By Adedapo Adesanya

The manager of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, Thomas Frank, has been fired after only eight months in charge, with his team just five points above the relegation zone in the Premier League.

Despite leading Spurs to the round of 16 in the Champions League, Frank has overseen a despicable domestic campaign with no wins recorded so far in 2026.

The decision to part ways with the Denmark-born manager on Wednesday followed a 2-1 loss at home to Newcastle on Tuesday night.

Under the Dane, Spurs finished fourth in the Champions League league phase as they advanced to the last-16 stage.

Frank joined Tottenham last summer, signing a three-year contract to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou.

Under Postecoglou last season, Tottenham Hotspur recorded their worst Premier League campaign, finishing 17th with 38 points, having lost 22 of their 38 games. They did, though, qualify for the Champions League after winning the Europa League over Manchester United for their first trophy since the then-Carling Cup win over Chelsea in 2008.

The arrival of Frank, however, saw a small sliver of hope before it turned worse, with Spurs winning only six of their opening 16 league games. They suffered successive top-flight defeats in November, losing 4-1 to rivals Arsenal and 2-1 to Fulham.

Spurs began 2026 with draws against Brentford and Sunderland before losing to Bournemouth, getting knocked out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa and a defeat against West Ham United. Frank was jeered by supporters after each result.

Frank’s side rallied to secure successive 2-2 draws against Burnley and Manchester City in the Premier League, either side of Champions League victories, but a two-goal loss at Manchester United and defeat to Newcastle continued their winless run.

The club will be looking for a new manager ahead of its next set of games in the Premier League and in the Champions League.

French roulette distinguishes itself from American and European variants through two special rules that significantly reduce the house edge on even-money bets — La Partage and En Prison. These player-favorable rules apply specifically when the ball lands on zero, a situation where standard roulette rules award the entire bet to the house. Understanding how these mechanisms work, their strategic implications, and when they’re available provides players with valuable knowledge for selecting optimal roulette games and maximizing betting value. While American roulette maintains a 5.26% house edge with its double-zero wheel and European roulette offers 2.70% with a single zero, French roulette with La Partage or En Prison reduces the house edge to just 1.35% on even-money bets — among the lowest edges in traditional casino games requiring no skill beyond bet selection.

La Partage Rule Explained

La Partage, meaning “the sharing” in French, applies when the ball lands on zero while players have active even-money outside bets — red/black, odd/even, or high/low. Under this rule, players lose only half their wager rather than the full amount.

On a standard European wheel with La Partage, the house edge on even-money bets drops from 2.70% to 1.35%. When zero appears, the dealer collects half of each even-money bet and returns the remaining half. The process is straightforward and resolves immediately.

Crucially, La Partage applies only to even-money outside bets. Inside bets and other outside bets (dozens, columns) follow standard rules where zero results in complete loss.

En Prison Rule Explained

En Prison, meaning “in prison,” offers an alternative approach. Rather than immediately collecting half the wager, En Prison allows players to leave their bet “imprisoned” for the next spin, granting a second chance without additional risk.

When zero appears, the dealer places a marker on the bet indicating imprisoned status. On the subsequent spin, if the bet wins, the original wager is returned without additional winnings. If the bet loses, the house collects the imprisoned wager. If zero appears again, rules vary — some casinos implement “double imprisonment,” while others apply La Partage.

Mathematically, En Prison provides the same 1.35% house edge on even-money bets as La Partage. However, psychological and practical differences exist.

Comparing La Partage and En Prison

While mathematically equivalent, La Partage and En Prison create different playing experiences:

Gaming sites like Ice Casino online in the digital casino industry provide French roulette variants where players can experience these rules at virtual gaming platforms. Land-based casinos, particularly in European markets, more commonly offer En Prison for the dramatic element, while some venues implement La Partage for faster game flow.

Strategic Implications

The presence of La Partage or En Prison dramatically alters the optimal strategy. Players should actively seek French roulette tables with these rules rather than playing European or American variants. The house edge reduction from 2.70% to 1.35% effectively doubles expected playing time per dollar wagered.

Even-money outside bets become significantly more attractive. While inside bets maintain the standard 2.70% house edge, even-money bets enjoy the reduced 1.35% edge. Players should concentrate on wagering on red/black, odd/even, and high/low.

However, these rules don’t eliminate the house edge or create a beatable game. Players should maintain realistic expectations.

Betting systems like Martingale or D’Alembert rely heavily on even-money bets, making French roulette with La Partage or En Prison the optimal variant for these approaches.

Finding French Roulette with Special Rules

European land-based casinos, particularly in France and Monte Carlo, commonly offer authentic French roulette with these rules. United Kingdom casinos frequently provide French roulette variants. American casinos rarely offer French roulette with special rules.

Online casinos offer the widest access. Major software providers like Evolution Gaming, Playtech, and NetEnt include French roulette variants with La Partage or En Prison. Players should verify which rule applies before playing, as some platforms label tables “French Roulette” while implementing only the table layout without the crucial special rules.

Table minimums and maximums often differ between French roulette and other variants. Some casinos position French roulette as a premium offering with higher minimum bets.

Maximizing Value From Special Rules

Players should concentrate their action on even-money outside bets where these rules apply. While inside bets offer higher payouts, they maintain the standard 2.70% house edge.

Bankroll management becomes more forgiving. The 1.35% edge means players can expect approximately twice the playing time from a given bankroll compared to standard European roulette.

Players should understand that while La Partage and En Prison improve roulette odds substantially, they don’t create a positive expectation game. Variance still produces winning and losing streaks. The special rules simply ensure that over sufficient trials, losses accumulate more slowly, providing better value for casino gaming entertainment.

Have you ever stopped to think about the value of your digital inventory? For decades, gamers have poured thousands of hours—and often thousands of dollars—into unlocking rare character skins, powerful weapons, and unique mounts. In the traditional gaming world, these items are essentially “rented.” You pay for the privilege of using them, but you don’t actually own them. If the game server shuts down tomorrow, your prized possessions vanish into the digital ether.

However, a massive shift is occurring in the industry. The rise of “Play-to-Own” (PtO) economies is beginning to rewrite the rules of digital property. In this new model, players are no longer just consumers; they are owners who can trade, sell, and profit from the time and effort they invest in their favourite virtual worlds.

From “Pay-to-Play” to “Play-to-Own”

To understand why this is such a big deal, we have to look at the evolution of how we spend money in games. For a long time, the relationship was simple: you bought a disc, and you played the game. Then came microtransactions and “loot boxes,” where players spent money for a chance to get a cosmetic item.

Play-to-own takes this a step further by utilizing blockchain technology and decentralized markets. When you earn an item in a PtO game, it is minted as a unique digital asset that belongs to you, not the developer. This creates a “player-driven” market where the community decides the value of items based on scarcity and demand.

The Thrill of the Digital Market

The excitement of a play-to-own economy isn’t just about the gameplay itself; it’s about the adrenaline of the market. Watching the price of a rare “mythic” sword rise on a secondary marketplace can be just as engaging as the quest used to obtain it. This blend of entertainment and financial strategy is drawing in a demographic that enjoys calculated risks and high-energy environments.

This crossover is becoming increasingly visible as gamers look for more variety in their digital entertainment. For instance, many people who enjoy the strategic management of a gaming portfolio also find themselves drawn to the fast-paced, high-stakes atmosphere of a Spin City casino. Just as a player in a play-to-own game must decide the perfect moment to “cash out” their rare assets, a visitor at an online casino balances probability and intuition to make their next move. Both environments reward those who can stay cool under pressure and understand the ebb and flow of a marketplace. This synergy suggests that the future of digital fun isn’t just about the game mechanics, but the thrill of having “skin in the game” and the chance to walk away with more than just a high score.

The Mechanics of a Healthy Economy

For a play-to-own game to survive in the mainstream, it can’t just be about the money; the game actually has to be fun to play. We’ve seen early “play-to-earn” models fail because they felt more like a job than a hobby. The new “play-to-own” philosophy focuses on “fun-first” development.

Here are the four pillars that define a successful mainstream play-to-own economy:

• Sustainable scarcity: If everyone has a “legendary” item, no one does. Developers must balance item drops to ensure value remains high for dedicated players.
• Interoperability: The “holy grail” of PtO is the ability to take an item from one game and use it in another, creating a cross-platform digital wardrobe.
• Active sinks: To prevent inflation, games need ways to “consume” assets, such as combining two rare items to create a more powerful third one.
• Low barrier to entry: Mainstream players won’t jump through hoops. The best systems make the “ownership” part invisible until the player is ready to trade.

Overcoming the “Gamer Skepticism”

Despite the benefits, the transition to play-to-own hasn’t been without its hurdles. Many mainstream gamers are wary of “monetization” in their favourite series. They fear that adding a financial layer to gaming will ruin the immersion or create a “pay-to-win” environment where the wealthiest players always come out on top.

To win over this crowd, developers are focusing on “cosmetic-only” ownership. This means you can’t buy your way to power, but you can own the rarest, coolest-looking armour in the game. It allows for prestige and profit without breaking the competitive balance of the match. It’s about honouring the player’s time—acknowledging that if you spend 500 hours mastering a game, you should have something tangible to show for it.

A New Era of Value

The shift toward play-to-own economies represents the “coming of age” of the digital world. We are moving away from a time when digital items were considered “fake” or “worthless” and toward a future where our online time has a measurable value.

Whether you are a casual player looking to recoup some of the money you spent on a battle pass, or a hardcore trader hunting for the next big digital collectible, the message is the same: the wall between “virtual” and “real” value is crumbling. As mainstream studios continue to experiment with these programmes, the next big “stadium sport” might not just be about who plays the best, but who owns the most significant piece of the digital world. The pixels are finally becoming yours to keep.