How to Play Sic Bo: Rules, Bets and Payouts
By John Isaac,Editor at online-gambling.com
John Isaac
Editor at online-gambling.com | Rules Difficulty | Easy |
|---|---|
| Best RTP | 97.22% |
| Lowest House Edge | 2.78% on Small or Big |
| Bets on the Layout | More than 50 |
| How to Win | Best Tips |
Sic Bo Simulator – Try Our Sic Bo Demo
Sic bo is a three-dice game that came out of China and remains a fixture in Macau and across Asian casino floors. There is nothing to learn beyond where the chips go: you bet on what the three dice will add up to, or on which numbers will show, and every payout is printed on the layout in front of you. The table looks crowded, but the choices behind it are simple. Try the demo below on play credits if you want to see a round before staking anything.
PlayHow to Play Sic Bo – Beginner’s Guide
Whether you are at a live dealer table or an RNG version, the game works the same way. Three dice are shaken in a covered container, you bet on the outcome, and the dice are revealed. There is no decision to make once the chips are down and no skill element at all, which puts the whole value of the game into a single question: which bet did you pick? Below is the layout you will be looking at.
Sic Bo Rules – Learn How to Play
There is nothing to memorize. Every payout is printed on the layout, directly under the bet it belongs to, and the only numbers not shown are the table’s minimum and maximum for each bet type. A round runs like this:
- Place your chips on one or more of the betting areas on the layout.
- Betting closes. At a live table you get a fixed window, usually 15 to 20 seconds.
- The three dice are shaken and revealed.
- Losing bets are cleared and winning bets are paid at the odds printed on the layout.
That is the whole game. Everything that matters happens before the dice are shaken, in the choice of bet, so the section below runs through every option on the layout and what each one costs you.
Online Sic Bo Bets – What You Should Know
A sic bo layout carries more than fifty separate bets, which is what makes the table look intimidating at first. They fall into a handful of groups, and once you can name them the layout reads easily. The payouts below are the Macau pay table, which most online versions follow. Some operators use the Atlantic City figures instead, which pay more on the rarest bets.
- Small – The three dice total 4 to 10. Pays 1:1, and loses if all three dice match. Jointly the best bet on the table.
- Big – The three dice total 11 to 17. Pays 1:1, and again loses on any triple.
- Odd and Even – The total is odd or even. Pays 1:1, loses on a triple, and carries the same edge as Small and Big. Not offered at every table.
- Single Number – You back one number from 1 to 6. Pays 1:1 if it lands on one die, 2:1 on two, 3:1 on all three.
- Two-Dice Combination – You back two different numbers to both appear. There are 15 of these on the layout, each paying 5:1.
- Total – You back an exact total from 4 to 17. Payouts run from 6:1 on the common totals up to 50:1 on 4 and 17.
- Specific Double – You back a particular number to show on at least two dice. Pays 8:1.
- Specific Triple – You back a particular number to show on all three dice. Pays 150:1, the biggest payout on the layout.
- Any Triple – Any three matching dice. Pays 24:1.
The payouts on the rarer bets look generous, and that is the trap sic bo sets. Small and Big are the only bets on the layout priced anywhere near fairly, and the gap between them and everything else is far wider than in most casino games. The next section puts a number on it.
Odds, Payouts and House Edge by Bet
Here is every bet on the layout with what it pays, how often it actually lands, and what it costs you over the long run. The last column is the one to read, because it is the only figure that tells you what a bet is worth rather than what it looks like it is worth. The table is sorted from cheapest to most expensive and uses the Macau pay table.
| Sic Bo Bet | Pays | Chance of Winning | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | 1:1 | 48.61% | 2.78% |
| Big | 1:1 | 48.61% | 2.78% |
| Odd or Even | 1:1 | 48.61% | 2.78% |
| Single Number | 1:1 / 2:1 / 3:1 | 34.72% / 6.94% / 0.46% | 7.87% |
| Total of 10 or 11 | 6:1 | 12.50% | 12.50% |
| Two-Dice Combination | 5:1 | 13.89% | 16.67% |
| Total of 4 or 17 | 50:1 | 1.39% | 29.17% |
| Specific Triple | 150:1 | 0.46% | 30.09% |
| Any Triple | 24:1 | 2.78% | 30.56% |
| Specific Double | 8:1 | 7.41% | 33.33% |
Read down that last column and the game gets simple. Small and Big cost 2.78%, which is competitive with blackjack or baccarat. Everything else costs between three and twelve times as much. The specific double, which looks modest at 8:1, is the most expensive wager in the table above.
House Edge and RTP
The house edge is the share of a bet the casino expects to keep over the long run, and RTP is the same number seen from the other side. Most casino games have one figure for the whole game. Sic bo is unusual because the figure changes completely depending on which box you put your chips in, running from 97.22% RTP on Small and Big down to roughly 53% on the worst total bet.
The totals deserve their own table. Their payouts vary more between operators than any other bet, and the difference is large enough to matter. Both the Macau and Atlantic City pay tables are common online.
| Total | Macau Pays | Atlantic City Pays | Chance | House Edge (Macau) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 17 | 50:1 | 60:1 | 1.39% | 29.17% |
| 5 or 16 | 18:1 | 30:1 | 2.78% | 47.22% |
| 6 or 15 | 14:1 | 17:1 | 4.63% | 30.56% |
| 7 or 14 | 12:1 | 12:1 | 6.94% | 9.72% |
| 8 or 13 | 8:1 | 8:1 | 9.72% | 12.50% |
| 9 or 12 | 6:1 | 6:1 | 11.57% | 18.98% |
| 10 or 11 | 6:1 | 6:1 | 12.50% | 12.50% |
Two things stand out. Under the Macau pay table, a total of 5 or 16 is the single worst bet on the layout at 47.22%, worse than any triple, which is the opposite of what most sic bo guides will tell you. And a total of 7 or 14 is the one long shot that is not badly priced, at 9.72%. Check which pay table your table uses before backing any total, because the Atlantic City column is more generous on precisely the bets where Macau is most expensive.
Sic Bo Online Games – Live and RNG Variations
When it comes to table games, there are always two main variations involved – RNG and live dealer options. While some players find sitting at a table with a dealer the more exciting way to enjoy a game, others prefer the more secluded atmosphere of an electronic table. Depending on which of the two main table types you pick, the odds and table layout might differ, but the betting options remain the same. Below are the sic bo versions you can come across, so you can choose the one that best suits your style.
- Sic Bo Macau
- Bitcoin Sic Bo
- Super Sic Bo
- Grand Hazard
- Classic Sic Bo
Due to the game’s popularity, lots of software providers have turned their attention to providing their own versions of the game. The top software providers of the gambling industry are also in the mix, and more details about their sic bo offerings can be found below.
RNG Games – Your Top Sic Bo Options
If you like sic bo but live dealing isn’t your first choice, there is still a way to enjoy dice-rolling action. Random number generated games (RNG games) rely on an algorithm with which they determine what combination will be drawn in the end. Since sic bo is quite loved among gamblers, RNG options have also been created and can be found among most of the best gambling sites. However, when it comes to choosing the top gaming providers, we’ve added some of them in the following list below:
- Playtech
- Habanero
- OneTouch
- BGaming
- 1X2Gaming
RNG sic bo is the version to pick if you want to take your time. There is no dealer waiting on you, no betting window, and table minimums are usually lower, which makes it the better place to work through the bets in the table above.
Play Live Dealer Sic Bo – All You Must Know
Live dealer games remain hugely popular when it comes to table games, so it’s no wonder that multiple versions can be seen across most operators. However, since there are regular gamblers and ones who are more experienced, betting limits have also been made different so more players can enjoy live casino sic bo. Just like in the RNG paragraph, top software providers are again involved and we’ve added some of them in the list below:
- Super Sic Bo by Evolution
- Live Sic Bo by Playtech
- Live Sic Bo by Vivo Gaming
Live sic bo is where the game feels closest to a Macau floor, and every major live table runs on phones and tablets as well as desktop. Evolution’s Super Sic Bo is the variant worth knowing about: it applies random multipliers of up to 1,000x to selected bets each round. Those multiplied bets carry reduced base payouts in exchange, so read the pay table rather than assuming the multipliers make it a better deal.
Which sic bo tables you can reach depends on where you are. Sic bo demand is heaviest across Asia, and our Hong Kong casino guide covers the sites serving that market. For other regions, see our US casino guide and Philippines casino guide, each with the payment methods and legal rules that apply locally.
Our Top Tips – Learn How to Win at Sic Bo
Nothing you do at a sic bo table changes the odds of the dice. What the tips below do is stop you paying more than you need to, because in this game the difference between the cheapest bet and the most expensive one is a factor of seventeen. Start with the house edge table and work back from there.
- Learn how to play sic bo – remember that the game has various bets which you can use for a combination of three dice. Payouts are always written on the table.
- Check the main rules – knowing the basics is always essential but perfecting them through experience helps you to really understand them to the fullest.
- Improve your skills by playing free online sic bo – whenever there’s a demo version available, make sure to take advantage of it as it will always be of help in the beginning.
- Choose the right sic bo game for you – there are different versions available, so choose the one which best suits your style, with bets and odds you are comfortable with.
- Choose your sic bo bets wisely – since there are lots of betting options available, you should be familiar with the risks and rewards they bring to the table.
- Consider the payouts and odds – the higher the risk, the more money you can potentially win. However, bet responsibly and know that the casino always has an edge.
- Check which pay table the game uses – the totals in particular are priced very differently between the Macau and Atlantic City versions, and the game rules screen will tell you which one you are on.
A game decided purely by three dice cannot be beaten by any system. What can be managed is which bets you make, and on a layout this uneven that is worth more than it sounds. The section below sets out what that looks like in practice.
Sic Bo Strategy – Bet Selection Is the Whole Game
No sic bo strategy can turn the game profitable, because every round is independent and every bet carries a built-in edge. What the points below do is keep you on the cheap side of the layout, which over a long session is the difference between losing 2.78% of what you stake and losing ten times that or more.
- Stick to Small, Big, Odd or Even. At 2.78% they are the only bets on the layout worth making repeatedly.
- If you want a long shot, take a total of 7 or 14 at 9.72% rather than a triple at over 30%.
- Avoid the specific double. At 33.33% it is the most expensive bet outside the totals, and the 8:1 payout disguises that.
- Check the pay table before backing a total. The Macau and Atlantic City versions differ by up to 17 percentage points on the same bet.
- Spreading chips across many bets does not improve your odds. It averages your losses toward whatever those bets cost.
None of this guarantees a winning session, and it is not meant to. It keeps the cost of playing as low as the game allows. Set a budget before you sit down and stake only what you can afford to lose.
Final Thoughts
Sic bo is the rare casino game where the whole outcome rests on one decision made before the dice move. Take Small or Big and you are playing a 2.78% game, on par with blackjack. Wander into the doubles, triples and long-shot totals and you are playing something three to seventeen times more expensive, with payouts that are designed to make that gap invisible.
Learn the house edge column, ignore the rest of the layout, and sic bo is a genuinely good bet. If you prefer your dice with more decisions in them, craps covers similar ground with a much larger set of choices.
Popular Questions
Here are the questions players ask most often about sic bo.
1. How do you play Sic Bo online?
Playing sic bo online is easy because every payout is printed on the table layout: you bet on what the three dice will show, the dice are revealed, and winning bets are paid at the printed odds. Our how-to-play section walks through a full round.
2. Where can I play free online Sic Bo?
Most RNG versions of sic bo offer a demo mode. You can also try our free sic bo simulator on play credits to learn the layout before staking anything.
3. Are there any live dealer Sic Bo games?
Yes. Evolution's Super Sic Bo and Playtech's Live Sic Bo are the best-known live tables, and Vivo Gaming runs one as well. Our live dealer section explains how they differ from RNG versions.
4. Would a Sic Bo strategy help me win?
No system can beat sic bo, because every round is independent and every bet carries a built-in house edge. What you can control is which bets you make, and our strategy section shows how to stay on the cheap side of the layout.
5. Can I play Sic Bo on the go?
Yes. Every major live sic bo table runs on phones and tablets as well as desktop, so you can play the full game on the go.
6. What is the house edge in Sic Bo?
It depends entirely on the bet: Small and Big cost 2.78%, while doubles, triples and long-shot totals cost anywhere from 9.72% up to 47.22%. The full figures are in our house edge table.