How do you play Sic Bo?

To play Sic Bo: (1) Place bets on the table layout before the dice are rolled. You can place multiple bets simultaneously. (2) The dealer shakes a chest containing three dice (or the online RNG generates three results). (3) The three dice results determine which bets win and lose. (4) Winning bets are paid according to the pay table; losing bets are swept. (5) A new round begins. Sic Bo is a game of pure chance — no decisions are made after the bet is placed.

What is the best bet in Sic Bo?

The best bets in Sic Bo are Big and Small, both with a house edge of 2.78% — the lowest on the table. Big wins when the total of three dice is 11–17 (excluding triples). Small wins when the total is 4–10 (excluding triples). Both pay 1:1. They win approximately 48.6% of the time. All other bets carry a higher house edge, making Big and Small the recommended starting point for any Sic Bo player.

What does Big and Small mean in Sic Bo?

In Sic Bo, Big means you bet the total of all three dice will be between 11 and 17. Small means you bet the total will be between 4 and 10. Both bets lose if any triple appears (1-1-1, 2-2-2, etc.) — this is the casino's edge on these even-money bets. Big and Small each cover 105 of the 216 possible dice combinations (48.6%), making them the most frequent-winning bets in Sic Bo.

How many possible outcomes are there in Sic Bo?

Three standard dice produce 6 × 6 × 6 = 216 possible outcomes. This is the denominator for all Sic Bo probability calculations. For example, the total of 10 can be made in 27 different ways (27/216 = 12.5% probability). A specific triple (e.g. 3-3-3) has only 1 way to occur (1/216 = 0.46% probability). All payout and house edge calculations in Sic Bo are derived from these 216 combinations.

What is the difference between Any Triple and Specific Triple in Sic Bo?

Any Triple (also called All Same) wins when all three dice show the same number — any number from 1-1-1 to 6-6-6. There are 6 ways this can occur out of 216, giving a probability of 2.78%. It typically pays 30:1. A Specific Triple bets on one particular triple (e.g. exactly 4-4-4). There is only 1 way this can occur out of 216 (0.46% probability) and it typically pays 180:1. Both carry a house edge of approximately 13–16% — much higher than Big/Small.

What is Sic Bo called in Macau and Asia?

Sic Bo (骰寶) means 'precious dice' in Chinese. It is also known as Dai Siu (大細, meaning Big Small) and Tai Sai in Macau and Hong Kong, where it is one of the most popular casino table games. In the Philippines it is sometimes called Hi-Lo. The game originated in ancient China and spread to Western casinos through Asian immigration in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Can you use strategy in Sic Bo?

Sic Bo is a pure luck game — no decisions are made after bets are placed and no skill can influence the dice results. The only strategic choice is which bets to place. Big and Small have the lowest house edge (2.78%) and are the recommended foundation for any Sic Bo session. Avoid Specific Triples, Any Triple, and high-total bets unless playing for entertainment — their house edges range from 9% to 30%+.

How to Play Sic Bo Online — Rules, All Bets & House Edge Guide

The Basics

What is Sic Bo?

Sic Bo (骰寶, meaning "precious dice") is a three-dice casino game originating in ancient China. It is one of the most popular games in Macau, where it rivals Baccarat in player numbers, and has spread globally through Asian communities and online casinos.

The mechanics are simple: three dice are shaken and revealed. Before the shake, players place bets on the outcome — the total of all three dice, specific combinations, or individual number appearances. Payouts depend on how likely the bet is to win, ranging from even-money to 180:1 for a specific triple.

Sic Bo is also known as Dai Siu and Tai Sai in Macau, and Hi-Lo in parts of Southeast Asia.

3

5

4

= 12
BIG wins ✓

💡

Why three dice matter: Three standard dice produce 6 × 6 × 6 = 216 possible outcomes. This is the foundation of every Sic Bo payout. A total of 10 can be made 27 different ways (27/216 = 12.5%). A specific triple (e.g. 3-3-3) can only occur 1 way (1/216 = 0.46%). All payouts and house edges are derived from these 216 combinations.

Step by Step

How to Play Sic Bo — One Round

1

Place your bets on the table layout

The Sic Bo table displays all available betting zones. Click any zone to place chips. You can place multiple bets simultaneously on a single roll — for example, betting both Big and a specific total at the same time. All bets must be placed before the dice are rolled.

2

The dice are shaken and revealed

In live casinos, a dealer shakes a dice chest or cage. Online Sic Bo uses an RNG to generate three independent dice results instantly. The three numbers are revealed simultaneously — there is no further player input after bets are placed.

3

Winning bets are paid, losing bets swept

The table layout highlights all winning zones. Payouts are made according to the pay table. Losing bets are swept from the table. A single roll can activate multiple winning zones simultaneously — for example, a 4-4-2 roll wins a Specific Double (4-4), wins the Total 10, and activates a Single Number bet on 4 twice.

4

New round begins

The table clears and betting opens for the next round. You can keep the same bets, adjust them, or start fresh. Each roll is completely independent — previous results carry no predictive value for future rolls.

The Best Bets

Big & Small — The Lowest House Edge Bets

Big and Small are the foundation of any Sic Bo strategy. They offer the lowest house edge on the table at 2.78% and win close to half the time, making them the recommended starting point for every player.

BIG (大)

11–17

Pays 1:1 · wins 105/216 = 48.6%

HOUSE EDGE 2.78%

Loses on ANY triple (1-1-1, 2-2-2 … 6-6-6). Triples are excluded from both Big and Small.

SMALL (小)

4–10

Pays 1:1 · wins 105/216 = 48.6%

HOUSE EDGE 2.78%

Loses on ANY triple (1-1-1, 2-2-2 … 6-6-6). The triple exception is the house's edge source.

✅

Why triples kill Big/Small: Without the triple exception, Big and Small would each cover exactly 108 of 216 outcomes (50%) — a fair even-money bet. The 6 triple outcomes (1/216 each = 2.78% combined) are excluded from both Big and Small, reducing each bet's win chance from 50% to 48.6% while keeping the payout at 1:1. That 1.4% shortfall creates the 2.78% house edge.

Complete Bet Reference

Every Sic Bo Bet — Ranked by Value

✓ Best — Lowest Edge

Big (11–17)

1:1

EDGE 2.78%

Total 11–17, no triples. Wins 48.6% of rolls. Foundation bet.

Small (4–10)

1:1

EDGE 2.78%

Total 4–10, no triples. Same odds as Big. Other side of the same coin.

● Good — Moderate Edge

Total 9 or 12

6:1

EDGE ~7%

9 or 12 can be made 25 ways (11.6%). Moderate risk, decent payout.

Total 8 or 13

8:1

EDGE ~12%

21 ways (9.7%). Reasonable payout tier.

Two-Dice Combo

5:1 or 6:1

EDGE ~8–17%

Bet two specific numbers appear. 6:1 table is much better than 5:1 — always check.

Total 10 or 11

6:1

EDGE ~12%

27 ways each (12.5%). Most likely specific totals but modest payout.

⚠ Caution — Higher Edge

Single Number (1–6)

1:1 / 2:1 / 3:1

EDGE ~7.9%

Picks one number (1–6). Pays 1:1 if it appears once, 2:1 twice, 3:1 three times. Appears deceptively fair but the combined house edge is nearly 8%.

Total 7 or 14

12:1

EDGE ~10%

15 ways (6.9%). Higher payout but edge climbs.

Total 6 or 15

14:1 or 17:1

EDGE ~10–17%

10 ways (4.6%). Pay table varies — always check the exact payout.

Specific Double

10:1 or 8:1

EDGE ~11–19%

Two specific dice show the same number. 10:1 is far better than 8:1 — check before playing.

✕ Avoid — Very High Edge

Any Triple

30:1

EDGE ~13.9%

All three dice show the same number (any of the 6). 6/216 = 2.78% chance. Pays 30:1 but true fair odds are 35:1.

Specific Triple

180:1

EDGE ~16.2%

One exact triple (e.g. 4-4-4). 1/216 = 0.46% chance. True fair odds are 215:1. Some tables pay only 150:1 — edge jumps to 30%.

Total 4 or 17

60:1

EDGE ~15%

Only 3 ways to make 4 or 17 (1.4%). Extreme long shot with very high edge.

Total 5 or 16

30:1

EDGE ~14%

6 ways (2.8%). Still a high-edge bet despite the modest payout.

The Math

Dice Total Combinations — All 216 Outcomes

Three dice produce totals from 3 (1+1+1) to 18 (6+6+6). The number of ways to make each total follows a bell curve peaking at 10 and 11. Understanding this table explains why totals of 10/11 pay modestly (very likely) while totals of 4/17 pay 60:1 (very rare).

Sic Bo dice total combinations table
Total	Ways to make it	Probability	Typical payout	Approx house edge
3 (min)	1	0.46%	180:1	~16%
4	3	1.39%	60:1	~15%
5	6	2.78%	30:1	~14%
6	10	4.63%	17:1	~17%
7	15	6.94%	12:1	~10%
8	21	9.72%	8:1	~12%
9	25	11.57%	6:1	~19%
10	27	12.50%	6:1	~12%
11	27	12.50%	6:1	~12%
12	25	11.57%	6:1	~19%
13	21	9.72%	8:1	~12%
14	15	6.94%	12:1	~10%
15	10	4.63%	17:1	~17%
16	6	2.78%	30:1	~14%
17	3	1.39%	60:1	~15%
18 (max)	1	0.46%	180:1	~16%

📊

Note on totals 3 and 18: Totals of exactly 3 (1-1-1) and 18 (6-6-6) are specific triples, not plain totals — they fall under the Specific Triple bet category paying 180:1. Total bets on 3 and 18 are sometimes listed separately or combined with their triple payouts depending on the casino's table layout.

Playing Smart

Sic Bo Tips — What Actually Matters

1

Start with Big and Small only

Big and Small carry a 2.78% house edge — the lowest on the table, comparable to European Roulette's even-money bets. For your first sessions, place only Big or Small bets. You'll win about half the time, understand the rhythm of the game, and keep your session losses minimal.

2

Check the pay table before every session

Sic Bo pay tables vary between operators. The Specific Triple pays 180:1 at most Western tables but only 150:1 at some Asian tables — that's the difference between a 16% house edge and a 30% house edge on the same bet. Two-Dice Combinations at 6:1 are far better than tables offering 5:1. Always verify the pay table before committing bets.

3

Avoid Specific Triples and high-edge totals for regular play

Specific Triples pay 180:1 on a 215:1 true odds bet — a 16% house edge. They're thrilling when they hit, but mathematically they drain your bankroll six times faster than Big/Small bets. Place small fun-money bets on triples if you want the excitement, but never as your primary bet.

4

Ignore hot and cold number displays

Three dice produce 216 outcomes, each equally likely on every roll. A table that hasn't seen a triple in 50 rolls is not "due" for one. A total of 10 appearing frequently recently is not "hot." Each roll is completely independent. Hot/cold displays are casino entertainment — not statistical tools.

5

Multiple bets per roll are fine — just check total house edge

Placing Big + a small Total bet is perfectly reasonable — it hedges your exposure while adding jackpot potential. However, stacking many high-edge bets (e.g. several Triples plus several Specific Doubles) dramatically increases the combined house edge across your total action. Keep high-edge bets small relative to your main Big/Small stake.

⚠️

House edge comparison: Big/Small 2.78% · Two-Dice Combo (6:1) ~8% · Single Number ~7.9% · Any Triple ~13.9% · Specific Triple ~16.2% · Some Asian tables Specific Triple at 150:1 → ~30%. The range from best to worst bet on a single Sic Bo table spans from 2.78% to 30%+ — a wider gap than almost any other casino game. Which bets you place matters enormously.

Quick Reference

Sic Bo Terms Glossary

Sic Bo glossary
Term	Definition
Sic Bo / 骰寶	"Precious dice" in Chinese. Three-dice casino game originating in China. Also called Dai Siu, Tai Sai, or Hi-Lo.
Big (大 Dai)	Bet that the three-dice total is 11–17. Pays 1:1. Loses on any triple. House edge 2.78%.
Small (小 Siu)	Bet that the three-dice total is 4–10. Pays 1:1. Loses on any triple. House edge 2.78%.
Total Bet	Bet on the exact sum of all three dice (4–17, excluding triple outcomes 3 and 18).
Single Number	Bet a specific number (1–6) appears on one or more dice. Pays 1:1 / 2:1 / 3:1 based on appearances.
Two-Dice Combo	Bet two specific numbers appear on any two of the three dice. Pays 5:1 or 6:1 depending on table.
Specific Double	Bet two dice show the same specific number. Pays 8:1 or 10:1 depending on table.
Any Triple	All three dice show the same number (any of 6 possibilities). Pays 30:1. House edge ~13.9%.
Specific Triple	All three dice show one specific number (e.g. exactly 5-5-5). Pays 180:1. House edge ~16.2%.
216 combinations	The total number of possible three-dice outcomes. All probabilities in Sic Bo are calculated from this denominator.
House Edge	The casino's mathematical advantage on a bet. Varies from 2.78% (Big/Small) to 30%+ (some Specific Triples).
Dai Siu / Tai Sai	Macau/Cantonese names for Sic Bo. Dai = Big, Siu = Small. The name describes the fundamental Big/Small bet.