Online French Roulette

When you play French roulette online, you are getting the original version of this classic, a game of sophistication, and a lower house edge than other variants. If you want to explore RNG and live French roulette games, we are here to help. Head below to see the best casinos offering French variants, while our experts have put together the ultimate guide, looking at betting strategy, gameplay rules, and useful tips.

For anybody fresh to the world of casinos, all this talk of European, American, and French roulette can be really confusing. On the surface, all of these games look the same. They have spinning wheels with red/black segments and work by dropping a ball on them. Our team of Canadian online casino players are here to explain the differences and guide you through everything you need to know about French roulette.

And to make it even easier for you to enjoy this variant, we have found the best French roulette games and the top Canadian casino sites where you can play them. Our year of experience means we understand exactly what Canadian players want from an online casino. Whether it’s game selection, generous bonuses, flexible payments, or security, we make sure the iGaming sites we choose fit the bill.

Because we are players ourselves, every casino goes through our hands-on review process. That means when you see our rating, you know it has come from real-world experience from actual roulette players.

French roulette is widely considered to be the first version of the game that went on to become popular as European roulette and American roulette. You can chart the history of those two formats to the French variants as the origin.

In many ways, it is considered the purest form of the game, but also the most sophisticated. French roulette shares the most similarities with European roulette, including an identical wheel layout. You’ll see 37 total pockets, the numbers 1-36 split in alternating red and black segments, plus a single green zero.

Like its European version counterpart, the French game has a house edge of 2.7%, which is a decent amount better than the 5.26% house edge in American roulette. The addition of a double-zero pocket alongside the single-zero is the reason for worse odds on American tables.

While French and European roulette share the same general structure, the addition of special rules makes French roulette games different. Known as La Partage and En Prison, the rules give players a better house edge of 1.35% for even money bets such as Red/Black or Odd/Even.

The objective of French roulette is the same as all other formats. You try to predict where the ball rests once the spinning wheel stops. You can choose a variety of different bets, including single numbers, number groups, colours, and more.

One of the main attractions of French roulette is its engaging and simple gameplay, which still offers something that other variants do not. It is a beginner-friendly game, but it also has sophistication for players with more experience.

The Wheel and Pockets

• You can see the French roulette wheel has 37 pockets, the numbers 1 to 36 and 0.
• The numbers alternate between Red and Black colours, with a single green zero pocket.

The Table Layout

• There is a grid setup showing all numbers (1–36) along with separate boxes for 0 in a lattice formation.
• Around the outside of the grid, there are betting options for betting on even-money outcomes (red/black, odd/even, high/low), along with dozens and columns.

How a Round Works

• You’ll start the game by placing your chips on the bet you want to make.
• Gameplay starts when the dealer spins the wheel one way and drops the ball in the opposite direction.
• Betting stops when called “no more bets” by the dealer.
• You receive a payout if your prediction matches where the ball rests on the wheel.

Bet Types

• Inside Bets (riskier wagers with higher payouts):
  • Straight (1 number) – 35:1
  • Split (2 numbers) – 17:1
  • Street (3 numbers) – 11:1
  • Corner (4 numbers) – 8:1
  • Line (6 numbers) – 5:1
• Outside Bets (safer options but lower rewards):
  • Column/Dozen – 2:1
  • Red/Black, Odd/Even, High/Low – 1:1

Special Bets

This is the area that sets French roulette games apart from European and American versions. During gameplay, you can place call bets, which are wagering options for certain areas of the wheel. You can choose Voisins du Zéro (neighbours of zero, covering 17 numbers around zero), Tiers du Cylindre (third of the wheel, covering 12 numbers opposite zero), and Orphelins (the remaining 8 numbers not included in the first two bets). French games are also famous for their even bet rules:

• La Partage: If the ball lands on zero, you’ll lose only half of your even-money bets instead of the entire wager.
• En Prison: If zero appears, even-money bets are “imprisoned” for the next spin. If the bet wins on the following spin, the stake is returned without profit.

You can be up and running within minutes at the French roulette casinos we recommend. Roulette is a pick-up and play casino game with simple rules. Even beginners can learn the game in just a few minutes. To make your journey even easier, below are the tips to help you start your roulette adventure:

1. Your first step in any online roulette game is to place your bet. Online versions have controls that allow you to adjust your bet to suit your budget. Outside bets of red/black, high/low, or odd/even are ideal for beginners because they all have 50/50 odds.
2. Betting is easy, and you just need to place a chip on the area of the table your wager is on, such as a single number, a line between multiple numbers, or outside bet sections. You get virtual chips online that you control with a mouse or touchscreen.
3. Once you make your bet, the game will start with the dealer spinning the wheel and then dropping the ball in the opposite direction to the wheel. If you are playing online French roulette, this can be a virtual representation of the wheel on RNG games.
4. During the spin, the dealer in live versions will call “no more bets”, which locks the round the prevents any more wagers. When the wheel stops, the position of the ball will determine if there have been any winning bets.

As you can see, French roulette is easy, and online, most of the gameplay is automatic with very little player input. The complexity of roulette is not in how you play the game, but in the various betting options. It has more bet scenarios than other popular casino games, and knowing your options is very important.

Beginners often make the mistake of making blind bets, such as choosing a bunch of single-number wagers. This approach almost never works, especially in the long term. You should instead take a few minutes to learn the different bets in French roulette games:

Inside Bets

When you look at the roulette table, you can see all of the bets set up in a visual grid that represents the roulette wheel. The lattice of numbers is the central part of the table, and these are known as inside bets. Often considered expert-level bets, these options have low odds but offer the biggest payouts in roulette:

• Straight Up: betting on a single number (pays 35:1).
• Split: covering two adjacent numbers (pays 17:1).
• Street: betting on a row of three numbers (pays 11:1).
• Corner: four numbers forming a square (pays 8:1).
• Line: six numbers across two rows (pays 5:1).

Because you’ll be taking more risk when making an inside bet, you should wager carefully you’re your bankroll. However, the bigger potential rewards can sometimes be worth taking the extra risk.

Outside Bets

There are betting options sitting all around the number lattice, known as the outside bets. Covering bigger groups of numbers on the wheel, these bets have more balance between risk and reward, offering better odds but lower payouts.

• Red or Black: betting on colour (pays 1:1).
• Odd or Even: betting on the number type (pays 1:1).
• High or Low: betting on 1–18 or 19–36 (pays 1:1).
• Dozens: betting on 12-number groups (pays 2:1).
• Columns: betting on a vertical column of 12 numbers (pays 2:1).

Which of these bets you should take depends on your budget and the type of player you are. Beginners or those with a small bankroll may want to stick to the safer outside bets. Players seeking bigger payouts may feel ok with more risk, making inside bets more attractive. A good approach is to mix your betting strategy between inside and outside options to get more balance.

All of the betting options in French roulette come with their own payout structure and odds. Knowing how much you can win and your chances of winning is essential if you want to play with control and strategy. Below, we will talk about the payout dynamics and house edge of French versions of roulette.

Common Bets

French roulette online shares the same house edge of 2.7% as European roulette. But if you choose to wager more to have the La Partage and En Prison rules, the house edge can be reduced to just 1.35%. This means the French roulette RTP is 97.3% as standard and 98.65% for the La Partage/En Prison bets.

It compares well with other casino games, although blackjack variants still have the best RTP at 99%+. While some slots have a similar edge to roulette, the standard RTP for video slots is 96% (an average house edge of 4%).

Players prefer French/European variants over American roulette tables because of the house edge. Because of the additional double-zero pocket, American tables have a house edge of 5.26%. What this means in simple terms is you have a better statistical chance of winning French games than American roulette.

There are many types of French roulette players, ranging from absolute beginners to experts with years of experience. This means that strategies change depending on where you are in your roulette journey. Newcomers need simple ways to engage with the game and have more control, while seasoned players may want to add structure to their gameplay.

Basic Roulette Strategies

We think a slow approach is best for beginners. At this stage, your main goal should be to control your budget and keep playing roulette for as long as possible.

• Even money bets offer the best budget-friendly wagers in roulette. Bets like red/black, odd/even, and high/low have 50/50 odds, so you always remove 50% of the table. They are ideal for players focusing on bankroll management.
• Single money bets are the riskiest in roulette because they have the worst odds. Beginners should avoid making only these bets. But you can definitely sprinkle a few single-number wagers alongside even money options to hedge your bets.
• Responsible gambling is something all players should be doing, but it is important for beginners who may not yet have bankroll management skills. Always choose bets you can afford, such as smaller wagers that stretch your budget for longer.

Advanced Roulette Strategies

All of the tips above can also apply to expert players, helping to provide a solid gameplay foundation. You can then build on them by exploring actual betting systems that can provide more discipline to your roulette sessions.

• The Martingale is a popular system that involves increasing your bet by a single unit following each losing wager. If it sounds risky, that is because it is. If you have a very big losing streak, you can chew through your budget. But a single win will allow you to recoup losses and make a profit.
• While the Fibonacci system is similar in concept, it uses the classic math number sequence (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8…). You’ll need to increase your bet by the next number in the sequence when you lose. It has similar risk/reward dynamics to the Martingale, so choose your bets wisely.

You may have noticed that betting systems involve a lot of risk. None of them promise to help you win at playing French roulette. That’s because roulette is a game of pure luck and every spin of the wheel is completely random. A betting system will not change that, but it can add structure to your betting.

The first thing that sets French roulette apart from other versions is that it was the first variant. It is identical to European roulette in terms of wheel structure, offering 37 pockets with a single 0 included. Both games also share the same house edge of 2.7%. However, the La Partage and En Prison rules make French tables different, while also cutting the house edge to 1.35% when they’re in play.

American roulette is an outlier because it adds a double zero along with the standard single zero. This small change has a huge impact because it increases the house edge to a less favourable 5.26%. That’s because in roulette, the zero counts as a loss of the bet if the ball lands in it. American tables having two zero pockets essentially double the chances of a total loss.

French roulette games also have the special “call bets” that you will not find on European or American versions. These are wheel section bets known as Voisins du Zéro, Tiers du Cylindre, and Orphelins.

Despite these benefits, French games are not as popular on casino sites as European and American variants. That’s partly because French tables often have higher buy-in minimum bets than other versions, so players take more affordable options. Even so, we have found the best French roulette casinos that do offer RNG and live dealer versions of the game.

Because we never choose an online casino at random, all of the roulette sites we list on this page have been through our strict vetting process. We call it playtesting, which means our team of industry experts actually uses all of the casinos we review. As players ourselves, we can take a consumer-first approach and look at the things we know are important when playing French roulette online:

• Our first step is to always browse the casino game lobby to check that it has a good selection of French roulette games. This variant is less common than European/American tables, so checking allows us to see which live dealer and RNG options are available.
• If the casino has the game selection, we run our strict security checks before we register. This involves ensuring the casino has a license, as you will never find a brand on our site without one. Our team also looks into measures such as SSL security and payment protection.
• We think that giving players a fair chance of winning is at the heart of any reputable online casino. That’s why we check that the casino works with reputable software providers that allow their games to be tested for fairness. We also report on the RTP/house edge of games so you can choose the best options for you.
• Players always tell us they want to deposit and withdraw funds in confidence while using payment methods they like. Our reviews cover available options such as debit/credit cards, e-wallets, and even cryptocurrencies. We’ll also tell you about payment limits, restrictions, and withdrawal times.
• What makes a good casino bonus? We’ll tell you in our reviews, which cover welcome packages and ongoing promos. Our team not only looks at the value of the offer, but also important terms such as wagering requirements, expiry times, deposit limits, and game eligibility.

Thanks to the comprehensive review process, which also covers usability and customer support, players know they can choose a casino in confidence. Below are the best French roulette casinos that we currently rank highly for Canadian players:

Use the following French Roulette tips to boost your gameplay as a beginner or to enhance your strategy if you already have experience:

• If you are a beginner, learn the different bets, odds, and payouts before you start playing. It is such an obvious rule, but most new players avoid this step and then don’t make the best betting decisions.
• Betting systems are fun, and they can give you discipline with your bankroll, but what they can’t do is guarantee wins. So, if you find any system that is promising wins, you should ignore it. Roulette is a game of random chance.
• The whole point of playing French roulette is to experience the La Partage and En Prison options. If you’re playing French, take these bets as they can genuinely help. If you don’t take them, you may as well be playing European roulette.
• Call bets are slightly different because they do not impact the house edge. These are more about strategy and entertainment, so you can use them if you want.
• French roulette online is ultimately a game of fun, so try to avoid over-extending yourself. Create a budget before you play and stick to it. Use money you can afford to lose from your disposable income, and do not chase your losses.