Table & Live Games
How to Play Sic Bo
Sic bo is a fast dice game with roots in ancient China and a big following in Malaysia. Three dice are shaken, and you bet on the result. Here is how each bet works.
How a round works
The dealer places three dice in a shaker, and players place bets on the layout. After betting closes, the dice are shaken and the result is revealed. Winning bets are paid according to the table's paytable.
Big and Small
The most popular bets. Small wins if the total is 4 to 10; Big wins if the total is 11 to 17. Both usually pay 1:1, but both lose if any triple appears (for example 2-2-2). That rule gives these bets a house edge of about 2.78%.
Other common bets
Payouts for the bets below vary between tables, so always check the paytable on screen.
| Bet | Wins when | Chance per roll |
|---|---|---|
| Big / Small | Total is 11–17 / 4–10, no triple | about 48.6% |
| Odd / Even (where offered) | Total is odd / even, no triple | about 48.6% |
| Single number | Your number appears on 1, 2 or 3 dice | about 42.1% for at least one |
| Two-dice combination | Two specific different numbers appear | about 13.9% |
| Specific double | Your chosen number appears on at least two dice | about 7.4% |
| Any triple | All three dice match | about 2.8% |
| Specific triple | All three dice show your number | about 0.46% (1 in 216) |
Totals bets (for example "total of 10") pay different amounts for each number, reflecting how likely each total is. The totals 10 and 11 are the most common; 4 and 17 are the rarest.
Mind the pace
Rounds are quick, and it is easy to spread many bets across the layout. Covering lots of outcomes at once feels safer but simply combines several bets that each carry an edge. Decide your total stake per round and a limit for the session. Our house edge guide shows how quickly small edges add up at a fast pace.