The wheel is divided into named neighbourhoods, and two small slices are left over
When a player at a European roulette table asks for the Orphelins, they are not naming a special rule or a side game. They are naming a fixed group of numbers that sit together on the wheel. The name is French for "orphans," and it exists because of how the wheel's other two famous sections were carved up first.
Call bets, sometimes called announced bets, are wagers on sections of the wheel rather than on the betting layout printed on the table. The two best-known sections are the Voisins du Zero and the Tiers du Cylindre. Voisins du Zero covers the seventeen numbers that neighbour the zero on the wheel. Tiers du Cylindre covers the twelve numbers on the opposite side of the wheel, roughly a third of the cylinder. Once those two groups are defined, a handful of numbers remain unclaimed on either side. Those leftovers are the Orphelins.
The Orphelins section is therefore not a single contiguous arc. It is two separate slices of the wheel, one on each side, containing eight numbers in total. The name stuck because the numbers are the ones that belong to neither of the two larger, more famous wheel neighbourhoods.
Which numbers the Orphelins bet covers
On a European single-zero wheel, the Orphelins bet covers eight numbers split across two pockets of the wheel. The exact composition is fixed by the wheel's physical order, not by the table layout. The numbers are 17, 34, 6 on one side, and 1, 20, 14, 31, 9 on the other.
The bet is usually sold as a single announced wager, but it is mechanically a bundle of smaller bets. The operator or croupier divides the total stake across the eight numbers according to a fixed formula. A common arrangement places one unit on the number 1 and one unit split across each of the other seven numbers, so the total stake is broken into five chips of equal value. The exact split can vary by house rule, and the croupier will state the total cost before the bet is accepted.
Because the Orphelins is a call bet, it is normally available only on tables that offer announced bets at all. Online roulette games with a racetrack betting interface usually include it as a preset button. On a physical table, the player asks for it by name and the croupier places the component bets on the layout.
How call bets differ from ordinary layout bets
An ordinary roulette wager is placed directly on the printed layout: a straight-up number, a split between two numbers, a corner, a column, and so on. A call bet is an instruction to cover a set of numbers that are adjacent on the wheel but scattered across the layout. The croupier translates that instruction into the component bets.
This distinction matters for two reasons. First, call bets are not available at every table or in every online game. Second, the minimum stake for a call bet is usually higher than the table minimum for a single straight-up bet, because the call bet is several wagers at once. The table's posted rules or the game's help panel will state whether announced bets are accepted and what the minimum is.
| Feature | Ordinary layout bet | Call bet such as Orphelins |
|---|---|---|
| Where the numbers sit | Adjacent on the printed layout | Adjacent on the wheel |
| How it is placed | Player places chips directly | Player announces the bet; croupier places components |
| Number of wagers | One wager | A bundle of several wagers |
| Availability | Every roulette table | Only tables and games offering announced bets |
| Minimum stake | Table minimum for that bet type | Often a higher combined minimum |
Why the name matters for how you read the bet
The word "orphans" tells you something real about the bet's structure. The Orphelins numbers are not a designed pattern; they are a remainder. That means the bet has no special mathematical property that the other call bets lack. It does not cover more of the wheel than its eight numbers, and it does not change the house edge on any of the component wagers.
Each component of the Orphelins bundle is a straight-up or split bet, and each carries the same house edge as any other straight-up or split bet on the same wheel. The bundle simply spreads the stake across eight numbers. The return profile is what you would expect from covering eight numbers on a 37-pocket wheel: the bet wins when one of the eight numbers lands, and loses the entire combined stake when any of the other 29 numbers lands.
It is worth comparing the Orphelins to the other two famous call bets to see why the sections exist as practical tools. Voisins du Zero covers 17 numbers, Tiers du Cylindre covers 12, and Orphelins covers the remaining 8. Together they account for all 37 pockets on a European wheel. A player who wants to cover a specific wheel neighbourhood, rather than a specific part of the layout, uses one of the three.
| Call bet | Numbers covered | Wheel position | Typical stake structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voisins du Zero | 17 | The arc around the zero | Multiple splits, a corner, and a trio, sold as a fixed bundle |
| Tiers du Cylindre | 12 | The opposite side of the wheel | Six split bets |
| Orphelins | 8 | Two small slices left over from the other sections | One straight-up and seven splits, commonly five chips |
What to check before you play the Orphelins
The first thing to confirm is whether the table or online game offers call bets at all. Many American-style tables and a large number of online roulette games do not. If the game has a racetrack-shaped betting area next to the main layout, call bets are usually available. If it does not, the Orphelins may not be offered.
The second thing to confirm is the total cost. Because the Orphelins is a bundle, the amount you announce is multiplied by the number of component bets. A croupier will state the total before placing the wager, and an online interface will show the total in the bet slip. Read that total before confirming.
The third thing is the wheel type. The Orphelins section is defined for a European single-zero wheel with 37 pockets. On an American double-zero wheel, the physical order of numbers is different, and the classic French call bets do not map onto it in the same way. If you are playing on a double-zero wheel, announced bets may not be offered at all, or the operator may use a different naming scheme. The game's help panel will state which wheel is in use.
How the bet settles
When the ball lands, the Orphelins bet settles exactly like the component bets that make it up. If the winning number is one of the eight covered numbers, the corresponding straight-up or split bet pays at its normal odds, and the other component bets lose. If the winning number is outside the eight, the entire bundle loses.
There is no special payout for the Orphelins as a whole. The name describes a grouping, not a distinct bet type with its own odds. The payout you receive is the payout of whichever component bet happened to win. A straight-up component pays at the standard rate for a straight-up bet on that wheel; a split component pays at the standard rate for a split.
Players sometimes assume a call bet carries a different house edge because it is sold as a package. It does not. The house edge on each component is the same as on any equivalent layout bet. The package changes how the stake is distributed, not the edge on the money wagered.
FAQ
Is the Orphelins bet available on American roulette wheels?
Usually not in the same form. The Orphelins section is defined by the number order on a European single-zero wheel. American wheels have 38 pockets and a different physical sequence, so the classic French call bets do not map onto them directly. Some tables may offer announced bets under different names, but the standard Orphelins grouping is a European-wheel concept. Check the game's help panel or ask the croupier which wheel and which call bets are in use.
Why does the Orphelins bet cost more than a normal straight-up bet?
Because it is not one bet. The Orphelins is a bundle of eight numbers, typically placed as one straight-up bet on the number 1 and seven split bets covering the other seven numbers. The total stake is therefore several times the value of a single chip. The croupier or the online bet slip will show the full cost before the wager is confirmed.
Do the Orphelins numbers change depending on the table?
No. On a standard European single-zero wheel, the Orphelins section always covers the same eight numbers: 17, 34, 6, 1, 20, 14, 31, and 9. The stake split across them can vary slightly by house rule, but the numbers themselves are fixed by the wheel's physical order. If a game uses a different wheel layout, the classic call bets may not apply at all.
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This article is general information about how these mechanics work. It is not legal advice and not a recommendation to gamble or to use any particular operator. Availability and legality differ by jurisdiction — check the rules that apply where you are.