The wheel of French roulette consists of 37 numbers from 0 to 36. The next table contains the indexes of every natural bet.
| Bet |
Win |
Probability |
Player edge |
| Even Odd |
1 |
18/37 |
48.65% |
-1/37 |
-2.703% |
| Red Black |
1 |
18/37 |
48.65% |
-1/37 |
-2.703% |
| High Low |
1 |
18/37 |
48.65% |
-1/37 |
-2.703% |
| Dozen |
2 |
12/37 |
32.43% |
-1/37 |
-2.703% |
| Column |
2 |
12/37 |
32.43% |
-1/37 |
-2.703% |
| Six-Line |
5 |
06/37 |
16.22% |
-1/37 |
-2.703% |
| Corner |
8 |
04/37 |
10.81% |
-1/37 |
-2.703% |
| Street |
11 |
03/37 |
08.11% |
-1/37 |
-2.703% |
| Split |
17 |
02/37 |
05.41% |
-1/37 |
-2.703% |
| Straight |
35 |
01/37 |
02.70% |
-1/37 |
-2.703% |
You can see that a player loses about 2.703% of his money on any bet. It is clear that any composite bet has the same expected result. Let's see, for example, the following popular call bets:
| |
Voisins de Zero |
Tier |
Orphelins |
Zero Spiel |
| Bet size, chips |
9 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
| Covered numbers |
17 |
12 |
8 |
7 |
| Win probability |
45.95% |
32.43% |
24.32% |
18.92% |
| Average win |
111.76% |
200.00% |
300.00% |
414.29% |
| Player edge |
-2.703% |
-2.703% |
-2.703% |
-2.703% |
Some casinos have the next attractive rule. Once the wheel stops on zero the players lose only half on any even money bet. It increases the player edge to -1/74 (-1.35%), but still casino has the advantage.
The
Voisins de Zero (from French it means "neighbors of zero") is a call bet covering up to the half (17 numbers) of a wheel at one sector. The Voisins de Zero requires the 9 or 9-order count equal chips to combine seven natural bets. The bet schedule and computations are at the next table:
| Numbers |
Chips |
Win |
Probability |
Result |
| 0 2 3 |
2 |
22-7=15 |
3/37 |
08.11% |
45/37 |
| 4 7 |
1 |
17-8= 9 |
2/37 |
05.41% |
18/37 |
| 12 15 |
1 |
17-8= 9 |
2/37 |
05.41% |
18/37 |
| 18 21 |
1 |
17-8= 9 |
2/37 |
05.41% |
18/37 |
| 19 22 |
1 |
17-8= 9 |
2/37 |
05.41% |
18/37 |
| 25 26 28 29 |
2 |
16-7= 9 |
4/37 |
10.81% |
36/37 |
| 32 35 |
1 |
17-8= 9 |
2/37 |
05.41% |
18/37 |
| Win |
9 |
10.06 |
17/37 |
45.95% |
171/37 |
| Loss |
9 |
-9 |
20/37 |
54.05% |
-180/37 |
| Total |
9 |
|
37/37 |
100% |
-9/37 |
So, the Voisins de Zero takes 9 chips and returns -9/37 on average or -1/37 (-2.703%) of the bet. It is the same to any other bet. Average win is 171:17 = 10.059 (or 111.76%).
The
Tier (from French it means "third") is a call bet covering 12 numbers (up to the third of a wheel) placed in one sector. It requires 6 or 6-order count equal chips to combine six natural bets. Bet schedule of the Tier is in the table below:
| Numbers |
Chips |
Win |
Probability |
Result |
| 5 8 |
1 |
17-5=12 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
24/37 |
| 10 11 |
1 |
17-5=12 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
24/37 |
| 13 16 |
1 |
17-5=12 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
24/37 |
| 23 24 |
1 |
17-5=12 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
24/37 |
| 27 30 |
1 |
17-5=12 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
24/37 |
| 33 36 |
1 |
17-5=12 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
24/37 |
| Win |
6 |
12 |
12/37 |
32.43% |
144/37 |
| Loss |
6 |
-6 |
25/37 |
67.58% |
-150/37 |
| Total |
6 |
|
37/37 |
100% |
-6/37 |
So, the Tier bet takes 6 chips and returns -6/37 on average or -1/37 (-2.703%) of the bet. Any other bet has the same expected result. Average win is 144:12=12 chips or 200%.
The
Orphelins (from French it mean "orphan") is a call bet covering 8 numbers of two opposite sectors. It fills all the place rest after Voisins de Zero and Tier. The Orphelins requires 5 or 5-order count equal chips. The bet schedule and computations are in the following table:
| Bet |
Chips |
Win |
Probability |
Result |
| 1 |
1 |
35-4=31 |
1/37 |
2.70% |
31/37 |
| 6 9 |
1 |
17-4=13 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
26/37 |
| 14 17 |
1 |
17-4=13 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
26/37 |
| 17 20 |
1 |
17-4=13 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
26/37 |
| 31 34 |
1 |
17-4=13 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
26/37 |
| Win |
5 |
15 |
9/37 |
24.32% |
135/37 |
| Loss |
5 |
-5 |
28/37 |
75.68% |
-140/37 |
| Total |
5 |
|
37/37 |
100% |
-5/37 |
So, the Orphelins takes 5 chips and returns -5/37 on average or -1/37 (-2.703%) of bet. The player edge of the Orphelins is the same as any other bet. Average win is 135:9 = 15 chips or 300%.
The
Zero Spiel (from German it means "zero game") is a call bet covering the sector of 7 neighboring numbers around zero. The Zero Spiel requires 4 (or 4-order number) equal chips to combine four natural bets in the following schedule:
| Numbers |
Chips |
Win |
Probability |
Result |
| 0 3 |
1 |
17-3=14 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
28/37 |
| 12 15 |
1 |
17-3=14 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
28/37 |
| 26 |
1 |
35-3=32 |
1/37 |
2.70% |
32/37 |
| 32 35 |
1 |
17-3=14 |
2/37 |
5.41% |
28/37 |
| Win |
4 |
16.57 |
7/37 |
18.92% |
116/37 |
| Loss |
4 |
-4 |
30/37 |
81.08% |
-120/37 |
| Total |
4 |
|
37/37 |
100% |
-4/37 |
Therefore, the Zero Spiel takes 4 chips but returns -4/37 on average or -1/37 (-2.703%) of a bet. It is the same as other bets. Average win is 116:7=16.57 chips or 414.29%.
The most obvious difference between French and American roulette is the game table layout and, of course, the odds! The American roulette has additional zero signed "00" The location of the numbers on the roulette wheels in the French and American games differs also. The next table contains the indexes of natural bets:
| Bet |
Win |
Probability |
Result |
| Even Odd |
1 |
18/38 |
47.37% |
-2/38 |
-5.263% |
| Red Black |
1 |
18/38 |
47.37% |
-2/38 |
-5.263% |
| High Low |
1 |
18/38 |
47.37% |
-2/38 |
-5.263% |
| Dozen |
2 |
12/38 |
31.58% |
-2/38 |
-5.263% |
| Column |
2 |
12/38 |
31.58% |
-2/38 |
-5.263% |
| Six-Line |
5 |
6/38 |
15.79% |
-2/38 |
-5.263% |
| Corner |
8 |
4/38 |
10.53% |
-2/38 |
-5.263% |
| Street |
11 |
3/38 |
7.89% |
-2/38 |
-5.263% |
| Split |
17 |
2/38 |
5.26% |
-2/38 |
-5.263% |
| Straight |
35 |
1/38 |
2.63% |
-2/38 |
-5.263% |
| 0-00-1-2-3 |
6 |
5/38 |
13.16% |
-3/38 |
-7.895% |
You can see that player lose 5.263% of wagered money on any bet. The special bet "0-00-1-2-3" has a player edge -7.895%! Hence, the American roulette is at least two times worse than French is. It is a very nice way for casinos to add only one zero and with it to increase their income twice!
