Game Description & Overview

French roulette takes place in a standard roulette game format, albeit with a slightly different wheel to the one found in American roulette. The game proceeds in much the same way as usual, with players placing their bets based on where they think the ball will land. Before each spin, players have the chance to position their chips on the table, covering a single number, a special bet or a combination of bets, as per the table layout.

Once all bets are in position, the ball is spun around the roulette wheel, and eventually comes to rest in one of the numbered wells. If the resulting number is covered by any of your bets, you’ll win a multiple of your stake, depending on the type of bet you’ve placed.

In French roulette, the natural house edge is around 2.70% – that’s 1 in 37 in favour of the casino, which comes from the fact there’s a single 0 on the European roulette wheel that is neither black nor red. This represents the casino’s portion. But there’s a key difference here – unlike European roulette, where the 2.70% stands, French roulette actually halves the difference.

This is because players are paid back half their stake if the ball lands on the single zero, making French roulette even better value for money.

French Roulette Tips, Strategy & Common Mistakes

French Roulette Software Providers

3D roulette is the most common form you’ll find at online casinos, and there are several notable providers of this type of game software.

A subsidiary of 888 Holdings plc., Dragonfish is the company’s independent casino software brand, serving casinos, rather than players directly. Their roulette software is stable, looks good and is simple to play on, although in practice, 888 tends to run many of their roulette games off Evolution Gaming software, as discussed below.

NYX Gaming, or NextGen, are also active in the roulette space, although they are primarily known for their slots. With a range of different roulette variations on offer, and a reputation for excellence as one of the biggest software brands in the gambling sector, NYX are another good option for players looking for a stable connection and a reliable roulette game.

BetSoft don’t offer French roulette, but they do offer its near relative, European roulette. More well regarded for their slots, than for their roulette, their software is still more than adequate for most players. You’ll find this represented across a number of online casinos, primarily as part of a licensing deal for their incredible slots games.

Live French Roulette

French roulette is one of the most popular variants of the game, whether that’s on desktop or mobile. But increasingly, players are opting to try out live French roulette, played with a real human dealer through live video link. This is only open to those with decent connection speeds and recent hardware, unless you can tolerate some instances of lag or delays. However, for those that can switch on to live play, it often offers a better atmosphere, the chance to socialise with the dealer and other players as you spin, and the opportunity to watch the action unfold in front of your eyes – pretty much exactly as you’d find in a land-based casino.

Evolution Gaming is the leading provider of live roulette software, and always a good name to look out for if you fancy taking live roulette for a spin. Not only do their games look great and play smoothly, but they also run on the most robust software and load quicker than some of their counterparts. Honourable mentions here also to the likes of Playtech, NetEnt and Microgaming, all of whom have their own live roulette software available.

Is French Roulette For You?

Play French roulette if you want…

• Big wins: With up to 35x on the table on any given spin, and a slim house edge or around 1.35%, French roulette’s biggest benefit is its big win potential.
• Simple to play: Most people instinctively understand how roulette works, and if all else fails, a simple look at a roulette table is unlikely to flummox too many players.
• Game of chance: Roulette’s a pure game of chance. Any player can win any amount on any spin, whether it’s your first time, or you’re a more experienced player.
• Range of bets: There are a wide range of betting outcomes and rates of return available, so you can effectively customise your bets according to your appetite to risk vs. reward.

Choose another game if you want…

• Variable house edge: The house edge in French roulette is fixed at around 1.35% (1 in 37, but halved, thanks to the zero rule). Games like blackjack, on the other hand, allow you to practically eliminate house edge in some instances, and reward skill – a factor that is completely irrelevant in French roulette.
• Less confusing betting options: The betting options in roulette can be confusing if you’re inexperienced, and other games can provide a more straightforward array of betting options.
• Faster gameplay: Roulette can take a while, especially if you’re playing live roulette, for example. The spin takes can take about 20-30 seconds to spin out, and obviously there’s a wait for everyone to get their bets in before each spin can take place.

Conclusion

French roulette is the king among roulette types, thanks to the 1.35% house edge – the slimmest you’ll find in any form of the game. This means you get more out of each spin, because you’re disadvantaged to a lesser degree, relative to other games. American roulette, by contrast, has a house edge of 5.26%, which if of course, much worse for players.

For a fun game with the option to win big, regardless of your skill level, it’s difficult to find anything better.