One of the attractive features about the roulette table in casinos is the many different types of bet that you can make to keep the game varied and interesting. These bets can even vary from country to country, with certain types of bets allowed in the United States casinos and different types in European casinos.

For most, the roulette wheel can be an intimidating area of the casino. For this reason, many gamblers will stick with the well known types of bets that can be made directly on the table. However, if you want to impress the crowd that you are with on casino night, try calling a couple of French bets out to the dealer. French roulette bets are one of the variations that you can explore in many European casinos, and consist of a number of different types of bets that can add to the fun and excitement of the game.

You have to ask the dealer to place the French bets as they are on the wheel and not the table, the dealer will know what to do. One of these types of French roulette bets is the voisins du zero.

The term voisins du zero means "neighbors of zero." This is a nine chip bet that is placed as follows: two chips on zero, one chip on 4,7 split, one chip on 12,15 split, one chip on 18,21 split, one chip on 19,22 split, two chips on 25,26,28,29 corner, and one chip on 32,35 split. Your return will vary depending on the number that comes in on a voisins du zero roulette bet. This type of bet has a high chance of winning, at 45.9%. The house has an advantage of 2.703%.

Orphelins are another type of special roulette bet that you can make. The word orphelins means "orphans," and the bet consists of one chip placed on one, with eight orphans placed at four splits along the wheel. One chip is placed on 6,9 split, one on 14,17 split, one on 17,20 split and the last is on 31,34 split. With an orphelin roulette bet, you have a chance of winning exactly 24.7% of your bets.

Neighbors bets are very useful and a player should know how and when to use them. Here is an overview of two different Neighbors roulette bets. "Neighbors" bets are the numbers to the immediate left and right of a winning number on the roulette wheel. The XX and the Neighbors is a bet where you pick a number on the wheel and it covers the two numbers either side of it on the wheel, this usually requires 5 chips for each number as you are covering 5 pockets. So the next time you find yourself in a European casino, facing off against a roulette wheel, why not try something different and try out a French roulette bet, they may not increase your odds of winning, but they will make you look like a seasoned gambler and your friends are sure to be impressed with your knowledge of the game.