European vs French Roulette: La Partage, En Prison & What Changes

Same Wheel, Different Rules

European and French roulette share the identical wheel: 37 pockets, numbers 1–36, single green zero. The physical layout, number sequence, and colour assignments are the same. The differences are entirely in the table rules - specifically what happens when the ball lands on zero.

In standard European roulette, zero causes all outside bets to lose. French roulette offers two special rules that soften this outcome for even-money bettors, effectively lowering the house edge significantly.

La Partage - The Half-Back Rule

La Partage (French: "the sharing") is the most player-friendly rule in roulette. When the ball lands on zero, any player who has placed an even-money bet (Red/Black, Odd/Even, 1–18/19–36) receives half their stake back.

La Partage: How It Works

1. You place £20 on Red
2. The ball lands on zero
3. Instead of losing £20, you receive £10 back
4. Net loss: £10 (half your stake)

Effect on House Edge

Without La Partage, the probability calculation for Red includes 1/37 chances of losing to zero (full stake lost). With La Partage, zero only costs half a stake - so the edge calculation halves for even-money bets:

• Standard European (no La Partage): House edge = 2.70% on even-money bets
• With La Partage: House edge = 1.35% on even-money bets

The 1.35% figure applies only to even-money outside bets. Inside bets (Straight Up, Split, Corner, etc.) and Dozen/Column bets are unaffected - they remain at 2.70% as zero is a straight win/loss for those positions.

En Prison - The Imprisonment Rule

En Prison (French: "in prison") is an alternative to La Partage. Instead of receiving half your stake back immediately, the entire stake is "imprisoned" on the table for the next spin:

1. You place £20 on Red
2. The ball lands on zero
3. Your £20 is "imprisoned" - it stays on Red for the next spin with no additional risk
4. If Red wins on the next spin: Your £20 stake is returned (no profit)
5. If Black or zero wins on the next spin: Your £20 is lost

The mathematical outcome of En Prison is identical to La Partage - both produce a 1.35% house edge on even-money bets. En Prison is offered instead of La Partage in some casinos; the player's preference is the only distinction.

Three-Way Comparison: European, French & American

Table Layout Differences

The French roulette table layout uses different terminology and a different physical arrangement:

• Zero cell: Marked "0" in both; French tables often place zero at the top centre
• Even-money bet labels (French): Manque (1–18), Passe (19–36), Pair (Even), Impair (Odd), Rouge (Red), Noir (Black)
• Dozen labels (French): P12 (1–12), M12 (13–24), D12 (25–36)
• Physical layout: French tables are often longer with betting areas on both sides; the croupier rakes chips from the centre
• Racetrack: More commonly prominent on French tables for call bets

When to Choose French Over European

The mathematics are clear: if you plan to place primarily even-money bets (Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low), a French roulette table with La Partage offers a 1.35% house edge - the best available in standard roulette without counting cards or tracking biased wheels.

However, French tables are less common, often have higher minimum stakes, and the terminology may be unfamiliar if you're new to roulette. For learning the game and practising all bet types, European roulette remains the best starting point.

Frequently Asked Questions