French Roulette Gold
One complaint from new online casino players is that making the move from an Australia land-based casino to the online world is like having a gourmet steak dinner one night and then eating at Hungry Jack's the next. Both are tasty, but they satisfy you in different ways. Normally, when you make the move from online, you lose a lot of the elegance found at an upscale Australian casino. Well, it's time to say bonjour to feeling like a high roller from the comfort of home, whether you want to play for free, or real money.
French Roulette Gold is a lot like other variations of Roulette, except that Microgaming ups the ante by bringing back some of the magic lost when French Roulette first transitioned from live casinos to the online world. French Roulette Gold captures the elegance with upscale music, a classy table layout, and a rich environment that feels upscale. Read on to see how satisfying it truly can be.
History of French Roulette Gold
Did you know Roulette was invented in France in the 17th century? It's true. But France actually banned gambling at the time of Roulette's invention, so instead of gaining popularity in France, Roulette was limited to Monte Carlo. It was there that it became a huge success among casino players - and French Roulette players felt a bit left out.
That all changed in the 1900s when France lifted its ban on gambling. Unfortunately, the French weren't fans of the house edge in ordinary European Roulette. If you've played Roulette in Australia, you know that hitting zero means you lose - even if you've bet on evens. The only way to win a zero bet is to actually put money down on zero.
The French didn't like this, so they decided to create their own version of Roulette featuring a different table layout and a new rule that gives players a slightly bigger advantage.
How to play French Roulette
Betting at the French Roulette wheel works the same way as betting at a European Roulette table - except for the small fact that everything is French. Don't speak a word? No worries. It's easy to understand.
Evens and odds are replaced with the words pair and impair. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd dozen columns are represented by the letters P, M, and D, respectively. Manque means the first 18 numbers. And Pass means numbers 19 through 36. If you can remember these translations, you're ready to start playing Microgaming's version of French Roulette Gold. When you're ready to place your bet, just hover your cursor over the area of the table that you'd like to bet on. The felt will light up to indicate what you're about to wager on.
Betting differences in French Roulette
French Roulette Gold features the La Partage rule. If you bet on evens and the ball lands on zero, you actually only lose half your bet. This gives the house a slightly smaller house advantage because hitting zero nets the house less of a victory than normal.
Want to give French Roulette Gold a try? Land-based casinos in Australia don't offer it. But online, there are loads of options. We've reviewed French Roulette Gold at several Australian casinos. Read our reviews above to see which ones we love the most for playing French Roulette.
Frequently Asked Questions
Seeing as the French invented roulette, back in the 1700s, it’s only fitting that a version of the game should carry their name. French roulette is played on a classic roulette wheel with one zero pocket (American roulette wheels typically have two zeros), with all the features familiar to fans of American or European roulette, plus three added betting options.
The three added betting options in French roulette are called Voisins, Ophelins and Tiers, and represent three distinct areas of the wheel. Each combines to offer odds on the ball landing in pockets in those areas. Players can make additional bets to those three categories, on top of their regular bets.
French roulette also has the “La Partage” rule, which means players get 50% of their stake back should the ball land on zero and they have an even-money bet in play. Some versions of French roulette also incorporate the “En Prison” rule, by which a zero means all even-money bets stand for the next spin. Should the player win, they get their original stake back. Should they lose on the second spin, the bet is lost in its entirety.
How popular is French Roulette?
French roulette is perhaps not as popular globally as American roulette, or European roulette for that matter, but still draw huge numbers of punters both to land-based casinos and online. You’ll still find the format as a dominant roulette game in the famous venues of Monte Carlo and the majority of big-time online casinos will carry it also.
French roulette’s nuanced rules might put some players off, but others revel in the added complexity and the fact you’re getting closer to the game’s origins by playing on the French roulette wheel. Players also love the fact you can get chips back from a zero when you have an even-money bet on the table. That gives you more edge than you’ll enjoy playing American roulette.
Is it worth playing?
French roulette is 100% worth playing if you’re open to a new challenge and love experiencing new games - you can play just for fun, completely free, or try your luck for real money. All the thrills of American roulette are on offer, with the added bonus of those three specialist bets and the rules that mean you can get money back on zeros
Some might define French roulette as the connoisseur’s version of the game – such is its link to roulette history and the added elements that make for a more thoughtful challenge, and bring out the very best in your betting brain. If you’re new to roulette, or have only played the American wheel so far, you owe it to yourself to give the French version a spin – literally!
Can I use a betting system?
Betting systems have been around since roulette’s invention, but there’s yet to be one devised that’s guaranteed to win you money. If you’re looking for a secret formula to success, you’re going to be disappointed, but that doesn’t mean betting systems are entirely without benefit.
Some players like to use betting systems to provide some structure to their bets, and ensure they follow certain rules. Simple themes such as banking part of big win can be a good idea, for example, as they help you avoid losing too much in one sitting. Some players like to double down after losing, but there’s no real science to suggest that works in the long run.
We’d advise using betting systems only to regulate your spending and to define your tactics for each roulette session. Don’t think of them as ways to win big, more as a methodology for how you’ll spread out your spending and react to wins and losses along the way.
