En Prison Rule in Roulette

Updated On Oct 23, 2026
Dave Cooper Dave Cooper Casino Writer
Fact Checked Reviewer Paige Williams Paige Williams Casino Expert

The En Prison Rule in Roulette is associated with European roulette game. When learning roulette, the first thing players are taught is the difference between the European roulette wheel and the American wheel. The en prison rule is one of the harder roulette rules to find. The rule is known by its French name and is easier to find in Europe.

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Players will find that the house edge is lowered even further on even money bets when the En Prison rule is used. The roulette rule can be used at both European and French wheels at top online casinos that accept players from the United States.

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Understanding En Prison Rule Works

Meaning In prison, En prison is roulette variation that only covers even money bets. When the ball lands on the zero pocket the en prison roulette rule will kick in. Both the European and French wheel has a zero spot.

The dealer will put a marker on the bet to indicate that it is ‘En Prison’ until the next bet where the player will get their original bet back. Players who agree to have their bets en prison still have a chance to win. Should the ball land on the number zero again the player will lose their bet.

La Partage Roulette Bet Explained

La Partage is another popular roulette rule. The difference between En prison rule and La Partage lies in the bet amount players get back. As we mention in En prison players bets are in prison until the next spin. Players get half their bet back when playing and the ball lands on zero in La Partage.

When translated La partage means the divide, the players will receive even money bets in half for the player and the house. The rule also cuts the roulette house edge to about 1.35%.

En Prison Rule in Roulette

En Prison strategy Explained

Internet casinos often do not give players the options on how to treat their en prison bet. After the second spin, other casinos will treat the second loss as a loss like all the other losses. Other casinos will give players a chance to salvage their bet after a second consecutive zero landing.

Players will have to win one spin to get their bet out of the double imprisonment and into the standard en prison. Other casinos also have a triple en prison. It can get complicated, and players have to be focused to keep up.

Of course, not all web-based casinos will make your life that complicated. These types of casinos will not give you a chance to get to a double en prison. Instead, the casino will either use the La Partage rule, and you will get half your bet back.

It is advised to take half your bet back rather than going through 3 en prison levels. Players are sure to save money in the long run when playing using La Partage.

En Prison and La Partage Rules

Both the online roulette en prison rule and La partage rules are beneficial for players. La partage is often preferred over en prison as it offers a better deal between the dealers and the players. Application of the rules decreased the roulette house edge drastically, and players have a better chance of winning in European and French roulette.

Conclusion

The En Prison rule can make roulette more appealing to players who prefer even-money bets, as it gives them another chance to recover their original stake when the ball lands on zero. However, the rule’s exact terms can vary between casinos, so it is worth checking how each game handles imprisoned bets before playing.

If you want to learn more about roulette variations, explore our online roulette guide for an overview of the game and its rules. You can also discover the differences between traditional and dealer-hosted games with our guide to live roulette, or learn how the roulette wheel works to better understand the numbers and pockets behind every spin. Remember to set a budget before playing, as roulette outcomes are unpredictable and no rule guarantees a win.

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Dave Cooper

Dave Cooper

Dave Cooper is the Senior Content Manager at CasinoUS.com, leading the creation of informative and engaging content for casino players. Fueled by a fascination for the intricate world of online gaming and a talent for storytelling, Dave holds a journalism degree from UNLV, a perfect launchpad for his illustrious career.