To the casual observer, French roulette and European roulette look almost identical. Both use a single-zero wheel with 37 pockets. Both carry the same inside and outside bet types. Both pay out at the same odds on a Straight Up bet.
The difference between them isn't visible on the wheel – it's in the rules that apply when the ball lands on zero, and in the layout of the betting table.
Those differences are worth understanding before you choose which variant to play. Here, we cover what each game is, where they diverge and how to decide which one suits the gameplay you have in mind.
What is European roulette?
European roulette is the standard version of the game as it's most commonly played today.
The wheel has 37 pockets, numbers 1 to 36 - alternating red and black - plus a single green zero. The betting layout mirrors the wheel, with inside bets covering specific numbers and small groups, and outside bets covering larger sections like red or black, odd or even, or one of three numerical thirds.
When the ball lands on zero, all outside bets lose. Inside bets placed directly on zero win at the standard Straight Up payout of 35:1. This is the standard zero rule; no special provisions apply, and the round settles cleanly.
European roulette is the most widely available single-zero variant in online casinos and forms the baseline against which other roulette variants are usually measured. It differs from American roulette by having one zero rather than two, which increases the house edge.
What is French roulette?
French roulette uses the same single-zero wheel as European roulette: 37 pockets, identical number and colour arrangement. The wheel itself is indistinguishable from a European one. What changes is the table layout and the rules that apply on a zero outcome.
The table layout in French roulette is traditionally different from European: the betting grid is presented in French, with labels like Pair (even), Impair (odd), Manque (low, 1-18) and Passe (high, 19-36). In online versions, English labels are often used alongside or instead of the French, making the layout accessible regardless of language familiarity.
French roulette also typically features call bets - named sections of the wheel (Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre, Orphelins, Jeu Zéro) - displayed as an oval racetrack-style layout beside the main betting grid. These are available in some European roulette titles too, but they're a standard feature of French roulette rather than an optional one.
The most significant difference, though, is in the zero rules.
The zero rules: where the two diverge
In European roulette, zero is a straightforward losing outcome for all outside bets. In French roulette, two optional rules - La Partage and En Prison - change what happens when the ball lands on zero on an even-money outside bet. Not all French roulette tables apply both; some use one, some use both and some allow players to choose. Always check the game info panel to confirm which rules apply on any specific title.
La Partage
If the ball lands on zero and you have an even-money outside bet placed (red or black, odd or even, high or low), you receive half your stake back. The other half is kept by the house.
The bet is resolved immediately: you lose half and recover half, rather than losing the full stake as you would in European roulette.
En Prison
An alternative to La Partage. If the ball lands on zero, your even-money outside bet is "imprisoned", meaning it stays on the table for the next spin rather than being settled.
If the next spin wins, your full stake is returned (without winnings). Depending on house rules, if the next spin lands on zero again, the bet is lost or remains “imprisoned”, requiring two consecutive wins to be released. En Prison gives you a second spin for your stake rather than returning half of it immediately.
Both rules apply only to even-money outside bets – red or black, odd or even, high or low. Inside bets, dozens and columns are not affected by La Partage or En Prison. When zero lands, those bets lose in the same way they would in European roulette.
Side-by-side comparison: French vs. European roulette
Feature | European roulette | French roulette |
Wheel | Single zero, 37 pockets | Single zero, 37 pockets |
Table layout | Standard English layout | French labels; racetrack for call bets |
Zero rule (even-money bets) | Full stake lost | La Partage (half returned) or En Prison (second spin) |
Zero rule (inside bets) | Lost | Lost |
Call bets | Sometimes available | Standard feature |
Outside bet payout on zero | None; full loss | Half stake returned (La Partage) or second spin (En Prison) |
Availability online | Widely available | Less common than European |
What the zero rules mean in practice
The practical effect of La Partage and En Prison is that even-money outside bets in French roulette have a different relationship with the zero pocket than the same bets in European roulette.
In European roulette, zero landing on an even-money bet costs the full stake. In French roulette with La Partage, the same outcome returns half. In French roulette with En Prison, the stake survives to the next spin.
This only applies to even-money outside bets. A player who focuses primarily on dozens, columns or inside bets will see no practical difference between the two games. The zero rule makes no difference to those markets, which lose in full on zero regardless of which variant is being played.
A player who bets primarily or exclusively on red or black, odd or even, or high or low will notice the difference most directly. Those are the bets where La Partage or En Prison changes what happens when zero lands.
The table layout: a practical consideration
For first-time players, the French roulette table layout can feel unfamiliar.
The French terminology, the racetrack oval for call bets and the occasionally different physical arrangement of the outside bet sections can slow down the process of finding the bet you want to place.
Online versions typically include English labels and tooltips, which reduces the barrier, but it's still worth familiarising yourself with the layout before placing a bet in a live game where the betting window runs on a timer.
European roulette's layout is more immediately intuitive for most players. The structure is widely replicated across online and physical casinos, and the visual language of the betting grid will be familiar from any standard roulette title.
For a new player choosing between the two, the European layout is the easier starting point.
Call bets in French roulette
Call bets - also known as announced bets or French bets - are a set of fixed wagers that correspond to specific sections of the physical wheel rather than positions on the table grid. They're presented via the racetrack layout that sits alongside the main betting grid in French roulette.
The main call bets are Voisins du Zéro (17 numbers near zero), Tiers du Cylindre (12 numbers on the opposite section of the wheel), Orphelins (the eight numbers not covered by the other two) and Jeu Zéro (seven numbers closest to zero).
Each covers a different portion of the wheel and is placed as a combination of chips across multiple positions on the grid.
Call bets are available in some European roulette titles too - Speed Roulette at Bally Bet includes French bets as a standard feature, for example - but they're a defining characteristic of the French roulette format rather than an add-on. For players interested in this style of betting, French roulette is the natural home for it.
Which one should you play?
The answer depends on how you tend to bet and what you enjoy in a roulette session.
If you place even-money outside bets regularly, French roulette with La Partage or En Prison changes the zero outcome for those bets compared to European roulette. Whether that matters enough to seek out a French roulette title depends on how central those bets are to your usual session.
If you focus on inside bets, dozens or columns, the zero rules don't change anything for those markets. European and French roulette are functionally identical for those bet types, and the choice between them becomes largely about layout preference and whether the call bets in French roulette are something you want access to.
If you're new to roulette or want the most straightforward table to navigate, European roulette is the more accessible starting point.
The layout is more familiar, the rules are simpler and the game is more widely available across online casinos. French roulette adds useful rules for even-money bettors but introduces layout complexity that takes a few rounds to get comfortable with.
Both variants are games of chance. The zero rules in French roulette change what happens when zero lands on specific bet types, but they don't change the fact that roulette outcomes are always random and cannot be predicted or influenced.
Set a budget before you start and use the spend limit tools in your Bally Bet account throughout your session.
French roulette vs. European roulette FAQs
Does La Partage apply to all bets in French roulette?
No. It applies only to even-money outside bets – red or black, odd or even, high or low. If the ball lands on zero and you have a bet on dozens, columns or any inside bet, those bets lose in full, the same as they would in European roulette.
Is French roulette available at Bally Bet?
Check the casino section at Bally Bet to see which roulette variants are currently listed. Several titles at Bally Bet offer French bet features, including call bets and racetrack layouts, within European roulette formats.
What is the difference between La Partage and En Prison?
La Partage returns half your stake immediately and resolves the bet; En Prison keeps your full stake on the table for another spin: if that spin wins, your full stake comes back; if it loses, you lose the full stake.
Whether you're new to online roulette or simply want to brush up on the nuances of the game, you'll find a wide range of helpful articles at the Bally Bet blog. That's alongside how-to guides for other casino games as well as sporting event previews and explainers.
All offers mentioned correct at the time of writing but may be subject to change.
