Live French Roulette Review: Rules, La Partage & Best SA Casinos

What is Live French Roulette?

Live French Roulette is similar to European Roulette in that it uses the same 37-pocket wheel (0 to 36). There are three main differentiating factors:

1. The Layout: It uses traditional French terminology like Manque/Passe instead of 1-18/19-36.
2. Special Rules: Unique rules like La Partage or En Prison come into play, which specifically protect you if you place even-money bets.
3. Call Bets: A racetrack is used for advanced announced bets based on specific sectors of the wheel.
   The specifics of the game can vary depending on the provider. For example, most Evolution tables use La Partage, while some rare Playtech variants might offer En Prison. You can check the exact rules in the game info once you’re seated.

Bets, Call Bets & Table Layout (French Terms)

The French layout uses French terms for the original English bets, but the logic behind each of them isn’t any different. Outside bets like Rouge/Noir (red/black) and Pair/Impair (even/odd) still pay even money 1:1. 

Manque covers low numbers (1–18), and Passe covers high numbers (19–36). For the dozens, look forP12 (1st 12), M12 (2nd 12), and D12 (3rd 12).

You can also use the racetrack to place call bets that cover entire sectors of the wheel with one click if you want to kick it up a notch:

• Voisins du Zéro refers to Neighbours of Zero: Covers 17 numbers near the zero using 9 chips.
• Le Tiers du Cylindre refers to the Third of the Wheel: Covers the 12 numbers opposite zero using 6 chips.
• Orphelins refers to Orphans: Covers the 8 remaining numbers using 5 chips.
• Jeu Zéro refers to Zero Game: A smaller bet covering only the 7 numbers closest to zero using 4 chips.

RTP, House Edge & Payouts 

French Roulette tables use a single-zero wheel with 37 pockets, unlike American roulette with a double zero. Your odds of hitting a specific number are 1 in 37 rather than 1 in 38 in the French version, which lowers the house edge (the advantage the casino has over you). 

The house edge is 2.7% on a standard European wheel, but it drops to 1.35% for even-money bets because La Partage gives you half your money back if the ball hits zero. 

This is actually the lowest house edge on any live roulette variation and, in turn, offers the best long-term returns with an RTP of 98.65%.

Live French Roulette vs European Roulette vs American Roulette

SA bookmakers like Hollywoodbets and World Sports Betting offer live roulette with three different wheels, and each of them changes up the odds with unique rules or side bets. Here’s how they work: 

• American Roulette: Best avoided, this version features a double zero (0 and 00) – an extra green pocket that increases the total outcomes to 38 and, in turn, hikes up the house edge to 5.26%. So, your bankroll is at higher risk, but your winning potential remains the same.
• European Roulette: This is probably the most common version in SA. It uses a single-zero wheel with 37 pockets, which immediately halves the house edge to 2.7%. It’s ideal if you want fair odds without complex rules.
• French Roulette: While this version uses the same single-zero wheel as the European, the La Partage rule slashes the house edge even further to 1.35%. This makes the game a solid pick for players who want solid long-term returns.