Definition
La Partage is a French roulette rule that applies to “even-money” bets like Red/Black, Odd/Even, or High/Low. If the ball lands on zero, the rule dictates that the player loses only half of their wager, while the other half is returned to them immediately.
In context
Imagine you place a $100 bet on Red at a French roulette table. If the ball lands in the green zero pocket, instead of losing your entire $100, the dealer will return $50 to you under the La Partage rule. You only “lose” the other $50, which is effectively “partitioned” (the literal meaning of the French word).
Why it matters
La Partage is one of the most player-friendly rules in any casino because it dramatically reduces the house edge. On a standard single-zero European wheel, the house edge is 2.70%. With the La Partage rule in effect, the house edge on even-money bets is cut exactly in half to 1.35%, making it one of the best bets on the floor.
Related terms
In detail
In the world of casino math, small percentages represent massive amounts of money over time. La Partage is the gold standard for roulette players who understand how the house actually makes its money. To understand why La Partage is so important, you first have to understand the “Zero Problem” in roulette.
The Math of the Green Zero
In American roulette, there are two green pockets (0 and 00). In European roulette, there is one (0). These pockets are the “house’s insurance.” If you bet on Red, and the ball lands on a number from 1 to 36, you have a roughly 50/50 chance. But the zero is neither red nor black, neither odd nor even. Without special rules, when the ball hits zero, all outside bets (the ones paying 1 to 1) are swept into the casino’s tray.
In a standard single-zero game, that zero appears once every 37 spins. That creates a house edge of 1/37, or 2.70%.
How La Partage Changes the Game
When a table offers La Partage, the casino is essentially giving you a 50% refund on your “insurance” whenever the house hits its number. Instead of losing 100% of your bet 1/37th of the time, you only lose 50% of your bet 1/37th of the time.
Mathematically, this drops the house edge from 2.70% to 1.35%. To put that in perspective:
- American Roulette (0 and 00): 5.26% House Edge
- European Roulette (Single 0): 2.70% House Edge
- French Roulette with La Partage: 1.35% House Edge
For a player betting $100 per spin on Red/Black, playing on a La Partage wheel instead of an American wheel saves them an average of $3.91 per spin. Over a four-hour session, that’s hundreds of dollars staying in the player’s pocket simply because they chose the right table.
La Partage vs. En Prison
Many players confuse La Partage with “En Prison.” While they are related, they operate differently. Under En Prison, if the ball lands on zero, your bet is “put in prison.” It stays on the table for the next spin. If your bet wins on that next spin, you get your original money back (but no profit). If it loses, it’s gone.
La Partage is generally considered superior by professional players because it is “clean.” There is no waiting for the next spin, no complicated tracking of “imprisoned” chips, and no risk of losing the entire amount on the subsequent roll. You get your 50% back instantly, and you are free to do whatever you want with it—bet it again, switch sides, or walk away.
Where to Find It
Because this rule is so disadvantageous to the casino, you won’t find it just anywhere. In the United States, it is almost exclusively found in high-limit rooms at major Las Vegas resorts (like the MGM Grand, Bellagio, or Wynn) and is usually played on high-minimum tables. In Europe, particularly in Monte Carlo or high-end London clubs, it is much more common.
From a casino operations perspective, we only offer La Partage to attract high-volume “whale” players who understand the math. We know that by cutting our edge, we are giving up profit per spin, but we hope to make it up in “handle” (the total amount wagered) by keeping the player at the table longer. For the smart player, the rule is simple: if you have the bankroll to meet the table minimum, you should never play roulette without La Partage.