How La Partage Cuts European Roulette’s House Edge to ~1.35% — What to Look for When Choosing a Table
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Key takeaways
- La Partage and En Prison halve the effective house edge on even‑money bets in single‑zero (European) roulette from 2.70% to about 1.35%.
- These rules only apply to outside even‑money bets (red/black, odd/even, 1–18/19–36); inside bets still carry the full 2.70% edge.
- Always check the table rules or game info panel — “European” does not automatically mean La Partage or En Prison.
Walk into a European roulette table and one number makes all the difference
That single green zero is the reason the European roulette house edge for a standard single-zero wheel is 2.70%.
If the table uses La Partage or En Prison on even-money bets, the effective edge on those wagers drops to about 1.35%.
That halving matters more than most players realise, especially if you prefer red/black, odd/even or high/low play.
Why the European roulette house edge matters
European roulette uses a single-zero wheel with 37 pockets: numbers 1–36 plus one green 0.
That is why the baseline house edge is exactly 1/37, or 2.70%.
You’ll find the same explanation on the Wikipedia roulette page and in most guides.
When a table has no special rules, every stake you place — whether a lone straight-up number (pays 35:1) or an even-money outside bet (pays 1:1) — carries that statistical disadvantage.
The only difference between bet types is variance: single-number plays hit rarely but pay big; outside bets hit often but pay small.
How La Partage and En Prison cut the European roulette house edge to ~1.35%
La Partage and En Prison are two small rule tweaks that change the math on even-money bets.
Both only apply to outside bets — red/black, odd/even, and 1–18/19–36 — and both only react to the zero.
- La Partage: when the ball lands on zero you immediately get half your even-money stake back and lose the other half.
- En Prison: when the ball lands on zero your stake is “imprisoned” for the next spin. If that next spin is a win, you get your original stake back (no profit). If it loses, you lose the stake; some casinos reapply En Prison again if another zero appears, but table rules vary.
Either way, you’re not losing the full stake every time the zero hits on those bets.
The practical result is the effective house edge on even-money bets halves — from 2.70% to about 1.35% — which is why these rules are prized by level-headed players.
The math behind the reduced house edge
Simple arithmetic tells the story. With a single-zero wheel the chance of any one pocket is 1/37.
Take a one-unit even-money bet. Under regular rules:
- Win on your numbers (18/37): +1 unit
- Lose on opposite numbers (18/37): −1 unit
- Hit zero (1/37): −1 unit
Expected value = (18/37)*(+1) + (18/37)*(−1) + (1/37)*(−1) = −1/37 ≈ −0.027027 → house edge 2.70%.
Under La Partage, that zero outcome changes to −0.5 units instead of −1.
So expected value becomes (18/37)*(+1) + (18/37)*(−1) + (1/37)*(−0.5) = −0.5/37 ≈ −0.0135135, or about 1.35% house edge.
En Prison produces the same long-run effect for outside bets (different mechanism, same net result) as described in standard rule summaries like the one at Roulette UK.
Important caveat: this reduction only applies to the even-money bets covered by those rules.
Inside bets — a single number, splits, streets, and so on — still face the baseline 2.70% unless the operator explicitly states otherwise.
European vs American roulette — how edges compare
The other common wheel — American roulette — adds a second green pocket, the double zero (00), so you have 38 pockets total.
That extra zero increases the house advantage: the typical American roulette house edge is 5.26% (which equals 2/38).
That percentage is roughly twice the European baseline and explains why experienced players prefer the single-zero wheel.
You’ll find that comparison laid out on pages like Casinos.com’s European roulette guide.
Put it plainly: if you like even-money play and can find La Partage or En Prison on a single-zero wheel, you’re looking at an effective edge on those bets about four times better than the same even-money bets on a typical U.S. double-zero wheel.
How to pick the right table online or live
Finding a table with La Partage or En Prison isn’t hard, but it’s not automatic either.
Here’s what I check every time I sit down — online or in person.
What to check before you play
- Look for the rule name in the table info. On online tables there’s usually a rules panel — check it. Live-dealer lobbies will sometimes list “La Partage” or “En Prison” in the game title or description.
- Check the stated European roulette RTP or game details for your jurisdiction. Operators often quote 97.3% for standard European roulette, but if La Partage is enabled the effective RTP on even-money bets is higher (reflecting the reduced edge).
- Ask the dealer or support if unsure. In a live game the floor staff will tell you whether zero returns half the stake or imprisons it.
- Confirm the spin rules. Some live variations reapply En Prison on consecutive zeros; others do not. That small detail changes the exact short-term behaviour even if long-term expectation is similar.
Which bets actually benefit from La Partage?
Only even‑money bets. That means:
- Red/Black
- Odd/Even
- 1–18 / 19–36
If your playstyle centres on those bets — slow, steady, low-variance action — La Partage or En Prison is a real advantage.
If you’re chasing straight-up numbers or corners, those rules won’t help; the straight-up 35:1 payout still faces the full 2.70% edge.
Practical examples and a quick sanity check
Say you play 100 spins placing £10 on red each spin.
Without La Partage, expected loss ≈ 100 × £10 × 2.70% = £27.
With La Partage the expected loss on those same even-money bets ≈ 100 × £10 × 1.35% = £13.50.
That £13.50 difference isn’t a guarantee you’ll save that exact amount in a session, but it’s the long-term expectation, and over many sessions it adds up.
If you prefer a faster roller approach — heavy on straight-up numbers — the La Partage benefit fades.
The rule only changes outcomes when zero hits the table and you hold outside bets.
Online variants and what providers show you
Online games come in two flavours: RNG tables and live dealer streams. Both can offer La Partage or En Prison, but they display rules differently.
RNG titles usually show RTP and rules in a panel; live games list rules in the lobby or on-screen.
For example, BetMGM’s site lists a Play’n GO “European Roulette Pro” title with a 97.3% RTP noted, while also warning RTP can vary by jurisdiction.
Bottom line: don’t assume “European” equals La Partage. Check the specific table.
If the operator quotes a 97.3% RTP and doesn’t mention La Partage, you probably have the standard 2.70% edge.
If they advertise La Partage or En Prison, expect the even-money edge to be roughly 1.35%.
One more practical note: table limits and dealer speed matter too.
A slow dealer and low limits favour longer sessions where the reduced edge pays off; high minimums or a sprinty game can negate the practical benefit for your bankroll.
Also, remember the house has the edge overall. These rules improve the mathematics, they don't flip it in your favour.
Quick rule-of-thumb checklist
- Prefer European (single-zero) wheel over American (double-zero) wherever possible.
- Look for “La Partage” or “En Prison” in the game rules if you play outside bets often.
- Confirm RTP and jurisdictional settings in the game info panel.
- Match your stake level and patience to the table limits — the reduced edge is more meaningful over lots of spins.
Those are the things I check before putting chips down. It’s not glamorous, but it’s sensible.
Conclusion
The single-zero wheel gives European roulette a cleaner baseline than its American cousin, and La Partage/En Prison chops the effective edge on outside bets roughly in half — from 2.70% to about 1.35%.
If you like outside bets, hunting down La Partage or En Prison tables is a no-brainer: it materially improves your expected return over time.
Just remember to check the game rules or RTP panel each time, because not every “European” table actually offers those rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the European roulette house edge with La Partage?
With La Partage applied to even‑money bets the effective house edge on those bets is about 1.35% — half the regular 2.70% edge on a single-zero wheel. That’s the practical takeaway players rediscover every time they find a La Partage table.
Does En Prison give the same advantage as La Partage?
Yes, in long-run expectation En Prison produces roughly the same reduction to about 1.35% on even-money bets. The mechanism is different (your stake is held for one more spin), but mathematically the hit to the house edge is essentially halved compared with no-rule play.
Does La Partage change payouts on inside bets?
No. La Partage and En Prison only affect even-money outside bets. Straight-up numbers, splits, streets and the rest still operate under the standard payouts and the base 2.70% edge.
Is European roulette always better than American?
Generally yes: the baseline house edge on a single-zero European wheel is 2.70% versus about 5.26% on a double-zero American wheel. If you combine the European wheel with La Partage or En Prison on outside bets, those bets become even more favourable compared to the American version.
Where can I find which tables use La Partage?
Online, check the game info panel and the title/lobby description. Live dealers usually have rules listed in the lobby or on the table screen. If in doubt, ask support or the dealer. The simplest spotting method is checking whether the operator advertises La Partage in the game name or rules — if they do, it’s there.
