Guide · Table games
Boule and the French casino games
How boule works, why the 5 matters, how its house edge compares with roulette, plus a short introduction to chemin de fer and trente-et-quarante.
Read the guide · 8 minWalk through any of the casinos in this guide and, beyond the classic tables, you will find banks of screens gathered around a roulette wheel under glass, or a live croupier whose game is relayed to dozens of seats. These electronic and automated table games have spread fast across European casinos. Cannes, for instance, says it was the first French casino to install electronic poker and English roulette tables.
They offer lower minimums, less intimidation and a seat when the live tables are full. They are also faster, and speed has consequences. This guide explains the main formats, what stays the same, what changes, and how to use them sensibly.
The main formats
Electronic roulette terminals are individual seats with touchscreens showing a roulette layout. Bets are placed on screen, and the result comes from a physical wheel (either spun by a croupier or by machine) or, in some fully virtual versions, from a certified random-number generator. French casinos often label these as roulette anglaise électronique.
Automated wheels are real roulette wheels that spin and launch the ball mechanically, often using air jets, with no croupier. Sensors read the result and settle bets automatically on the terminals arranged around the wheel. Live-dealer terminals, sometimes called stadium or hybrid games, connect many seats to one or more live tables in the same casino, so dozens of people can bet on one croupier’s roulette, blackjack or baccarat game. Electronic blackjack and poker tables use a shared screen for the dealer’s cards and individual screens for players.
The same house edge applies
An electronic terminal does not change the mathematics of the game it represents. A single-zero roulette wheel carries a house edge of about 2.7 per cent whether you bet with chips or a touchscreen. The same is true of blackjack, baccarat and house-banked poker, provided the rules and pay tables are identical to the live version.
The catch is that they are not always identical. Some electronic games use different pay tables, add side bets, or, particularly outside France, run on double-zero wheels with a higher edge of around 5.3 per cent. Read the help screen on the terminal, which is required to state the rules, before you place a bet.
Minimums and access
The biggest attraction of electronic tables is their low entry point. Minimum bets on terminals are usually well below those at live tables and can be a fraction of the cost. They also remove the social pressure of a crowded table, making them a natural place for newcomers.
Access rules are unchanged. You still pass through the casino’s ID check and registration, age limits still apply (21 at Baden-Baden, 18 at the other casinos in this guide), and national or operator exclusion systems cover electronic games in exactly the same way as live ones.
Speed: the hidden cost
A busy live roulette table may manage around thirty to forty spins an hour, because the croupier must collect losing chips, pay winners and handle new bets. An automated wheel with terminals can often run considerably more, and virtual games more still. The same applies to electronic blackjack, where cards are dealt instantly.
Because expected loss is the house edge multiplied by the amount staked multiplied by the number of rounds, a faster game costs more per hour even when the edge and stake are identical. A cheaper minimum can easily be offset by the pace. Set a time limit as well as a money limit, and take breaks away from the screen.
Credits, tickets and cashing out
Most terminals accept banknotes or casino tickets and display your balance as credits. When you cash out, the terminal prints a ticket that you can redeem at a kiosk or cashier. Keep an eye on your running balance: credits feel less tangible than chips, which is one reason it is easy to spend more than intended. Never leave a ticket in a terminal, and remember that credits cannot be transferred between players.
Etiquette on the electronic floor
Do not reserve terminals for long periods when others are waiting; many casinos limit how long a seat can be held. Keep drinks away from screens, keep the volume of conversation low near live-dealer tables, and never photograph screens, croupiers or other players. If a terminal malfunctions, call an attendant rather than trying to fix it yourself; results are recorded and disputes are settled from the game history.
Using them responsibly
Electronic games combine low minimums, high speed and few natural pauses, a mix that can make time and money disappear quickly. Treat them the same way you would the live tables: decide a budget and a finishing time before you sit down, cash out tickets when you stop, and walk away if you notice you are chasing losses. If gambling is affecting you, contact a helpline such as Gambling Therapy (international) or, in France, Joueurs Info Service on 09 74 75 13 13.
At a glance
| Format | Who runs the game | Typical speed | Typical minimum | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Live roulette table | Croupier at the wheel | Slower (roughly 30–40 spins/hour when busy) | Higher | Same as rules (≈ 2.7% single zero) |
| Automated wheel with terminals | Machine spins and launches ball | Faster | Low | Same as rules |
| Live-dealer terminals | Croupier at a live table relayed to seats | Similar to or faster than live | Low | Same as rules |
| Virtual (RNG) table game | Certified random-number generator | Fastest | Lowest | Check help screen; varies |
| Electronic blackjack | Screen dealer, often RNG | Faster | Low | Depends on rules; check help screen |
Speeds and minimums vary widely between casinos and times of day; these are general tendencies, not guarantees.