French or European Roulette? A Strategic Odds Comparison for 2026

Comparing French and European Roulette: Key Similarities

French and European roulette share many similarities, but we have underlined the most important ones to consider while playing these games:

• French and European games share a

  similar table layout, each with a double 0 and 2.703% house edge. However, the biggest difference is that the French variant enables players to take advantage of a rule called En Prison and another called La Partage, which lowers the house edge.

• While the French table design is slightly different from that of the European game, it doesn’t tend to affect gameplay.
• Both games are

  common

  in online casinos, but European games are usually easier to find than French ones.

We recommend reading the rules and terms of any roulette table before taking a seat and participating. Most casinos provide a live chat feature, so if you’re unsure, you can speak to a customer service agent and ask about the specifics of each table before you join and gamble.

Breaking Down the French Roulette (House Edge: 2.703%)

The French version of roulette is widely considered to be the original. While European variants are still very popular among casino websites, seasoned players understand that the French game gives players a better advantage. Both games offer a house edge of 2.703%, but the two versions typically offer different probabilities for winning. French roulette also includes rules which are absent from other roulette variants:

La Partage

The La Partage rule in French roulette enables players to use even-money bets. This allows players to reclaim half of a wager if the ball lands on a zero. When this occurs, the house edge falls to 1.35%, the lowest possible edge found in any variation of the game, and provides a much better chance of winning.

En Prison

En Prison is another example of a rule that gives French roulette players an advantage over those playing the European game. Translated to “in jail”, this rule allows players to guard their bets. When you lose a hand, you can put your bet “in jail” and claim another chance using the same bet with a reduced house edge. En Prison gives players a second chance at winning, but if the second bet is unsuccessful, the hand is lost, and play continues as normal.

Call Bets

Call Bets allow players to make multiple bets simultaneously as one bet. They assume players have enough chips to cover their bets, which is why this type of betting is often available for VIPs only. Players “call” the dealer to place Call Bets without physically placing chips in the relevant spaces. Call bets are more commonly linked to French roulette than to the European version.

French Roulette Number Distribution

Although both game variants feature a single zero, the other numbers are allocated randomly in European roulette. However, the French game uses a specific sequence. Moving clockwise from 0, this sequence is 32-15-19-4-21-2-25-17-34-6-27-13-36-11-30-8-23-10-5-24-16-33-1-20-14-31-9-22-18-29-7-28-12-35-3-26.

A Comprehensive Look at The European Roulette (House Edge: 2.70%)

European roulette is one of the most played games with bonuses. It is very similar to the French roulette game, but way simpler. It has a single zero on the table, which will offer players a house edge of only 2.70%. On top of that, similarly to the French roulette, on the European wheel, UK players will see only one zero. When it comes to rules, European Roulette follows the Call Bets. However, the Call Bets are rare because UK low rollers prefer to play European Roulette, and this feature is more suited for high rollers. In case you are a low roller who enjoys playing roulette with a minimum deposit, you can check out our complete selection. Furthermore, we advise you get familiar with roulette odds before starting your bets.

The American Roulette – Another Variant Worth to Considering (House Edge: 5.26%)

While American, European, and French roulette are similar in many ways – which you can also discover while reading more on the wheel numbers, the American one is distinct from the other two for several reasons:

• American roulette uses 38 numbered pockets with a double-zero, whereas the European and French versions use 37 pockets with a single 0.
• The double-zero in the American variant increases the house edge from 2.7% to 5.26%.
• American roulette does not feature La Partage and En Prison rules.
• You can’t make call bets in American roulette.
• Each 0 is spaced evenly at opposite sides of the wheel.

Best Online Casino Sites for Playing Different Variants of Roulette

Here’s our 8-selected Irish online casinos you can access to play different types of roulette games and claim their promotions:

CasinoAlpha’s Take – European Vs. French Roulette

CasinoAlpha specialists believe that the best way to maximize your chances of winning is to understand the main differences between European and French Roulette. Although French roulette has more user-friendly rules, such as La Partage and En Prison, European roulette is available in many more online casinos. No matter what type you wish to play, we recommend you learn or improve your techniques with strategies such as the Martingale strategy or the Romanoski approach.