Among the variants of roulette available at your favourite online casino site you might notice French Roulette. This is a unique version of this game that, while similar to European Roulette, adds a couple of unique rules to the proceedings. These are known as “La Partage” and “En Prison,” and can affect the odds in your favour! Ready to learn more? Then continue reading this blog post to discover everything you need to know.
The Roulette Basics: European, American, and French
Before we get into the rules, we should first define what makes roulette European or American. This boils down to one main difference - the number of pockets on the wheel. In fact, European roulette employs a wheel that features 36 red and black pockets numbered from 1 to 36 plus one green 0 pocket. American roulette, on the other hand, also has 36 numbered pockets but it adds a second green 0 pocket, typically labelled 00, meaning the game has a total of 38 pockets.
The addition of a pocket affects the odds of the game in a pretty dramatic way. European roulette is a game with a fairly generous house edge of 2.7%.The house edge is almost doubled in American roulette, as it is 5.26%. This is due to the second zero pocket! As such, whenever possible it’s always more worth it to play European roulette instead of the American version.
Now you’ll be asking what makes French roulette, well, French. This is the addition of two unique rules - La Partage and En Prison. Let’s take a closer look at these and see what they involve next.
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The La Partage Rule
The first special French roulette rule we’re going to tackle is La Partage. The term means “to divide” in French, and it refers to how this rule actually slices the house edge in favour of the player. Here’s how it works - if you place an even money bet (as in a bet that pays 1:1, such as red/black, odd/even, or high/low) and the ball lands on the zero you’ll receive half your bet back. Simple, right?
The effect of this rule not only softens the hit on your pockets, but also the house edge. While the house edge of regular European roulette, as we mentioned above, is set at 2.7%, the La Partage rule in French roulette reduces it even further to 1.35%. This makes it even more generous as it reduces the risks involved when the ball lands in the zero.
En Prison Rule
En Prison Rule
Our next French roulette rule is En Prison, which as you might have guessed it indeed involves a prison. Specifically this is a prison for your bet, as this rule states that if the ball lands on the zero when you make an even money bet (so the likes of red/black, odd/even, and high/low that pay 1:1) then your stake will remain in play for the next spin. Thus the “prison,” as your bet will be imprisoned on the table!
What happens should this next spin lead to a win? In this case you’ll receive your bet back, without the winnings. If the spin results in a loss or another zero then your bet will go to the house. Either way like La Partage, the En Prison rule further slashes the house edge of French roulette, bringing it down to 1.35%.
Comparing La Partage with En Prison
The La Parage and En Prison sound similar - and both lead to the same house edge of 1.35%. Is there any way to figure out which one is the best? We’re not sure about that one so we’re going to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the two so you can decide for yourself.
The Similarities of the La Partage and En Prison Rules
As you can see above, there are two main similarities between these two rules - both are based around the green zero pocket, and kick in during even money bets. These bets are red/black, odd/even, and high/low, and all pay out 1:1. Then there’s the simple fact that both lead to a house edge of 1.35% due to their being centered around the single zero on the roulette wheel.
The Differences Between the La Partage and En Prison Rules
We’ve seen what makes the La Partage and En Prison rules similar, so what about the differences? These revolve around how these rules actually handle your bet. In the case of La Partage you’ll receive half your stake back if the ball lands on the zero. With En Prison should the ball land in the zero pocket then the bet will be held on the table for the next spin. Should this lead to a win then you’ll only get your bet back, but if it’s a loss then the house will take it.
Go for a Unique Spin with French Roulette
Go for a Unique Spin with French Roulette
The rules of French roulette add something unique to the classic game - not to mention turn an already generous house edge into something even better. After all, a house edge of 1.35% is nothing to sniff at, which is why versions of roulette with these rules in play are rare compared to the more traditional likes of the European and American versions. This only makes them even more desirable, as these rules can help with your bankroll management and, as a result, allow for longer play sessions.
Of course, always play responsibly no matter the version of roulette you prefer to go for. Stick to your bankroll, and never chase your losses as roulette remains a game of pure chance. Have fun at your online casino and do let us know which of these two rules you prefer to play with!
