French Roulette — Free Demo
French roulette spins the same 37-pocket wheel as European but adds la partage: when zero lands, half of every even-money stake comes back. That one rule halves the cost of red/black, odd/even and high/low to 1.35% — the cheapest bet in mainstream roulette. This free demo also includes the racetrack, with voisins, tiers, orphelins and jeu zéro as one-click call bets.
GETRAKEBACK. 18+.
Click a number for a straight-up bet. The small circles on the edges of each number place splits, streets, corners and six lines exactly as they sit on a real table — hover a cell to reveal them. Right-click any spot to clear it. Everything on the board is virtual credit with no cash value.
La partage: the best rule in the casino
French roulette runs on the same 37-pocket single-zero wheel as European. The difference is what happens when zero lands. Instead of taking your entire even-money stake, the house takes half and returns the rest. That is la partage — "the sharing".
The arithmetic: a red bet wins 18 times in 37 and loses fully 18 times in 37, and once in 37 it loses half. Expected return is (18 × 2 + 1 × 0.5) ÷ 37 = 98.65%, so the house edge is 1.35% — exactly half of European.
It applies only to even-money bets: red/black, odd/even and high/low. Inside bets and dozens still carry the standard 2.70%.
En prison is the variant you will also see. Instead of returning half immediately, the table locks your stake for one more spin; win it back and you recover the stake with no profit. Over a long run this produces the same 1.35% edge. La partage is simpler and settles instantly.
French roulette payouts and odds
| Bet | Numbers | Pays | Win chance | Returns per $100 | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 1 | 35:1 | 2.70% | $97.30 | 2.70% |
| Split | 2 | 17:1 | 5.41% | $97.30 | 2.70% |
| Street | 3 | 11:1 | 8.11% | $97.30 | 2.70% |
| Corner | 4 | 8:1 | 10.81% | $97.30 | 2.70% |
| Six line | 6 | 5:1 | 16.22% | $97.30 | 2.70% |
| Column | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% | $97.30 | 2.70% |
| Dozen | 12 | 2:1 | 32.43% | $97.30 | 2.70% |
| Red / Black (la partage) | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% | $98.65 | 1.35% |
| Odd / Even (la partage) | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% | $98.65 | 1.35% |
| High / Low (la partage) | 18 | 1:1 | 48.65% | $98.65 | 1.35% |
The last three rows include the half-stake return on zero, which is why they show 1.35% rather than 2.70%.
Call bets and the racetrack
French tables add an oval betting area — the racetrack — laid out in wheel order rather than numeric order. It exists so you can bet on a physical region of the wheel in one action. Four sectors are standard, and the demo above places all four for you.
| Call bet | Chips | Pockets | Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voisins du Zéro The seventeen pockets either side of zero. |
9 | 17 | 22, 18, 29, 7, 28, 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15, 19, 4, 21, 2, 25 |
| Tiers du Cylindre The twelve pockets opposite zero, covered by six splits. |
6 | 12 | 27, 13, 36, 11, 30, 8, 23, 10, 5, 24, 16, 33 |
| Orphelins The two arcs left over between the other sectors. |
5 | 8 | 17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 |
| Jeu Zéro A tighter version of voisins, hugging zero. |
4 | 7 | 12, 35, 3, 26, 0, 32, 15 |
Call bets are combinations of ordinary splits, streets and straight-ups, so they carry the same 2.70% edge. They are a convenience, not an advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the house edge on French roulette?
1.35% on even-money bets thanks to la partage, and 2.70% on everything else. That makes red/black on a French table the cheapest bet in mainstream casino gambling outside of optimally played blackjack.
What is the difference between French and European roulette?
The wheel is identical — 37 pockets, single zero. French adds la partage or en prison on even-money bets, plus the racetrack for call bets. Without those rules, a "French" table is simply a European one.
Does la partage apply to dozens and columns?
No. It covers only the six even-money bets: red, black, odd, even, 1–18 and 19–36. Dozens, columns and all inside bets lose in full when zero lands.
Is en prison better than la partage?
Over the long run they produce the same 1.35% edge. La partage settles immediately, which is simpler and locks in nothing; en prison gives one chance to recover the full stake with no profit.
How to play the French Roulette demo
- Place even-money bets — red, black, odd, even, 1–18, 19–36 — and watch the House edge drop to 1.35%: that is la partage.
- Add an inside bet and see the board's edge rise back toward 2.70%, because la partage only covers even-money bets.
- Use the Call bets buttons — Voisins, Tiers, Orphelins, Jeu Zéro — to place a whole wheel sector at once.
- Spin. When zero lands, half of every even-money stake comes back automatically.
Getting the most out of the French Roulette demo
Even money is where French shines
La partage only applies to even-money bets. A board of red and high on a French table costs 1.35%; a board of straight-ups costs 2.70%, the same as European.
Learn the racetrack here
Call bets are confusing at a real table because dealers announce them fast. A few minutes clicking Voisins and Tiers in the demo makes them obvious. The wheel layout guide lists every pocket.
Look for it at real casinos
Many crypto lobbies list "French Roulette" separately. Check the rules panel says la partage or en prison — otherwise it is just a European table with French labels.
Common mistakes
- Assuming la partage applies to dozens or columns. It does not — only to the six even-money bets.
- Treating call bets as an advantage. They are combinations of normal splits and straight-ups at the normal edge.
- Choosing European over French at the same casino for even-money play — you pay double for nothing.
Demo vs real money
This demo uses the same pocket order, paytable and probabilities as a real table, so everything you learn about the game transfers directly. What does not transfer is the result: each spin is independent, so a winning demo session says nothing about a real one. Treat it as a flight simulator, not a rehearsal of luck — and if you do move to real money, set a limit before you start.
Not sure where to begin? The 30-minute practice plan uses this demo alongside the calculators.
More roulette variants
- European Roulette — 2.70% house edge
- American Roulette — 5.26% house edge
- Lightning Roulette — 2.90% house edge
- Double Ball Roulette — 2.78% house edge
- Mini Roulette — 7.69% house edge
18+. Roulette has a fixed house edge, so over enough spins the maths favours the operator — always. If you play for real, treat it as money spent on entertainment, set a limit before you start and stop when you reach it. Our responsible gambling page covers the warning signs and where to get free, confidential help.