How to Play Sic Bo Online
Sic Bo is an ancient Chinese dice game where three dice are shaken and you bet on the outcome. Stick to Small and Big bets (2.78% edge) and avoid proposition bets (up to 19% edge).
Lowest Edge
2.78%
Small / Big bets
Dice Used
3 Dice
Shaken in a chest
Worst Bet
18.98%
Total 9 / 12
Origin
China
Ancient game
How Sic Bo Works
Place bets on the Sic Bo layout
The Sic Bo layout shows all possible outcomes and bets. You can place multiple bets simultaneously — there is no restriction on the number of betting positions.
Dice are shaken
At land-based casinos, three dice are placed in a sealed dome or cage and shaken mechanically. Online: a certified RNG determines results. Live Sic Bo: physical dice, real croupier.
Result is revealed
The dome/cage is placed down and the dice result displayed. Winning combinations illuminate on the layout. Losing bets are swept. Winning bets are paid.
New betting round begins
After payouts are made, the next round starts immediately. Rounds are fast — typically 30–45 seconds each in live dealer Sic Bo.
All Sic Bo Bets — Best to Worst
Ordered by house edge — smaller is better for the player:
Small Bet
Best Bet4–10 (excl. triple)
Wins if total of three dice is 4–10, excluding any triple. Near coin-flip odds with the lowest house edge on the Sic Bo table.
Edge
2.78%
Pays
1:1
Big Bet
Best Bet11–17 (excl. triple)
Wins if total is 11–17, excluding triples. Mirrors the Small bet in odds and house edge. Can be combined with Small for action on most dice outcomes.
Edge
2.78%
Pays
1:1
Single Number
MarginalChosen number on 1/2/3 dice
Payout increases if the number shows on more dice simultaneously. Still carries a 7.87% house edge — below average, but better than most proposition bets.
Edge
7.87%
Pays
1:1/2:1/3:1
Specific Double
AvoidTwo dice show same number
Bet that at least two of the three dice show your chosen number. High payout, very high house edge.
Edge
18.52%
Pays
10:1
Specific Triple
AvoidAll three dice same specific number
Massive 180:1 payout but the house takes 16.2% edge. Lottery-tier probability. This is a bet designed to look spectacular — avoid it for regular play.
Edge
16.2%
Pays
180:1
Any Triple
SkipAll three dice same (any)
Any of the six possible triples. Still carries 13.89% house edge despite lower payout than Specific Triple.
Edge
13.89%
Pays
30:1
Dice Combination
AvoidTwo specific dice values
Bet on a specific two-number combination appearing on two of the three dice. 16.67% house edge is too steep.
Edge
16.67%
Pays
6:1
Total 9 or 12
NeverSum equals 9 or 12
Looks like a middle total but hides a nearly 19% house edge. One of the worst bets on the entire table.
Edge
18.98%
Pays
6:1
Total 7 or 14
SkipSum equals 7 or 14
Better payout but still 9.72% edge. If you must bet totals, avoid the extremes and near-extremes.
Edge
9.72%
Pays
12:1
Total Bet Probabilities & House Edges
With 3 dice there are 216 possible combinations. Total bets have widely varying house edges despite similar-looking payouts:
| Total | Combinations | Probability | Typical Payout | House Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 or 17 | 3 | 1.4% | 60:1 | 15.3% |
| 5 or 16 | 6 | 2.8% | 30:1 | 13.9% |
| 6 or 15 | 10 | 4.6% | 17:1 | 16.7% |
| 7 or 14 | 15 | 6.9% | 12:1 | 9.7% |
| 8 or 13 | 21 | 9.7% | 8:1 | 12.5% |
| 9 or 12 | 25 | 11.6% | 6:1 | 19.0% |
| 10 or 11 | 27 | 12.5% | 6:1 | 12.5% |
Red rows indicate edges above 15% — these totals offer poor value despite the apparent simplicity of the total bet format.
Optimal Sic Bo Strategy
- Bet Small or Big exclusively for the lowest 2.78% house edge
- Small/Big pay even money but lose on any triple (1.39% of rolls)
- Add a Single Number bet occasionally for extra action — avoid all other proposition bets
- Set a session loss limit and exit when reached
- In live Sic Bo, note the bet timer and don't rush decisions
- Pre-select your stake for the full session and stick to it — varying bet sizes in response to wins or losses is a common form of tilt in fast-paced games like Sic Bo
- If playing Super Sic Bo, only place proposition bets when a multiplier of 10× or higher is applied to that position — below that threshold the improved payout does not overcome the base house edge
Bets to Avoid
- Specific Triple (180:1 payout, 16.2% edge — casino lure)
- Any Triple (30:1, still 13.89% edge)
- Specific Double (10:1, 18.52% edge)
- Total 9 or 12 (6:1, 18.98% edge — worst bet on table)
- Combination bet (two specific dice values, 16.67% edge)
- Total 6 or 15 (17:1, 16.7% edge — the higher payout obscures an edge nearly as bad as the worst bets on the table)
- Total 4 or 17 (60:1, 15.3% edge — only 3 of 216 dice combinations cover this total, making the payout appear generous while masking significant expected losses per round)
Sic Bo Variants
Standard Sic Bo
2.78% (Small/Big)Classic format — fixed payouts on all bets
Super Sic Bo (Evolution)
2.78%+ (varies)Random multipliers (2×–1000×) applied to any bet position before each roll
Sic Bo (Playtech Live)
2.78%Standard Sic Bo with multiple table cameras, professional studio presentation
Macau Dragon Sic Bo
2.78%+Additional Dragon bet on sequence of consecutive totals
Chuck-a-Luck
7.87%Uses a birdcage instead of dome. Simplified Single Number betting only.
Lightning Dice (Evolution)
3.79%Dice dropped through a tower; lightning multipliers (50×–1000×) added to random totals before each roll
Sic Bo (Pragmatic Play Live)
2.78%Fast round format. Standard bet types with Romanian studio production quality
Sic Bo (Ezugi)
2.78%Available at most UK-facing casinos. Asian dealer style; standard layout
Super Sic Bo (Evolution Gaming)
Multipliers
Before each round, Evolution's RNG applies random multipliers (2×, 3×, 5×, 10×, 20×, 50×, 100×, 500×, 1000×) to randomly selected betting positions.
Which bets get multipliers
Multipliers are applied to specific number, double, or triple bet positions. Small and Big bets cannot receive multipliers.
House edge impact
Multipliers can temporarily lower or raise the house edge on specific positions. A 1000× multiplier on a Triple bet theoretically shifts EV positive — but occurrence is rare.
When to play it
Super Sic Bo is variance-maximised Sic Bo. Suited to very short sessions with a clear goal of hitting one multiplier. Not suited to steady grind-style play.
Maximum win potential
A Specific Triple bet with a 1000× multiplier pays 180,000× your stake (180:1 base × 1000× multiplier). At a £1 stake, that's a potential £180,000 win. Maximum bet limits at the table cap actual exposure.
Multiplier frequency
Higher multipliers are applied less frequently. A 2× or 3× multiplier might appear several times per session; a 1000× multiplier may appear very rarely. The RNG distributes multipliers to maintain the casino's long-term target RTP.
Base game strategy still applies
The optimal strategy in Super Sic Bo remains the same as standard Sic Bo — Small and Big bets have the lowest house edge and are not affected by multipliers. Only play proposition bets if a high multiplier is applied to that position and your bankroll supports the variance.
Common Mistakes
Betting Specific Triples as a "thrill" bet every round
At 16.2% house edge, playing Specific Triples each round makes the house take roughly 1/6th of your stake every roll. That's an extremely expensive thrill.
Combining Small and Big on the same roll expecting a guaranteed win
Small and Big cannot both win simultaneously — any triple (three identical dice) loses both bets. Combining them reduces effective coverage to 210 out of 216 outcomes, not a guaranteed win.
Playing Total bets without checking house edge
Total bets vary wildly — from 9.7% (Total 7/14) to 19% (Total 9/12). Without knowing this, players gravitate to "middle totals" which actually hide the worst edges.
Using betting systems (Martingale, etc.) on Sic Bo
Doubling bets after losses does not change the house edge and can escalate losses rapidly, especially given the fast round cycle of live Sic Bo.
Spreading bets across many positions on every roll
Placing bets on Small, Big, and several proposition bets simultaneously may feel like it increases coverage, but each proposition bet carries its own high edge. The total house advantage on your session rises with each additional position.
Chasing Super Sic Bo multipliers with proposition bets
Super Sic Bo multipliers feel like they can beat the house, but the base payout on Triple bets is reduced from the standard table to fund them. Chasing a 1000× multiplier on Specific Triple every round is not a viable strategy — it's lottery-tier probability.
Not knowing which bets have the same mathematical edge as standard even-money bets
Small and Big at 2.78% are comparable to European Roulette (2.70%). Players unfamiliar with this equivalence often play high-edge bets when they could play the best bets on the table for a similar experience.
Sic Bo FAQ
What is the best bet in Sic Bo?
The Small and Big bets offer the lowest house edge at 2.78%, making them the recommended starting point for any Sic Bo player. Small wins if the total of three dice is 4–10 (excluding triples), while Big wins on 11–17 (excluding triples). Both pay even money (1:1). These bets lose only to triple outcomes, giving you roughly 48.6% probability of winning each bet. Combination bets (two specific numbers on any two dice) carry a 2.77% edge and are also reasonable. Avoid single-number bets (7.87% edge) and specific triple bets (13.89% or higher).
What is Sic Bo's house edge?
Sic Bo house edges vary dramatically by bet type. Best: Small/Big at 2.78%, Combination at 2.77%. Mid-range: Total bets between 9.72% and 30% depending on the specific total. Worst: Specific Triple at 13.89–16.67% (paying 150:1 or 180:1 depending on the casino). The wide variance in house edges means the game can be played economically or very expensively depending purely on which bets you choose. Always stick to Small, Big, or Combination bets for the best long-term return.
Is Sic Bo available at live online casinos?
Yes. Evolution Gaming offers Live Sic Bo with HD multi-camera streaming and an enhanced version called Lightning Dice. Ezugi and Playtech also offer live Sic Bo tables. The live format uses real three-dice shakers operated by a human dealer, with all results broadcast in real time. Bet interfaces, house edges, and payout tables are identical to the RNG software version. Many live Sic Bo tables accept bets from £0.50 per round, with maximum bet limits on individual bets varying by table.
Can Sic Bo strategy improve your results?
No betting strategy can change Sic Bo's inherent house edge — the dice are independent and past results do not influence future outcomes. What strategy CAN do is help you choose lower-edge bets (Small/Big, Combination) over high-edge bets (Specific Triples), which reduces how quickly your bankroll depletes. Session management strategies such as setting a loss limit, fixing a stake per round, and stopping after hitting a target profit will protect your bankroll. But no system can turn a losing game into a winning one over a sufficient number of rounds.
How does Super Sic Bo compare to standard Sic Bo?
Super Sic Bo is Evolution Gaming's enhanced version featuring random multipliers applied before each roll. Before the dice are shaken, an RNG selects certain betting positions and applies multipliers ranging from 2× to 1000×. The base house edge on Small and Big bets remains the same (2.78%), but the multiplied positions experience increased volatility. Super Sic Bo is designed for players seeking a high-variance experience where a small stake on a specific position could return a very large multiple. For steady, lower-variance play, standard Sic Bo is preferable. Both are available at Evolution-powered online casinos in the live casino section.
What happens if all three dice show the same number (a triple) in Sic Bo?
A triple outcome (all three dice showing the same value) is a special event in Sic Bo. Small and Big bets both lose on any triple, regardless of the total — this is what creates the 2.78% house edge on these bets. The Specific Triple bet wins (pays 180:1) only if your chosen number shows on all three dice. The Any Triple bet wins (30:1) if any three-of-a-kind appears. All other bets (Single Number, Combination, Totals) are settled normally even on triples. Triples occur on 6 out of 216 combinations (2.78% of rounds) — knowing this explains exactly why Small/Big pay less than true odds.
What is a Combination bet in Sic Bo?
A Combination bet in Sic Bo is a wager that two specific numbers will appear on two of the three dice in a single roll — for example, betting that a 3 and a 5 will appear simultaneously. There are 15 possible two-number combinations across a 1–6 die. This bet pays 6:1 with a house edge of approximately 2.77% — making it, alongside the Small and Big bets, one of the lowest-edge bets on the Sic Bo table. Combination bets are a good way to add variety to a low-edge session without significantly increasing the house advantage. They win whenever the two chosen numbers appear on any two of the three dice, in any order.