Even if you aren’t a regular casino visitor, you’ll undoubtedly have heard of popular table games such as Roulette, Blackjack, Poker and potentially, even Baccarat. You’ll probably also be aware that online casinos offer thousands of video slots and perhaps you’ll have also spotted the recent emergence of immersive live game shows.
Nevertheless, if you dig a little deeper, there are many other gaming options which remain relatively undiscovered. Sic Bo is one such example. This ancient Chinese gambling game is affectionately known as ‘the best casino game that people know nothing about’.
If you’re intrigued and are wondering how to play Sic Bo, then the good news is that there are several different variants available and it has become a staple with both land-based and online casinos over the last couple of decades, so once you’re up to speed with the rules, you’ll be able to get started.
Table of Contents
The Basics
Sic Bo is a game of chance which is dependent on the roll of three dice. It is fairly similar to Craps. The layout of the table is reminiscent of a standard game of Roulette although it may appear a little overbearing upon first glance, so it is strongly advised to stick to the most simplistic betting options.
The three dice will be shaken by the dealer, or in some cases, it will be shaken automatically in a small bowl. Players will be asked to place their chips or tokens on a variety of possible outcomes.
Your returns will be calculated based on your chosen combination. There are many different variants of this game including Evolution’s live dealer Super Sic Bo, so it’s important to double check the layout of the board before getting started. Thankfully, the majority of these will follow a standard procedure and you may just find that each of the bets is worded slightly differently.
We’ve picked out some of the most popular bet types:
Sic Bo Popular Bet Types
Big and Small
This is the simplest option and is the Sic Bo equivalent to Roulette’s 1-18 and 19-36.
If you are placing a bet on ‘Small’, you’ll need the sum total of the three dice to be between four and ten. Winning combinations could include 2+3+2 or 1+4+3. It is worth remembering that any combination which adds up to exactly 10 (eg. 4+3+3) is also a winner.
If you are placing a bet on ‘Big’, you’ll need the sum total of the three dice to be between eleven and seventeen. Winning combination could include 5+4+3 or 6+4+4. It is worth remembering that any combination which adds up to exactly 17 (e.g. 6+5+6) is also a winner.
Any triple number roll (1+1+1 or (6+6+6) will unfortunately result in a losing bet. This means that Big and Small have a probability percentage of 48.61% each.
These bets will payout at 1 to 1
Single / Sum Bets / Three Dice Total
These bets are also amongst the most simplistic options and tend to be favoured by Sic Bo newcomers. In order to win, the sum total of the three dice MUST add up your chosen number.
Once again, you can bet on any combination between four and seventeen and the payout will depend on the probability.
There are only three ways to add up to 4 (1+1+2 / 1+2+1 / 2+1+1) and the same for seventeen (6+5+6 / 5+6+6 / 6+6+5) hence why these two numbers return 60 to 1.
More commonly rolled totals such as nine, ten, eleven and twelve will pay out at 6 to 1.
Paytable:
4 – 60 to 1
5 – 30 to 1
6 – 17 to 1
7 – 12 to 1
8 – 8 to 1
9 – 6 to 1
10 – 6 to 1
11 – 6 to 1
12 – 6 to 1
13 – 6 to 1
14 – 12 to 1
15 – 17 to 1
16 – 30 to 1
17 – 60 to 1
Single Dice Bets
A single dice bet allows you to select a number between one and six.
If your chosen number appears on one of these three dice, then you’ll be paid out at 1 to 1.
If your chosen number appears on two of these three dice, then you’ll be paid out at 2 to 1
If your chosen number appears on all three of these dice, then you’ll be paid out at 3 to 1.
Double or Triple Bets
You can bet on specific doubles. In order to be paid out at 10 to 1, you will need at least two of the three dice to land on your chosen number.
You can also bet on specific trebles. In order to be paid out at 30 to 1, you will need all three of the dice to land on your chosen number.
Dice Combination
This is another popular option for Sic Bo players. Here, you will be asked to pick two different numbers between one and six.
If these two numbers are rolled, you will be paid out at odds of 6 to 1.
Odds or Evens
This is another bet which will be extremely familiar to roulette players. This will apply to the sum total of the three dice and it will payout at odds of 1 to 1.
Similar to the aforementioned ‘small’ or ‘big’ bets, if the three dice each roll the same number, your bet will unfortunately be counted as a loser, notwithstanding whether you have correctly predicted odds or evens.
Best Strategy
Sic Bo is a game of chance and there are very few tactical approaches that can be applied to this casino classic.
The best strategy is to opt for bets which have the highest probability of success. Aiming for the standout odds is perfectly reasonable, but you could easily find yourself on a long losing run as a consequence.
We advise taking your time and easing yourself into the game. Start by betting small amounts on high probability options such as Big or Small and Odds or Evens. Single Dice combination bets also have the lowest house edge and could be other potential options for players who are keen on keeping it simple.
