Of all the roulette numbers, none of them stick out quite like zero. The green zero space doesn’t fit into popular outside plays, and it’s responsible for roulette’s house edge, so many players are wary of landing on it.
However, landing on zero can help you out if you’re playing on a roulette with the La Partage rule. La Partage – a French term for ‘sharing’ or ‘the divide’ – can be your secret weapon when you’re playing at some roulette wheels with a single zero pocket.
Here’s a breakdown of the La Partage roulette rule:
- What is it?
- How does it change the game?
- Where can you find it in action?
Let’s start.
What is the La Partage Rule?
La Partage kicks in if you make a 50/50 outside play (red/black, high/low, even/odd) only to land on the zero space of the roulette instead. If that happens, the amount you put forward is halved. You lose one half and get the other half back, so La Partage can save you from losing bankroll unnecessarily. If it wasn’t for the La Partage rule, you’d lose the whole play.
This rule has roots in old French casinos, hence the name, but it has become more widespread through general European roulette wheels. As we said, the zero influences the house edge of roulette. As such, the La Partage rule makes the house edge even smaller while making the zero a less intimidating presence on the wheel.
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How Does La Partage Work?
Let’s get into some details for how La Partage works. First, you should know that this rule is attached to the specific roulette wheel you’re playing on. This means that, when present at a table, you don’t need to activate it during the decision phase of the game. So long as you made an even-odds outside play and it lands on the 0 pocket of a roulette that includes it, the La Partage rule applies.
It does not work for plays that aren’t (close to) 50/50 odds.
Should the ball land on zero, the dealer will take half of what you put down, and direct the other half back to you. Your play have been divided, and you can dedicate your half to a new play when the next round starts.
How La Partage Benefits Your Game
The main benefit of La Partage rule roulette is quite obvious – it gives you half your playback if the wheel lands on zero. For example, if you put 20 down, you’ll get 10 back for the next play. It provides additional safe harbor for those who place those popular red/black, high/low, or even/odd plays.
That’s a great advantage if/when the zero lands, but we’ve also mentioned how the existence of the La Partage rule also skews the house edge in the player’s favor. By the numbers, American roulette has a house edge at 5.26% while European roulette has a 2.7% house edge. With La Partage, that 2.7% figure can be split in half to reflect its sharing action. That makes for a 1.35% house edge. This lower house edge means that, theoretically, a player’s bankroll can last longer.
Since La Partage doesn’t ask for any contribution from the player, it’s seen as a player-friendly rule with no real setback or negative impact on the game. If there is a downside, it’s that it only applies to certain plays. For fans of getting the best odds, La Partage has a special allure that continues today.
Which Roulette Wheels Allow La Partage?
You won’t find the La Partage rule at all roulette wheels. In fact, it’s only available through French roulette and sometimes its broader European offshoot.
There is no american roulette that includes this rule, on top of it carrying a higher house edge compared to French and European counterparts (thanks to the extra 0 pocket).
This is because La Partage originated from French tables in the 1800s. It should be a given at any French table, but it’s a good idea to check beforehand if you’re scouting for this unique gameplay mechanic. Over the years, some European tables have accepted the rule. Many online casino providers implement La Partage on their European roulette tables, for example.
Now, if you’re playing roulette in the US, most casinos will not use La Partage even if they operate a French/European roulette table. There are notable exceptions to this rule – some of Las Vegas’ most iconic sites typically allow La Partage.
The online casino landscape, including social casinos, are also very accepting of the La Partage rule.
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How La Partage is Different to En Prison
La Partage isn’t the only special rule that can apply to the zero pocket. There is also the En Prison roulette rule – “in prison” – if that wasn’t obvious. While La Partage halves your play and gives one half back to you, En Prison locks it and gives players another chance at winning it back.
Some tables may offer both, you can take La Partage or opt into an En Prison spin. Both rules are slightly different approaches to making the zero pocket more interesting, and potentially make the player’s roulette bankroll management easier as it will go further.
As you may expect, these special zero rules only work with tables that have a single zero space. American roulette, with its single and double zero spaces, don’t have La Partage or En Prison.
The La Partage Rule Summarized
To summarize, the La Partage rule is your friend, as it doesn’t makes a zero pocket a complete loss. It lets you fall on your feet and be better prepared for the next spin of the wheel – luckily, that will be the lucky one.
This changes how you engage with the game, but it also modifies the house edge calculations so that they become more favorable to the player.
Now you know what La Partage is about, but there’s much more to playing roulette. Experience roulette strategies, bankroll management systems and the rules for yourself at McLuck social casino today.
Don’t forget to cross your findings with our social casino game guides at McLuck blog to become a better player.
