French Roulette Explained: Everything a New Player Needs

Built around the same single-zero wheel as European Roulette, French Roulette adds two special rules that make it uniquely player-friendly: La Partage and En Prison. When zero appears, these rules can return part or all of an eligible stake instead of treating it as a full loss.

Planning to play at Shakebet? This guide gives you a clear, fun introduction to the game. You’ll learn how a round works, what each special rule does, and where the main betting options fit on the table.

You’ll also get a balanced look at French Roulette, European Roulette, and American Roulette, so you can understand the game before placing your first chip.

French Roulette at a Glance

At its core, French Roulette uses 37 pockets: numbers 1 through 36 plus one zero. It shares this wheel with European Roulette, but special table rules can lower the house edge on even-money bets when the ball lands on zero.

The word “French” describes the format, not where you need to play. This game is available at online casinos around the world, including Shakebet, where you can explore the full game list once you know what to look for.

What truly defines French Roulette is its rule set, not its location.

How a Round Actually Unfolds

Each French Roulette round starts when the betting window opens. Choose your wager, then place chips on a number, colour, or betting section before the dealer announces, “No more bets.”

The wheel begins spinning as the ball circles in the opposite direction. After a few exciting loops, the ball drops into one numbered pocket and reveals the winning result.

Winning wagers are paid according to their listed odds, while losing chips are swept from the layout. The same sequence applies to European Roulette and live tables, making it easy to follow when you try the game with a real dealer.

The important twist comes when zero lands on an eligible even-money bet.

The Two Protections Unique to French Roulette

Two special rules make this game especially interesting: La Partage and En Prison. They apply when zero lands on eligible even-money bets, including red or black, odd or even, and low or high.

When zero appears, La Partage cuts the loss in half. Place £10 on black, and a zero result returns £5 to you while the remaining £5 is lost.

Your full stake gets one more chance with En Prison. The £10 stays on the table for the next spin. If your bet wins, the original £10 comes back without extra winnings; if it loses again, the entire stake is lost.

Most casinos provide either La Partage or En Prison, not both. That is why French Roulette offers a lower house edge on qualifying bets.

Rules can vary from table to table, especially in physical casinos. Check the rules card and online game details, then review Shakebet’s active promotions to see what is currently running alongside your preferred even-money betting style.

Placing Your Chips on the Table

The roulette layout offers two main betting categories: inside bets and outside bets. They are arranged much like the betting layout used in European Roulette.

Inside bets focus on specific numbers, while outside bets cover broader groups. Let’s look at each type before exploring the announced bets that give French Roulette its distinct traditional style.

Betting on the Number Grid

Inside bets go directly onto the numbered part of the table. You can choose one number or create a small cluster, with bigger payouts available when your selection wins.

Common inside bets include:

• Straight Up: Covers one number
• Split: Covers two numbers
• Street: Covers three numbers
• Corner: Covers four numbers
• Line: Covers six numbers

The trade-off is easy to remember: covering fewer numbers usually means a higher payout, while covering more numbers lowers the potential return.

Betting on the Outer Sections

Outside bets are placed around the edge of the layout and cover wider groups of numbers. They normally offer smaller payouts, but your chosen result has more ways to win.

The main outside bets are:

• Red/Black
• Odd/Even
• High/Low
• Dozens
• Columns

When zero appears, La Partage or En Prison can protect the three even-money options: Red/Black, Odd/Even, and High/Low.

Calling Out Wheel-Based Bets

Known as announced, or “call” bets, these selections were traditionally spoken to the dealer, who placed the chips. Some roulette wagers are built around the wheel’s physical layout rather than the numbered grid. This traditional European-style approach groups nearby pockets into named selections.
Common wheel-based bets include:

• Voisins du Zéro: The 17 pockets around zero
• Tiers du Cylindre: 12 pockets on the arc opposite zero
• Orphelins: Numbers outside the Voisins and Tiers sections
• Jeu Zéro: A tighter group immediately surrounding zero
• Finales en Plein or à Cheval: Numbers with the same final digit

Online games often recreate the experience with a racetrack-style betting area. They do not improve the mathematical odds. Instead, they offer a fun, wheel-based way to organise your choices.

French, European, or American — Which Wins?

The best choice depends on the wheel, the table rules, and the types of bets you enjoy. French Roulette and European Roulette both use 37 pockets: numbers 1–36 plus one zero.

That means their standard house edge is identical on most bets. French Roulette’s real advantage comes from La Partage or En Prison, which can reduce losses on eligible even-money wagers when zero appears.

American Roulette uses 38 pockets because it includes both zero and double zero. This gives the casino a higher edge across every standard bet, with no equivalent protection rule.

The simple takeaway is:

• Prefer French Roulette if you enjoy even-money bets and want the added protection of La Partage or En Prison.
• Expect the same odds from French and European Roulette on other bet types.
• Choose a single-zero wheel over American Roulette if you want to avoid its higher house edge.

A Quick Look at Other Wheel Types

Most players will first encounter French, European, or American Roulette. These are the three core formats, each with its own wheel layout, pocket count, and rules.

A few less common versions may also appear on casino sites:

• Mini Roulette: Uses a smaller wheel with fewer numbered pockets
• Multi-wheel Roulette: Spins several wheels at the same time from one set of bets

These games can make roulette feel fresh, but they are far less common than the main three variants. Before placing a chip, check the number of pockets, payouts, and any special rules so you know exactly how the game works.

Breaking Down the House Edge 

The house edge shows the casino’s mathematical advantage over a large number of spins. French Roulette and European Roulette share the same standard edge: 2.70% on most bets. 

The difference appears on eligible even-money bets. When La Partage or En Prison is active, French Roulette’s edge drops to 1.35%. European Roulette generally stays at 2.70%, while American Roulette has a higher edge because of its double zero.

The key lesson is easy to remember: if you prefer red/black, odd/even, or low/high bets, French Roulette can offer a lower long-term edge.

Playing Smarter, Not Harder

Smart roulette play is about understanding the rules, managing your budget, and avoiding promises of guaranteed wins. Every spin is independent, so no system can change the underlying odds.

The tips below focus on French Roulette, while other options, including slot games, can also add variety alongside table games.

Stick to Even-Money Bets

French Roulette’s biggest mathematical benefit appears only on even-money wagers. When La Partage or En Prison is available, these bets are the ones that can receive protection if zero lands.

Your main options are: Red or Black, Odd or Even and High or Low

Inside bets do not receive the same benefit. Even-money bets cannot guarantee a win, but they let you make practical use of the rule that sets French Roulette apart.

Don’t Chase Recent Spins

Seeing the same number several times does not make it less likely to appear next. Every spin is independent, so earlier results have no influence on the outcome that follows.

A results board can be fun to watch, but apparent patterns cannot predict the next pocket. Avoid increasing your stake because a number feels “due.”

Systems Work the Same Way Here

Martingale, Fibonacci, and similar systems adjust how much you bet; they do not change the wheel’s odds. The same potential rewards and risks apply in French Roulette as in other roulette formats.

La Partage and En Prison work most naturally with steady stakes on qualifying even-money bets. Aggressive progressions can make losses grow quickly, and the protection only applies to eligible wagers.

Set a budget and treat any system as a staking method, not a guaranteed winning plan.

A Bit of Roulette Trivia

Often seen as the starting point for modern roulette, French Roulette came before the American version introduced a second zero. That extra pocket changed the wheel and increased the casino’s mathematical advantage.

The classic French terms still travel well, too. Names such as Voisins, Orphelins, and Tiers remain familiar at online casinos worldwide, even outside French-speaking markets.

Some platforms or even Shakebet Casino may include a free spin offer, which can be a fun way to explore the game before using your own money. Check the terms and conditions carefully before claiming one.

Playing on a Mobile Device

Mobile French Roulette should be easy to read and comfortable to play, never crowded or confusing. Choose a game with clear numbers, responsive controls, and enough room to explore the racetrack area for announced bets.

A smooth wheel animation is also important, particularly when using regular mobile data. Before placing a wager, open the information panel to check whether La Partage or En Prison is included.

Once everything feels easy to navigate, check whether a suitable sign-up bonus is available. Read the terms before claiming it, then enjoy the game responsibly on the go

Why the Discount Sticks to Even-Money Bets Only

Red/Black, Odd/Even, and High/Low all pay at a simple 1:1 rate. That clear structure makes it easy to apply special protection when zero appears.

With La Partage, half the stake is returned. En Prison takes another route by holding the full stake for one additional spin. Both rules work neatly because the original wager has a flat payout.

Higher-paying bets, such as 8:1 or 35:1 selections, do not follow the same straightforward format. They cannot receive an equivalent half-refund or extra-spin adjustment. 

That is why French Roulette’s advantage applies specifically to even-money bets, not to the game as a whole.

Where Announced Bets Fit Into the Picture

Announced bets are not a separate type of roulette wheel. They are groups of inside bets arranged around a particular section of the wheel, such as Voisins du Zéro or Tiers du Cylindre.

Rather than selecting numbers by their position on the table grid, you choose a wheel-based sector. The individual wagers still use inside-bet payouts, so they do not pay the flat 1:1 rate offered by even-money bets.

That distinction matters because La Partage and En Prison apply only to qualifying 1:1 wagers. Wheel-based betting and even-money protection are two different parts of French Roulette.

French Roulette FAQ