Orphelins meaning: orphelins, French for "orphans", is a roulette bet on the eight numbers left over when the wheel is split into voisins du zéro and tiers du cylindre: 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 on one side and 17, 34, 6 on the other. It takes five chips and pays unevenly, with 1 and 17 returning far more than the rest.
Orphelins covers 8 numbers in two separate arcs of the single-zero wheel, using 5 chips.
The chips go on 1 straight up and on the splits 6/9, 14/17, 17/20 and 31/34.
Number 17 is covered twice, so it pays the same as the straight-up 1: a net +£31 on a £5 bet.
The house edge is 2.70%, as for every bet on a European wheel.
Translation
Orphans
Numbers
1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, 34
Chips
5
Chance of a hit
8 in 37 (21.6%)
House edge
2.70%
Orphelins meaning: the numbers left behind
Classic French roulette divides the single-zero wheel into named sectors. Voisins du zéro takes the 17 numbers around zero. Tiers du cylindre takes the 12 opposite them. That leaves eight pockets that belong to neither group, sitting in two separate arcs on the wheel. Because they have no sector of their own, they were nicknamed the orphans.
The two orphan arcs are 17, 34, 6 (between 25 and 27) and 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 (between 33 and 22). On the table layout they look scattered, which is why the bet is placed from the racetrack on online roulette tables rather than chip by chip. Together, the three sector bets cover all 37 pockets.
How the orphelins bet is placed
The bet uses one straight-up chip and four split bets. The clever part is that two of the splits share the number 17.
Orphelins chip placement and what each hit returns with £1 chips
Chip
Numbers
Pays
Returned if it wins
Straight up
1
35 to 1
£36
Split
6/9
17 to 1
£18
Split
14/17
17 to 1
£18
Split
17/20
17 to 1
£18
Split
31/34
17 to 1
£18
If 17 lands, both the 14/17 and 17/20 splits win, so you collect £36, the same as a hit on 1. Some racetracks also offer an "orphelins plein" version with a straight-up chip on each of the eight numbers; that uses eight chips, and every hit returns the same amount. Check the game's help screen to see which version a table uses.
Orphelins worked example: a £5 bet over 37 spins
Suppose you stake £5 (five £1 chips) and, purely for illustration, every pocket lands exactly once over 37 spins. That is £185 staked.
Results of a £5 orphelins bet if each number came up once
Outcome
Times
Net per spin
Net total
1 or 17
2
+£31
+£62
6, 9, 14, 20, 31 or 34
6
+£13
+£78
Any other number
29
−£5
−£145
Total
37
−£5
A £5 loss on £185 staked is 2.70%, the single-zero house edge. Real spins never arrive this tidily: you might hit 17 twice in a row or miss twenty times. The Wizard of Odds roulette guide (opens in a new tab) explains why the edge is the same for every bet and why short-term results swing so widely.
Orphelins compared with the other French bets
Orphelins: 8 numbers, 5 chips, wins about 1 spin in 4.6.
Tiers du cylindre: 12 numbers, 6 chips, wins about 1 spin in 3.1.
Voisins du zéro: 17 numbers, 9 chips, wins about 1 spin in 2.2.
A neighbours bet: usually 5 numbers, 5 chips, wins about 1 spin in 7.4.
Fewer numbers means fewer, larger wins. None of these trade-offs changes the long-run cost. Our roulette bets guide lists every standard bet in one place.
Orphelins at UK casinos: rules and staying in control
French named bets appear on French roulette and many European roulette games at UK-licensed casinos. Since 17 January 2025, RNG versions must allow at least 5 seconds per game cycle and can't offer autoplay, so each orphelins bet is placed by hand. Our table game speed rules page explains the timing rule.
Sector bets can make a session feel busy and purposeful, which is a good moment to check that your play still feels like entertainment. The Gambling Commission's safer gambling advice (opens in a new tab) covers the tools every licensed casino must offer, and our safer gambling tools compared guide shows how they work.
Where to play orphelins at licensed UK casinos
Choose a single-zero table with a racetrack. Check the roulette and live casino sections at Coral Casino or PlayOJO for current tables, as ranges change.
Their welcome offers, checked 5 October 2026, apply to slots only. Coral (18+, new players, running to 1 February 2027) gives 100 free spins at 10p each on selected slots when you deposit and bet £10 or more on slots; accept them within 48 hours and use them within 7 days, with no wagering on the winnings. PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Paysafe and prepaid card deposits don't qualify. PlayOJO (18+, new UK customers except Northern Ireland) gives 80 Big Bass Bonanza free spins valued at 10p each for a first deposit of at least £10, and what they win is paid as cash. Terms apply.
If roulette is taking more time or money than you planned, GamCare (opens in a new tab) offers free, confidential support on 0808 8020 133.
We don't know of a partner offer for roulette sector bets such as orphelins; these two licensed slot spin offers are the nearest current match. 18+, terms apply.
Significant terms: 18+. New players only. Offer runs 01/10/2026 to 01/02/2027. Deposit (certain types excluded) and bet £10+ on slot games to get 100 free spins (selected games, £0.10 each, 48 hrs to accept, valid 7 days). No wagering on free spin winnings. Deposits by Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, prepaid cards and certain debit cards do not qualify. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. GamCare.org.uk
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18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What does orphelins mean in roulette?
Orphelins means "orphans" in French, and in roulette it refers to the eight numbers that fall outside both voisins du zéro and tiers du cylindre: 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31 and 34. The orphelins bet covers them with five chips. Because these numbers sit in two separate arcs, the bet is placed on the racetrack rather than the main layout. See our glossary for the other French roulette terms and roulette bets explained for the full list.
Which numbers are in the orphelins bet?
The orphelins bet covers 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31 and 34. On the single-zero wheel they form two arcs: 17, 34 and 6 on one side, and 1, 20, 14, 31 and 9 on the other. The chips go on 1 straight up and on the splits 6/9, 14/17, 17/20 and 31/34. The arrangement only works on the European wheel order, so look for it on European roulette or French tables.
Why does 17 pay more in the orphelins bet?
Seventeen is covered by two split bets, 14/17 and 17/20, so when it lands both chips win. Each split returns 18 times its chip, so with £1 chips you collect £36, the same as the straight-up chip on 1. The other six numbers are covered by one split each and return £18. It is a side effect of the layout, not a special payout rule. Our split bet entry explains how splits pay.
How much does an orphelins bet cost?
A standard orphelins bet costs five chips, so £5 with £1 chips or £2.50 with 50p chips. The "plein" version with a chip on each of the eight numbers costs eight chips. Live tables often have higher minimum chip sizes than RNG games, which raises the total. Before you play, check the table limits and set a spending cap with a deposit limit. Our table limits guide explains how minimums are set.
Is orphelins a good roulette bet?
Orphelins is no better or worse than any other bet on a single-zero wheel: the house edge is 2.70% whichever numbers you back. It wins about 21.6% of the time, with net wins of £13 or £31 on a £5 bet, and loses £5 otherwise. The best way to reduce the edge is to pick a better game, such as French roulette with la partage on even-money bets. The best roulette bet page compares the options.
Can I bet orphelins on live roulette?
Yes, most live single-zero tables at UK casinos include orphelins on the racetrack, sometimes labelled "Orphans" or "Orph". Tap it once and the five chips appear on the layout. Make sure the total fits within the table limits before the dealer closes betting. Our how to play live roulette guide explains the live betting window, and are live dealers real answers a common question about the streams.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get free support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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