French roulette game is played with a wheel with 37 pockets. The numbers 1 to 36 alternate on the wheel exactly like on the American wheel. The 37 pocket is for the green 0. That is one of the differences between French and American roulette, the fact that the double zero is missing on the French wheel.
Another difference would be that the French roulette has a a different table layout for the outside bets. The main difference is in the position of the side bets (outside bets). The side bets on the French table are split in two and run along both sides of the table layout. Each side bet is given its French name and sometimes also its English translation underneath.
The object of the game is still the same - to predict which number out of possible 37 the ball will land on. And of course, they speak French. Below you have a small French roulette terms list,with bets in English and their French equivalent:
Inside bets
- One number Straight up = En plein
- Two numbers Split Bet = Cheval
- Three numbers Street Bet = Transversale
- Four numbers Corner = Carre
- Six numbers Line Bet = Sixainne
Outside bets
- Twelve numbers Column = Colonne
- Twelve numbers Dozen = Douzaine
- Red or Black = Rouge, Noir
- Even or Odd = Pair, Impair
- Low or High numbers = Manque, Passe
The players house advantage in French roulette is 2.7%, the same as in European roulette (only one zero) and better than the odds in American roulette (two zeros). The players loose only 50% of their even-money bets when the outcome is zero, known as the 'La Partage' rule. This refers to the 'outside' even-money bets Red/Black, High/Low, Odd/Even and applies when the outcome is zero.
So, with the La Partage rule, on the "even-money bets" the casino edge is cut in half getting a house edge of only 1.35%.
