Odds

As we have detailed the types of different bets that can be played during French roulette, here is a tabled look at the odds and payouts of the bets that you can refer back to when playing.

French Roulette’s House Edge

The house edge is the distinct advantage the casino has over the game. With French roulette, that edge comes in at a score of 2.7% with just the base game. However, if the game allows you to play En Prison or La Partage bets, then the edge reduces in favour of the player to scores of 1.35% with Partage and 1.38% with Prison.

When these bets are allowed, French roulette becomes the best variant to play. If not, then it shares the same low base game percentage as European roulette. The highest is that of American roulette which has an edge of 5.26% because of its additional 00 number.

French Roulette Betting Systems & Tips

Do we have any handy French roulette tips to pass on? Well, yes. The best tip is to bet sensibly and to only engage with the game if you are financially able to support your gaming. These are the only tips that are sound. If you are after some magical French roulette strategy to help you find success, then they do not exist. However, there are strategies that can help you out but they are not a guarantee to winning.

Many strategies appear online to help players, but despite the promises you will read about them, the fact of the matter is if any one of them worked successfully, then roulette would have been removed from casinos long ago.

Martingale System

The Martingale method is the most common system used, mainly because players play this system without knowing it. The system works by increasing your wager each time you lose. And when you win, you restart back to the first initial wager amount. The idea is that at some point you will win, and by increasing the bet value, you will make up for the losses. Now, the flaw in the plan is the assumption that you will win. Where is the line drawn to keep increasing bets if no win is forthcoming? It’s a strategy that makes sense but simply doesn’t guarantee anything.

Fibonacci System

The Fibonacci method is an expensive betting process because, like the famous Fibonacci sequence, your betting amount drastically increases. For this system you increase on losses but in this pattern: start bets with a unit of £1, if you lose, increase to £2, then £3, and then on to £5, then £8, then £13, and then £21… and so on in the manner of the Fibonacci sequence. If you hit a losing streak, this really does add up and there is no guarantee that wins cover the losses. It’s an expensive way to play which is not sensible gaming practice.

Paroli System

The Paroli method is deemed to be the more complicated of all the systems. It is deemed as ‘positive betting’ which means only playing with the profit you make. Now, the clear flaw comes about if no profit is made. The system is dependent on wins, an example of this would be to make a £10 bet, if you win, make another £10 bet, if you win again, the next is £20, and so on. It’s designed to make sense, so players try it but like all others, the system talks a good game but fails to guarantee anything.

D’Alembert System

This method of betting is for players who do not want to take a greater gamble. This system of betting focuses on the odds-on bets that roulette provides. With this, you increase your stake by 1 unit for each loss and you decrease it by 1 when you win. The reverse D’Alembert system decreases on losses and increases with wins. As these are for odds only provided by the outside bets, you will find that it’s not a cost-effective way of playing.

James Bond System

This system is selling a dream based on a character's name. The method works on making three bets and alternating them while wagering the same values each time. The first of three bets is the high numbers between 19 and 36. You then stake on a double street and make your final bet on green zero. The theory is about covering as many options as possible than most ‘normal’ bets. It won’t guarantee you hitting the targets you want.

Popular French Roulette Variations

The dynamics of online French roulette can be experienced at Britain Play through several variants. The racetrack even appears in games with the European title, which by definition automatically makes it French Roulette.

Switch Studios Three Wheel Roulette

Experience the roulette game with three times the opportunity of winning, with Switch Studios Three Wheel Roulette. This RNG game will spin three roulette wheels to cover your set of bets. It’s a dynamic and crazy way to play with huge odds stacked in your favour compared to most other RNG tables.

G.Games’s European Roulette Platinum

The game is sold as European Roulette, but the Platinum feature is what makes this game 100% French.

Difference Between Live French Roulette & Online French Roulette

Should you be playing live roulette or just sticking with RNG digital tables? Well, at Britain Play we encourage you to experience both. There is plenty of entertainment to go around. Here are the pros and cons of each format.

Why Play French Roulette at Britain Play

We do our utmost to provide our members with the highest quality of games and services to make experiences memorable and without any hassle. We supply over 1500 casino games, French roulette just being one of the options. The game along with many others come produced by award-winning software developers. To support your play, we provide a constant stream of player promotions. These can include free spins and cash credit. Plus, members of Britain Play can enjoy our Trophies service which is a rewards programme that sets up challenges for you to complete so you can spin the Mega Reel bonus game. You can also benefit from efficient deposits and withdrawals at Britain Play and signing up is easy.

French Roulette FAQs

If you are new to roulette as a game and French roulette as a variant, you are not the first. Many questions have been raised by our members in the past and here we present the most commonly asked questions about the French roulette game and the answers that might also help you with any query you might so far have.