Sic Bo is a fast-paced dice game with simple rules and a wide range of betting options. Three dice are rolled, and you can bet on totals, number combinations, or single dice.
We’ll break down the Sic Bo rules and explain how a round unfolds. You’ll discover the house edge on each bet, and we’ll also provide our top tips to help you succeed.
What Is Sic Bo?
Sic Bo is an ancient Chinese dice game, which has been popular at casinos across Asia for centuries. The name roughly translates to “precious dice.”
If you’ve ever played roulette, Sic Bo will feel similar. Instead of a wheel, the action centers on three dice, but the flow is the same. Just lay your chips down on a table to place your bets, the dealer rolls the dice, and any winning bets are paid out at fixed odds.
Like roulette, you don’t need to make any decisions when the dice have been shaken. Simply place your bets, watch the action unfold, and collect your winnings if luck is on your side. That makes Sic Bo one of the easiest casino games for beginners to learn.
How to Play Sic Bo
Learning how to play Sic Bo only takes a few minutes, as each round follows the same simple sequence. First, a betting window opens, and you place your chips on certain areas of the table to back specific outcomes.
The layout might look intimidating to beginners, but it’s just a simple map of every possible bet. The Big and Small boxes usually sit at the top or at the sides, with grids for specific totals, doubles, triples, single numbers, and combinations filling the middle. Once you’ve played a few rounds, you’ll be familiar with the table design.
When the betting window closes, three dice are rolled. If you play virtual Sic Bo, the algorithm powering the game handles this. Independent auditors test and certify the algorithms, so you can rely on them to deliver fair results. If you play a live dealer game online, an automatic dice shaker shakes and rolls the dice, and the host announces the result.
Every bet on the table is then settled. Winning bets are paid at fixed odds (see below), losing bets are cleared away, and the next round begins.
Sic Bo Bets Explained
Sic Bo offers a wide range of bets, from simple even-money wagers to long shots that deliver huge payouts. These are the main Sic Bo bets:
- Small: This bet pays off if the three dice add up to a total between 4 and 10. It pays 1:1, and it loses if the three dice land on a triple (three of a kind), giving the house an edge.
- Big: A bet that pays off if the dice add up to a total between 11 and 17. This bet also pays 1:1 and loses if there’s a triple.
- Specific totals: You can also bet on the precise sum of the three dice, which can be anything from 4 to 17 (3 and 18 fall into the specific triples category). Rarer totals pay more: a total of 4 or 17 is hard to hit, so it offers a larger potential payout than a more common total like 10 or 11.
- Single numbers: Pick a number between 1 and 6, and get paid if it lands on one, two, or three of the dice. The more times it appears, the bigger your payout.
- Specific double: A bet on a specific pair appearing on two dice. This is a high-risk wager, but it pays more than a single number bet.
- Any triple: This bet pays out if any three of a kind appears. It doesn’t matter if the triple is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.
- Specific triple: The ultimate long shot, which requires a specific number to appear on all three dice after they’re rolled.
Some games also let you place odd/even bets. You’re simply betting on the total sum of the three dice being an odd or even number. Once again, a triple results in a loss, which gives the house a slim edge, just like on Small or Big bets.
Sic Bo Odds and House Edge
Not all Sic Bo bets are created equal. The house edge – the casino’s built-in mathematical advantage – ranges from modest to enormous depending on the bet.
| Bet |
Typical payout |
House edge |
| Small (4–10) |
1:1 |
2.78% |
| Big (11–17) |
1:1 |
2.78% |
| Odd / even |
1:1 |
2.78% |
| Single number |
1:1 / 2:1 / 3:1 |
~7.9% |
| Specific total (e.g. 8 or 13) |
8:1 |
~12.5% |
| Specific double |
10:1 |
~18.5% |
| Any triple |
30:1 |
~13.9% |
| Specific triple |
180:1 |
~16.2% |
The chart highlights the most common payouts, but the precise figures on totals, doubles, and triples can vary from one game to the next. They may range from 9.7% to more than 30%, depending on the number and the table. Open the game rules and check the paytable to confirm before playing.
Small and Big are comfortably the best bets, along with odd/even if available. They have a house edge of just 2.78%, which is consistent across all games.
Sic Bo Strategy: Stick to the Best Bets
The real strategy lies in selecting the best bets when playing Sic Bo at crypto casinos. Stick to Small or Big bets, or odd/even bets when they’re offered. Avoid bets that carry a huge house edge, such as any triple. The large payouts look enticing, but the math significantly favors the casino.
If you decide to opt for riskier bets, manage your bankroll accordingly. Only bet a small percentage of your playing budget on each round, as that will help you ride out dry spells while chasing a big payout.
Sic Bo at Crypto Casinos
Crypto casinos offer virtual Sic Bo and live Sic Bo games. The virtual games are software-based, and Random Number Generators decide the outcomes. You can play these games instantly and enjoy them at your own pace.
Live Sic Bo games let you connect with a real dealer in a studio via a video link. This offers a similar experience to visiting a casino, as you can watch the dice roll in real time. Just click or tap the screen to place your bets, and use the chat box if you want to talk to the host or the other players.
The best crypto casinos offer variants like Lightning Sic Bo, Super Sic Bo, and Mega Sic Bo. These games add random multipliers to certain bets on each round, so you can potentially win up to 1,000x or 2,000x your bet. Just bear in mind that the paytables are adjusted on those games, so check the rules before getting started.
Conclusion
Sic Bo is one of the simplest and most exciting dice games you’ll find at a crypto casino. The rules take minutes to learn, and the smartest approach is just as simple: stick to the Small, Big, and odd/even bets, enjoy the occasional long shot in a bid to land a bigger payout, and always stay within a strict budget.
FAQs
The best bets in Sic Bo are Small and Big, as they pay even money and carry a house edge of just 2.78%. If odd/even bets are available, they have an identical house edge. These bets win close to half the time, as they lose if the dice land on a triple.
Small and Big are bets on the combined total of the three dice when you play Sic Bo. A Small bet wins if the dice total 4 to 10, and Big wins on a total of 11 to 17. Both pay even money (1:1), and both lose if the dice roll a triple (three of a kind).
Yes, plenty of players win at Sic Bo, especially in the short term. Luck decides each roll, so a good session can put you well ahead. Sticking to the Small and Big bets gives your bankroll the best chance to ride out the swings and come out on top, as they have a low house edge.
Ilija is a CCN writer with 7 years of experience covering all things crypto. Ever since a fateful run-in with Litecoin in 2013, he's been an avid investor and writer in the space. When he's not maniacally hacking away at his keyboard, Ilija spends his time either hiking in nature or holed up in his apartment gaming.
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