Sic Bo Guide
Sic Bo (“precious dice”) is a three-dice game of Chinese origin, played widely in Asian casinos and available as a live dealer game online. You bet on the outcome of a single roll of three dice: the total, a specific number, a pair, a triple, or whether the total is Small (4–10) or Big (11–17). Every roll settles every bet, so rounds are short and there are no decisions after the dice are shaken.
The game has 216 equally likely outcomes, and every payout can be checked against that number. That makes it easy to see why some bets cost under 3% and others over 30%.
Key Numbers
| Bet | Probability | Common payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small / Big | 48.61% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% |
| Single number (on at least one die) | 42.13% | 1, 2 or 3 to 1 | 7.87% |
| Total 10 or 11 | 12.50% | 6 to 1 | 12.50% |
| Two-dice combination | 13.89% | 5 to 1 (some tables 6 to 1) | 16.67% (2.78% at 6 to 1) |
| Specific double | 7.41% | 10 to 1 | 18.52% |
| Any triple | 2.78% | 30 to 1 | 13.89% |
| Specific triple | 0.46% | 180 to 1 (some tables 150 to 1) | 16.20% (30.09% at 150 to 1) |
The single most useful fact: Small and Big lose on any triple. That rule, which happens on 6 of 216 rolls, is the entire house edge on those bets (2.78%).
Why the Paytable Matters More Than in Most Games
The same bet can cost very different amounts between tables. A two-dice combination at 6 to 1 has the same 2.78% edge as Big and Small; at 5 to 1 it costs 16.67%. A specific triple at 150 to 1 costs almost twice as much as at 180 to 1. Before you play anything other than Small or Big, open the paytable in the help screen and compare it with our Sic Bo rules page, which lists both common versions of each line.
Multiplier variants, such as Evolution’s Super Sic Bo and Pragmatic Play Live’s Mega Sic Bo, pay random multipliers on selected bets and reduce base payouts to fund them. Their RTP per bet is in the help screen; compare it with 97.22% for Big/Small on a standard table.
Where to Play Sic Bo
Live Sic Bo online comes mainly from Evolution and Pragmatic Play Live. The casinos below list at least one of these studios and accept Australian players; check that the Sic Bo table is in the live lobby, since operators choose which tables to carry.
Practical Points
- Base your play on Small/Big. Use other bets in small amounts and only where the paytable is better than average.
- Count the cost per round. Expected loss = stake × house edge × rounds. A$10 on Big for 100 rounds costs about A$27.80 on average.
- Ignore roadmaps. Live tables show past results; each roll is independent. See the gambler’s fallacy.
- Check bonus weighting. Sic Bo often contributes little or nothing to wagering requirements, and betting Small and Big together may be treated as irregular play.
Sic Bo Compared With Other Table Games
| Game | Lowest-edge main bet | House edge | Rounds settled per roll or spin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sic Bo | Small / Big | 2.78% | All bets, every roll |
| European roulette | Any even-money bet | 2.70% | All bets, every spin |
| Craps | Pass Line with odds | 1.41% on the line bet, 0% on odds | Line bets can take several rolls |
| Baccarat | Banker | 1.06% | All bets, every hand |
Sic Bo’s best bet is close to European roulette’s even-money bets in cost, and above the core bets in craps and baccarat. Its higher-paying bets carry much larger edges than any of these games’ main bets, so most of the cost difference between players comes from bet selection.
All Sic Bo Guides
- Sic Bo Rules: how a round works, every bet type with its probability out of 216, and payouts with house edges for both common paytables.
- Sic Bo Strategy: bets ranked by cost, paytable lines to check, what systems do and how to budget per 100 rolls.
Related Guides
Craps is the other main dice table game, with a lower-edge core bet and a free odds bet. For the live studio context, see the live casino guide, and for the general maths, read understanding casino odds. All game families are listed in the casino game guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Three dice are shaken and revealed. You bet beforehand on the result: Small or Big, a total, single numbers, pairs, triples or two-number combinations. Every bet is settled on that one roll.
Small or Big (and Odd or Even where offered), with a 2.78% house edge. Both lose on any triple.
216 (6 × 6 × 6). Every probability in the game is a number of outcomes divided by 216.
No. Sic Bo uses three dice and settles every bet in one roll. Craps uses two dice and has a multi-roll point phase.
Not automatically. It adds multipliers to selected bets but reduces their base payouts. Compare the RTP listed in the help screen with 97.22% for Big/Small on a standard table.
Sic Bo has a house edge on every bet. Play only if you are 18 or older; Gambling Help Online (1800 858 858) offers free, confidential support.