French Roulette Guide 2026: La Partage Rule, 1.35% House Edge Explained
French Roulette uses the same single-zero wheel as European Roulette but includes two special rules — La Partage and En Prison — that halve the house edge on even-money bets to just 1.35%. This makes French Roulette the best roulette variant for players who favour outside bets.
La Partage Rule
La Partage (French: "the sharing") applies to even-money bets (red/black, odd/even, 1-18/19-36). When the ball lands on zero (0), instead of losing your entire bet, you receive half of it back. This effectively halves the house edge on these bets from 2.70% (European) to 1.35% (French).
En Prison Rule
En Prison (French: "in prison") is an alternative to La Partage at some casinos. When 0 hits on an even-money bet, instead of returning half immediately, your entire bet is "imprisoned" for the next spin. If your bet wins on the next spin, you get your original stake back (no winnings). If it loses again, you lose the entire bet. The expected value of En Prison equals La Partage — both give a 1.35% house edge.
French Roulette vs European vs American
- French Roulette (outside bets) — 1.35% house edge (best)
- European Roulette — 2.70% house edge on all bets
- American Roulette — 5.26% house edge (worst)
French Roulette Bet Layout
French Roulette uses different terminology and layout for betting:
- Pair/Impair — Even/Odd
- Rouge/Noir — Red/Black
- Manque/Passe — 1-18/19-36
- Call bets (Voisins du Zéro, Orphelins, Tiers du Cylindre) — standard racetrack bets
FAQ
- What is the house edge in French Roulette?
- French Roulette with La Partage has a 1.35% house edge on even-money bets — the lowest house edge of any roulette variant. For all other bets (inside bets, dozens, columns), the house edge is 2.70%, same as European roulette.
- Is French Roulette available at online casinos?
- Yes — French Roulette is available at most major online casinos, both as an RNG game and in live dealer format from Evolution Gaming and Playtech.
- What is the difference between La Partage and En Prison?
- Both rules apply to even-money bets when 0 hits. La Partage returns half your bet immediately. En Prison locks your full bet for one more spin — if it wins, you get your stake back with no profit. Both give the same expected value (1.35% house edge).