The Comprehensive Guide to French Roulette: Rules, Strategy, and Tips

French Roulette has its roots in 17th-century France, evolving from earlier games of chance that utilized spinning wheels. The game grew in popularity throughout Europe, especially in French casinos.

Including the zero and specific betting options such as "Voisins du Zero" helped define its unique character. French Roulette became a symbol of sophistication and has maintained its allure today, both in physical casinos and online platforms.

French Roulette is played with a wheel containing 37 numbered pockets and a ball. Players bet on the number, color, or section where the ball will land. Inside bets include straight-up, split, street, and more, while outside bets cover red/black, odd/even, and high/low. The "La Partage" rule and "Announced Bets" are unique to French Roulette, which allow more intricate wagering.

The game begins with placing bets, spinning the wheel, and announcing the winning number. Winning bets are paid according to specific ratios, depending on the type of wager.

Different layout?

One of the first things that you'll notice about French roulette is that the layout is a little different to what you've become accustom to with American or European roulette. The roulette wheel is located in the centre with a layout on either side and the entire board is red. However, half of the numbers, 1 to 36, are not actually physically colored black on the table but they are still regarded as black. It seems that the French simply prefer an all red table for some reason. The numbers on the French roulette wheel still alternate between black and red just like on all other roulette wheels.

Different rules?

French Roulette is played in exactly the same way as European Roulette as it also only has a single zero on the wheel. There are, however, a few rule variations which you should be aware of before you begin.

For instance, the rule of 'La Partage' provides you a significant statistical advantage which are you are not afforded in other roulette variations. According to the rule of La Partage, you lose only half of your bet, not all of it, if you place an even money bet on a single number and the ball lands on zero. This rule operates in a similar way to the En Prison rule in European roulette.

Call Bets

In the French roulette variation, you have the chance to make 'call bets' (or 'called bets'). These are bets which can be placed according to the numbers as they appear on the roulette wheel, rather than the roulette table.

Voisins du Zero (Neighbors of Zero): A bet on the 17 numbers on the wheel that surround zero (including the zero) which are 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2 and 25.

Tiers du Cylindre (Third of the Wheel): A bet on the 12 numbers that reside on the opposite side of the wheel from the zero which are 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16 and 33.

Orphelins (Orphans): A bet on the remaining 8 numbers on the wheel that are not included in the previous two bets which are 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, and 34.

Finales en Plein: A bet on all numbers that end in the same digit, for example, 3, 13, 23 and 33.

Finales a Cheval: A bet on all numbers that end in any two chosen digits, for example, 3, 13, 23, 33, 4, 14, 24 and 34. 

Strategy in French Roulette revolves around understanding the betting layout and available options. Players should know the "La Partage" rule, which lowers the house edge on even-money bets. Utilizing the "Announced Bets" can provide more strategic depth.

It's crucial to manage one's bankroll and choose bets wisely, considering the risks and rewards of each option. Practicing the game in free casino games sections can also help develop a robust playing strategy.

French Roulette payouts vary based on the bet type:

• Straight-up: 35:1
• Split: 17:1
• Street: 11:1
• Corner: 8:1
• Line: 5:1
• Column/Dozen: 2:1
• Even/Odd, Red/Black, Low/High: 1:1 The "La Partage" rule also impacts payouts, returning half of the stake on losing even-money bets if the ball lands on zero. Understanding these payouts is essential to effective betting and gameplay.

French Roulette is not just a game of chance; it's filled with fascinating quirks and details that contribute to its charm. Here are some intriguing facts:

1. "Roulette" means "little wheel" in French.
2. The "La Partage" rule is unique to French Roulette, offering a distinct advantage to players.
3. Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician, is credited with inventing an early version of Roulette.
4. French Roulette is often referred to as the "Queen of Casino Games."
5. The sum of all numbers on the French Roulette wheel is 666, often referred to as the "Number of the Beast."
6. French casinos in the 19th century popularized this variant, leading to its global spread.
7. The Monte Carlo Casino helped widely adopt the single-zero variant, known today as French Roulette.
8. French Roulette's betting layout offers unique wagering opportunities like "Orphelins" and "Tiers."
9. This variant's lower house edge has made it a favorite among strategic players.
10. Modern technology has brought French Roulette to online platforms, maintaining its traditional elegance while making it accessible to a global audience.

Whatever the reasons, it certainly has a rich history. The game has adapted to the modern age while retaining its classic style. The most striking difference between the French and American versions is the table layout and the betting odds.

Like European Roulette and unlike American Roulette, the French version displays only a single zero.

Both the colours of the numbers of a standard French Roulette table are adorned in white. All other numbers with the exception of 0 and 00 on anAmerican Roulette table are either black or red. But beyond that, it is also the positioning of the numbers that differs.

Betting odds in French Roulette

When it comes to wagers, French Roulette definitely stands head and shoulders above its transatlantic sibling. There is an interesting phenomenon that occurs in this version - especially when 0 comes up. It's called the La Partage rule. Players will only lose half of their even-money wagers when the silver ball lands in the 0 slot. And it cuts the house edge to 1.35%. 
A French table

The layout of the French Roulette table differs from that of the American Roulette table. An obvious difference is the positioning of the side bets. On French Roulette tables these side bets are split in two and they run along either side of the table layout. Further, they are labeled in French with the occasional English translation beneath.