Roulette offers plenty of ways to place chips, and some are less familiar than others. The Orphelins bet comes from French layouts and appears at both in-person and online tables in the UK. If you are new to roulette, the name can feel a bit mysterious at first.
This guide explains what Orphelins covers on the wheel, how it is arranged on the table, and what it pays. By the end, you will hopefully know how to recognise it and how it sits alongside other common bets. Read on to learn more.
What Is the Orphelins Bet in Roulette?
The Orphelins bet comes from the French style of roulette and refers to the numbers left out by the two larger wheel sections known as Voisins du Zéro and Tiers du Cylindre. The name “Orphelins” reflects that these numbers sit apart from those main groups.
There are eight numbers in the Orphelins: 1, 6, 9, 14, 17, 20, 31, and 34 on a single-zero European wheel. They are split across two separate parts of the wheel rather than forming one continuous arc. That wheel-based logic matters, because Orphelins is defined by position around the rim rather than by how numbers appear in order on the betting layout.
If you do decide to try your hand at roulette, remember to do so responsibly and within your means; never wager more than you can afford to lose.
How to Place the Orphelins Bet on the Table
On a standard European table, the most common version of Orphelins uses five chips to cover all eight numbers. It combines one straight bet on 1 with four split bets that sit on the shared lines between 6 and 9, 14 and 17, 17 and 20, and 31 and 34. Each split chip covers its pair, and the single chip on 1 covers that number alone.
Some tables offer a closely related variant that replaces the straight bet on 1 with a split on 1 and 20. The total coverage still amounts to eight wheel numbers, but the staking pattern looks slightly different. You will often find a racetrack panel or a dedicated “French bets” menu in online roulette that lets you select Orphelins in one click, with the game placing the individual chips for you.
Chip values can be adjusted within the table’s limits so the overall stake suits your budget. The important point is that each covered number stands on its own: if the winning number sits within your Orphelins layout, the corresponding chip or split is the part that settles, and the rest are treated as separate bets.
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Payouts and Odds for the Orphelins Bet
Orphelins covers eight numbers using five individual bets, so there are two types of potential return. If 1 hits, the straight bet on 1 pays 35 to 1. If any of the split pairs wins, that split pays 17 to 1.
Because you have five chips in total, the net result depends on which component wins. For example, with one unit on each position, a winning split returns 17 units, while the other four chips lose, for a net gain of 13 units. If 1 wins, the straight return is 35 units, offset by the four losing split chips, for a net gain of 31 units. The exact figures scale with your chip size.
On a European wheel there are 37 pockets, so a single covered number has a probability of 1 in 37, which is about 2.7%. Covering eight numbers gives an overall hit rate a little above 21%. The underlying house edge remains the same as other standard inside bets on a single-zero wheel.
Licensed operators in the UK must display rules, payouts, and stake limits clearly within the game. Before placing chips, skim the on-table help or paytable so you know which Orphelins version the game uses and the minimums that apply.
When Do Players Use the Orphelins Bet?
Orphelins suits anyone who wants coverage spread across two parts of the wheel rather than a long block of consecutive numbers. Some players pick it because it includes a personal favourite number or two; others like that it sits outside the larger Voisins and Tiers sections, giving a different pattern of coverage.
It may also appeal to those who prefer wheel-based betting over the grid on the felt. The racetrack view found in many online games shows these sectors neatly, and Orphelins is often available there as a quick selection. That convenience makes it straightforward to combine with other wheel bets if you want to build a layout that mirrors the rim.
As with any bet, it could be wise to keep stakes within a budget that suits you. Tools such as deposit limits and reality checks are widely available and can help you manage your play.
Orphelins Bet Compared to Other Roulette Bets
Unlike outside bets such as Red/Black, Odd/Even, or Columns, which cover many numbers and pay lower returns, Orphelins is an inside bet that targets a smaller set. The trade-off is straightforward: fewer numbers covered means less frequent hits, but the individual payouts are higher when they do land.
Against the other traditional French wheel bets, the contrast is about shape and size. Voisins du Zéro and Tiers du Cylindre both occupy continuous runs of pockets on the wheel, and together they take most of the rim. Orphelins steps in to cover the eight pockets that sit outside those two sections, using a mix of one straight and several splits rather than a single type of wager.
Rules and presentation vary slightly between games, but the core idea stays the same: Orphelins provides wheel-based coverage of eight specific numbers with standard inside-bet payouts. If that pattern suits the way you like to set up a layout, it is a clear, well-defined option to have in mind.
