La partage and en prison are special roulette rules that can change what happens to an eligible even-money wager when a single-zero wheel lands on 0. They are not automatic features of every European or French-labelled table. Before placing money, open the actual rules and confirm the named rule, eligible wagers, zero settlement, repeat-zero treatment and accepted stake.
This is general pre-play education. It does not claim that a current Lotwin roulette table offers la partage, en prison, a particular wheel, paytable, stake, provider or feature. The opened table's displayed rules and accepted-wager record are authoritative.
Start with the wheel and eligible wager
First confirm that the table uses the wheel and rule named on screen. A standard single-zero wheel contains 1–36 plus one 0, for 37 pockets. The special rules described here are commonly associated with single-zero roulette, but a single zero alone does not prove either rule applies.
Then check whether your wager is one of the stated even-money bets. Common examples are:
- red or black;
- odd or even;
- low 1–18 or high 19–36.
Dozens, columns, straight-up numbers, splits, streets, corners and other inside wagers are not even-money bets. Do not assume a special zero rule extends to them unless the opened table explicitly says so. The roulette learning hub explains the wider game, while the wheel zero-rule guide helps identify the wheel before you evaluate any exception.
La partage: settle half the stake after zero
Under a commonly documented la partage rule, zero on an eligible even-money wager returns half the stake and settles the other half as a loss. The round ends immediately.
For a hypothetical ₦1,000 red wager:
stake placed = ₦1,000
amount returned after zero = ₦1,000 × 1/2 = ₦500
net loss = ₦1,000 - ₦500 = ₦500
The returned ₦500 is not ₦500 profit. It is part of the original stake being returned. A results screen should therefore be read in terms of stake, amount returned and net result, not just a highlighted credit amount.
On a standard 37-pocket single-zero wheel with a 1:1 even-money payout, ordinary zero settlement produces an approximate 2.70% house edge. A simple half-back la partage settlement reduces that long-run edge on the qualifying wager to about 1.35%:
zero contribution = 1/37 × half the stake = 1.35% of stake
That is a long-run mathematical expectation, not a prediction, refund guarantee or reason to increase a stake.
En prison: hold the stake for the next stated resolution
Under a commonly documented en prison rule, zero does not immediately settle the eligible even-money stake as a full loss. The wager is held for a later spin. If the next qualifying result wins, the original stake may be released without normal winnings; if the opposite result wins, the stake is lost.
For a hypothetical ₦1,000 red wager held after zero:
| Next stated outcome | Common single-imprisonment treatment | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Red | Original ₦1,000 released, commonly without profit | Does the table return stake only? |
| Black | Original ₦1,000 lost | Does the rule settle immediately? |
| Zero again | Table-specific | Loss, continued imprisonment or another treatment? |
The repeat-zero row matters. Published rule sets differ on whether a second zero loses the wager, keeps it imprisoned or moves it into another imprisonment state. Do not calculate an exact return or house edge until this treatment is stated.
La partage and en prison are not the same action
Both rules address zero on certain even-money wagers, but they change settlement differently.
| Check | La partage | En prison |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate result after zero | Half the eligible stake is commonly returned | Eligible stake is commonly held |
| Another spin needed | No | Usually yes |
| Normal profit on release | Not applicable | Commonly no; stake only is released |
| Repeat-zero rule | Not normally relevant after immediate settlement | Must be checked |
| Main player task | Verify half-back amount | Verify release, loss and repeat-zero conditions |
A table may offer one rule, the other, a choice between them or neither. The label “French roulette” or “European roulette” is not enough evidence. Read the complete opened-table rules.
Use a five-point pre-play check
Before accepting an even-money roulette wager, verify:
- Wheel: Is the opened wheel single-zero, and does the rules page identify the same table?
- Named rule: Does it explicitly say la partage, half-back, en prison or another clearly defined term?
- Eligibility: Are red/black, odd/even and 1–18/19–36 all eligible, or only a stated subset?
- Settlement: After zero, is half returned, is the stake held, or does another rule apply?
- Repeat zero: If the stake is held, what happens if 0 appears again?
Also record the displayed stake before confirming. If you cannot answer all five points from the current table, treat the ordinary full-loss-on-zero rule as the safer assumption for budgeting or do not place the wager.
Keep the stake record separate from the wheel result
If a settlement looks wrong, save only the minimum useful evidence: table name, round or spin identifier, timestamp, selected wager, stake, displayed rule and result. Do not publish account details, passwords, one-time codes, identity documents or payment credentials.
The roulette inside-bet coverage guide explains which numbers a chip covers. La partage and en prison normally concern even-money wagers instead, so keep number coverage and zero-settlement checks separate.
Safer-play boundary
A lower long-run house edge still means a negative expected return, and it does not make a future colour or number more likely. Do not chase a zero result, increase stakes to recover a loss or extend a session because half a stake was returned or held. Set time and money limits before play, and use the Responsible Play guide if gambling is becoming difficult to control.
Sources and review note
Reviewed on 13 September 2026 against Wizard of Odds' current Roulette Basics explanation of French rules, eligible even-money wagers, half-back settlement, imprisonment and repeat-zero variation; its general roulette and house-edge references; the World Health Organization gambling fact sheet for harm boundaries; and the current Lotwin authority register for product and jurisdiction limits. This article explains general rules only. Recheck the opened table before relying on any rule, stake or settlement.