French roulette is a variation of the game of roulette, which gained popularity in the years following the French Revolution. If we are to translate the term ”roulette”, we will get ”little wheel”. The game itself, as we already noted, represents an entertaining gambling activity, which is considered to have a formidable potential for gains.
French Roulette versus American Roulette
Played quite frequently at casinos in Monte Carlo, French roulette is a bit different than the other roulette variations we've already discussed, because it features a unique table layout. In addition, in this casino table game players are faced with the lowest house advantage of any other roulette variation, as due to one additional gameplay rule, the edge is reduced to 1.35%.
The game is played on the standard European wheel, which has 37 divisions, where numbers from 1 to 36 and 0 can be found. Numbers from 1 to 36 are alternately colored in red and black, while the single zero is marked in green.
If we are to compare the French and the American roulette variations, we should note that the American roulette table shows both a single zero and a double zero, while the French table shows only a single zero. What's more, all the numbers on the French table are white, while all numbers, excluding the zero and the double zero on the American roulette table, are either red or black.
Another distinction between the two variations is that the numbers on the French and the American roulette wheels are located in a different manner.
Last but not least, the position of the outside betting field on the American and the French roulette tables differs.
The outside bets on the American variation are usually placed on the left side of the table layout. The outside betting field on the French variation is split in two and located along both sides of the table layout. Each one of the outside bets has its French moniker visualized on the table, while, at times, its translation in English is also visualized right below the French name.
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The main objective, which any player pursues, is to predict which numbered pocket the roulette ball is going to settle into. In order to do that, all players make bets on a particular number, after which the dealer turns the roulette wheel in one direction and spins the roulette ball in the opposite. Once the ball finds its way into the pocket with that particular number, the respective players get paid.
Types of bets that are to be made
The betting layout of the roulette table is comprised of two sections including bets on individual numbers and group bets. In French roulette players are able to take advantage of two main categories of bets, inside and outside bets. The inside bets are made on a single number, adjacent numbers, or small groups of numbers, while the outside bets encompass larger groups of numbers.
The majority of bets offer different odds of winning and, respectively, different payouts from each other. These payouts and odds of winning are usually not listed on the board, with the exception of the column bet’s payout. Therefore, prior to entering the game, players should become aware of the payouts and odds regarding each bet. Let us go through inside and outside bets in French roulette.
Inside bets
1. Straight-Up Bet: Is placed on any single number, including “0”, and directly on the number. Its payout is 35 to 1.
2. Split Bet: Features two adjacent numbers and is placed on the line between these numbers. The bet may also include 0 and 1, 0 and 2, 0 and 3. Its payout is 17 to 1.
3. Street Bet: Features all three numbers in a row and is placed on the line at the end of the row. There are other options for its placement as well. It can include 0, 1, 2; 0, 2, 3. Its payout is 11 to 1.
4. Corner Bet: Features a group of four numbers and is placed at the corner where these four numbers touch. The bet can also be placed on the corner of 0, 1, 2, and 3. Its payout is 8 to 1.
5. Line Bet: Features six numbers (or two rows of three numbers) and is placed at the end of two rows, on the border between them. Its payout is 5 to 1.
Outside bets
1. Column Bet: Features an entire column and is placed in the box at the end of the respective column. Its payout is 2 to 1.
2. Dozen Bet: Features a group of 12 numbers. In American roulette, the table has boxes marked as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The respective boxes on the French table are positioned in two areas and are marked as ”12P”, or Premier Douzaine (numbers 1 to 12), ”12M”, or Moyenne Douzaine (numbers 13 to 24) and ”12D”, or Dernière Douzaine (numbers 25 to 36). Its payout is 2 to 1.
3. Bet on Color: Features all of the red numbers or all of the black numbers on the layout and is placed on the ”Red” (Rouge) diamond or the ”Black” (Noir) diamond. Its payout is 1 to 1.
4. Bet on Odd/Even: Features all even numbers or all odd numbers on the layout and is placed on the ”Pair” box (all even numbers) or the ”Impair” box (all odd numbers). Its payout is 1 to 1.
5. Bet on Low/High: Features all low numbers or all high numbers and is placed on the ”Manque” box (numbers 1 to 18) or the ”Passe” box (numbers 19 to 36). Its payout is 1 to 1.
In case a player places an even-money outside bet (Red/Black, Even/Odd, Low/High) and the winning number is 0, he/she is able to take advantage of the ”en prison” rule. As we explained earlier, now the player will either receive 50% of his/her bet, or the entire bet will be imprisoned. If the imprisoned bet turns out to be a winner on the next wheel spin, it will be released and the player will recover it without any earnings.
In case the ball lands on zero on the next wheel spin, the player will lose the entire bet.
Classic Roulette Bets
French Roulette
Double Ball Roulette
Double Action Roulette
Probability and Odds in Roulette
In case a player places an even-money outside bet (Red/Black, Even/Odd, Low/High) and the winning number is 0, he/she is able to take advantage of another special gameplay rule, known as ”le partage”. The even-money bet will immediately be divided by two. This way 50% of the bet will be recovered to the player, while the other 50% will be surrendered to the house. With this rule, there is no option of leaving the original bet for another wheel spin. The rule actually lowers the house edge to 1.35%.
Announced bets
Like European roulette, French roulette allows players to make the so-called ”announced bets”, which we discussed in the previous article.
In addition, players have the opportunity to place the so-called ”neighbor bets”. They feature numbers, which are located next to each other on the roulette wheel. In case a player is willing to bet on the number 25, plus the number immediately to the left, and the number immediately to the right of 25 on the wheel, he/she may call a one-number neighbor bet on 25. This bet will feature the numbers 2, 25 and 17.
