The "En Prison" rule (French for "in prison") is a special rule applied to even-money bets (such as red/black, odd/even, high/low) when the ball lands on zero. This rule is typically found in European and French Roulette and is not available in American Roulette.
How Does the 'En Prison' Rule Work?
- You place an even-money bet.
- The ball lands on zero.
- Instead of losing your bet immediately, your bet is placed “in prison” and held for the next spin.
- On the next spin:
- If you win, your original bet is returned without profit.
- If you lose, the bet is forfeited.
How Does This Affect the House Edge?
- The 'En Prison' rule reduces the house edge for even-money bets.
- It offers players a second chance to recover their bet after a zero outcome.
- This makes even-money bets more appealing to cautious players, especially when compared to American Roulette, where the zero results in an immediate loss.
Comparison with the 'La Partage' Rule
Both rules lower the house edge, but ‘La Partage’ settles the outcome immediately, while ‘En Prison’ gives you the chance to recover your full bet on the next spin.
Summary
- 'En Prison' reduces the risk on even-money bets when zero hits.
- It provides a second chance to recover your bet, improving long-term return potential.
- Found mainly in French Roulette, it makes the game more favorable compared to versions without this rule.
