Sic Bo’s Basic Rules
The first thing we should point out is that the Sic Bo gameplay is very simple. All you need to do is bet on the outcome of three rolled dice. You'll see a board that shows the different betting options, and you can place a bet by putting a chip on the relevant segment of the board.
Let's have a look at the various betting options you'll face when playing Sic Bo online.
Sic Bo Bet Types
There are around 13 different common bets in Sic Bo. However, if you include all the variants from around the world, plus some rarer bets, this total goes up to over 50. In the tables below, we highlight the payout in most versions of the game, the probability of success, and the house edge. Here’s what each of these terms means:
- Payout: This is the total amount you win including the initial wager.
- Probability of success: The odds of winning. Often articulated as the ratio of unfavourable outcomes vs favourable ones.
- House edge: The built-in advantage that works in the casino’s favour, expressed as a percentage.
Big and Small Bets
If you're betting on “Big”, then it's in the hope that the three dice will total between 11 and 17 points. A bet on “Small” is a wager that the total of the 3 dice will be between 4 and 10.
Payout | 1/1 |
Probability of Success | 48.61% |
House Edge | 2.78% |
Specific Triples Bet
Also known as the “Alls” bet, the Specific Triple Bet is where you’ll wager that a specific number will appear on each dice after it's rolled. An example would be three sixes or three fives.
Payout | 180/1 |
Probability of Success | 0.46% |
House Edge | 16.2% |
Any Triples Bet
Here you are hoping that any triple will be rolled. This covers all the numbers from three ones to three sixes.
Payout | 30/1 |
Probability of Success | 2.8% |
House Edge | 13.9% |
Doubles Bet
This is betting that two of the dice will show a particular number.
Payout | 10/1 |
Probability of Success | 7.41% |
House Edge | 18.5% |
Dice Combination Bet
With this bet, you get to choose two different numbers. For example a 1 and a 5.
Payout | 6/1 |
Probability of Success | 2.8% |
House Edge | 13.9% |
Three Dice Total
Probably the most popular bet in Sic Bo is the Three Dice Total wager. Here you have to guess the exact total of the three dice. From a statistical point of view, some numbers are more likely to appear than others are. Take note that the house edge can range from 9.7% up to 15.3%, depending on the numbers chosen.
Total Number | Payout | Probability of Success | House Edge |
10 or 11 | 6/1 | 12.5% | 12.5% |
9 or 12 | 7/1 | 11.6% | 7.4% |
8 or 13 | 8/1 | 9.7% | 12.5% |
7 or 14 | 12/1 | 6.9% | 9.7% |
6 or 15 | 18/1 | 4.6% | 12% |
5 or 16 | 30/1 | 2.8% | 9.7% |
4 or 17 | 60/1 | 1.4% | 15.3% |
Single Dice Bet
Here you're going to choose a single number between 1 and 6. Though the house edge remains the same, the payouts will vary depending on whether your number appears on one or more of the dice. As you'll see from the table below, there's a massive difference in the probability of your number turning up on one, two, or three dice
Number of Dice | Payout | Probability of Success | House Edge |
1 | 1/1 | 34.72% | 7.9% |
2 | 2/1 | 6.94% | 7.9% |
3 | 3/1 | 0.46% | 7.9% |
Additional Sic Bo Bets:
All the bets we've mentioned above can be found in virtually every version of Sic Bo. However, there are some additional Sic Bo bets that may be not available in all games.
Odd and Even Bets
For the Odd Bet, you're hoping the total of the three dice will be an odd number. Keep in mind, that if you happen to roll three dice and they all show the same number e.g. three sixes, this does not count as winning the Odd Bet. Betting on Even is exactly the same, but you're hoping for an even number total. Once again, all triples are excluded.
Payout | 1/1 |
Probability of Success | 48.61% |
House Edge | 2.78% |
Four Number Combination
In this bet, four combinations of numbers are presented to the player. These are: 1,2,3,4 – 2,3,4,5 – 2,3,5,6 – 3,4,5,6. Your job is to choose three out of the four numbers of any one of these combinations.
Payout | 7/1 |
Probability of Success | 11.1% |
House Edge | 11.1% |
Three Single Number Combination
With this wager, you're going to be choosing any three numbers, and if all three of them appear, then you win.
Payout | 30/1 |
Probability of Success | 2.8% |
House Edge | 13.9% |
Specific Double and Single Number
To win this bet, you need a specific double and another specific number to come up.
Payout | 50/1 |
Probability of Success | 1.4% |
House Edge | 29.2% |
Sic Bo Strategy
Because this game involves the rolling of dice, there are no tips or tricks that will help you influence the outcomes. In truth, the game of Sic Bo relies entirely upon luck and there is not one iota of skill involved. However, you can influence the outcomes by choosing the type of bets you wish to play.
We suggest that you always go with bets that offer the highest probability of winning. As the above table shows, you are better off taking a chance on betting Big/Small or Odd/Even. All these bets offer a 48.61% rate of success.
The game of Sic Bo involves you taking on the house, as opposed to playing against other players. Therefore, it's a good idea to look for the bets with the lowest house edge.
Bet Type | House Edge | Probability of Success | Payout |
Big/Small | 2.78% | 48.61% | 1/1 |
Odd/Even | 2.78% | 48.61% | 1/1 |
Dice Combination | 2.8% | 13.9% | 6/1 |
3 Dice Total: 9 or 12 | 7.4% | 11.6% | 7/1 |
Single Dice Bet | 7.9% | 34.72 – 0.46% | 3/1 |
3 Dice Total: 7 or 14 | 9.7% | 6.9% | 12/1 |
Because the game of Sic Bo relies entirely upon luck, there are no guarantees of success. Nevertheless, if you keep in mind the probabilities for each bet type, as well as the house edge, then you will be able to make better informed betting decisions. If you are just starting your Sic Bo gambling journey, it is a good idea to stick with the Big/Small or Odd/Even bets, as they give you a much greater chance of scoring some wins. Once you're feeling confident, you can try your hand with some of these other bets, especially those with a similarly low house edge.