Sic bo is a three-dice casino game from China. You bet on what the dice will show, the dealer shakes them, and every bet wins or loses on that one roll. The best bets are Big and Small, with a house edge of 2.78%; most of the others cost you between 7% and 33% of your stake over time, depending on the pay table.
What sic bo is
Sic bo goes by several names: tai sai, dai siu, big and small, and hi-lo, the name used in the Philippines. Sic bo means “precious dice”, while dai siu means “big small”. Chinese immigrants brought the game to the United States in the early 20th century. It is widely played in Macau, has been legal in licensed UK casinos since 2002, and is offered in many US casinos, especially in the West.
Sic bo and craps are the two dice games you will find in most casinos, but they play very differently. Many craps bets need several rolls before they win or lose. In sic bo every bet is settled on every roll, and there are no player decisions after the dice are shaken, so it is a pure game of chance.
That is also why it is easy to learn. Once you can read the table and know what each bet pays, you know everything there is to know.
How to play sic bo
The dealer puts three dice in a small chest or covered shaker, shakes them and reveals the result. Any bet on the layout that matches the roll wins; everything else loses.
The layout lists every bet you can make. Layouts vary, but the idea is the same everywhere: each combination has a fixed chance of coming up and a fixed payout, and the gap between the two is the house edge. You can place as many bets as you like on the same roll.
Sic bo bets, odds and house edge
The two most common bets are Small (a total of 4 to 10) and Big (a total of 11 to 17). Both lose if all three dice match. The table shows the main bets with the payouts you will usually see. Where a payout varies, the lower figure is typical in Macau and the higher one in Atlantic City or Australia.
| Bet | Wins when | Chance of winning | Usual payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big | Total is 11 to 17, no triple | 48.61% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% |
| Small | Total is 4 to 10, no triple | 48.61% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% |
| Odd or Even | Total is odd (or even), no triple | 48.61% | 1 to 1 | 2.78% |
| Single number | Your number shows on one, two or three dice | 42.13% (at least once) | 1, 2 or 3 to 1 | 7.87% |
| Two-dice combination | Two chosen numbers both show, for example 2 and 5 | 13.89% | 5 to 1 (6 to 1 in some places) | 16.67% (2.78% at 6 to 1) |
| Four-number combination | Three of your four chosen numbers show | 11.11% | 7 to 1 | 11.11% |
| Specific double | Your number shows on at least two dice | 7.41% | 8, 10 or 11 to 1 | 33.33%, 18.52% or 11.11% |
| Any triple | All three dice match | 2.78% | 24, 30 or 31 to 1 | 30.56%, 13.89% or 11.11% |
| Three-number combination | Three chosen different numbers, for example 1-3-5 | 2.78% | 30 to 1 | 13.89% |
| Specific triple | Your number shows on all three dice | 0.46% | 150 or 180 to 1 | 30.09% or 16.20% |
Three-dice totals. You can also bet on an exact total from 4 to 17. Payouts are highest on the rarest totals. A total of 4 or 17 has a 1.39% chance and pays 50 to 1 in Macau (29.17% house edge), 60 to 1 in Atlantic City (15.28%) or 62 to 1 in Australia (12.5%). The middle totals of 10 and 11 have a 12.5% chance, pay 6 to 1 and carry a 12.5% edge. Totals vary more between casinos than any other part of the layout. A total of 5 or 16 pays 18 to 1 in Macau, a 47.22% edge, but 30 to 1 in Atlantic City, a 13.89% edge. Read the payouts printed on the table.
Single number payouts. The standard single-number bet pays 1 to 1 if your number appears once, 2 to 1 if it appears twice and 3 to 1 if it appears on all three dice. In Australia the three-dice payout is 12 to 1, which cuts the house edge to 3.70%.
Some bets, such as Odd and Even and the three- and four-number combinations, are found mainly in Macau. Pay tables in Las Vegas and online also vary, so always check what the table in front of you offers. As a rule, the bets that win most often carry the lowest house edge, and the long shots carry the highest. You can read more about how the house edge works in our guide to casino odds.
Related games: grand hazard and chuck-a-luck
Two older three-dice games are close relatives of sic bo. Chuck-a-luck, also called birdcage, is derived from grand hazard, and both are considered variants of sic bo. In chuck-a-luck the three dice sit in an hourglass-shaped wire cage that pivots at its center, and the dealer turns the cage end over end. It offers fewer bets than sic bo, mainly single numbers paying 1, 2 or 3 to 1 and an any-triple bet that typically pays 30 to 1. Today it is more of a carnival game than a casino table game. If you like simple games of chance, see also our big six wheel guide.
Sic bo strategy
No betting system changes the odds in sic bo. What you can control is which bets you make and where you play:
- Stick to Big, Small, Odd or Even. They win almost half the time and carry the lowest house edge on the table at 2.78%.
- Compare pay tables. The same bet can carry a house edge of 11% at one casino and 33% at another. If a table pays 6 to 1 on two-dice combinations, that bet is as good as Big or Small.
- Treat triples and exact totals as entertainment. The big payouts are tempting, but most of these bets carry an edge of 11% or more.
Is sic bo worth playing?
The sic bo table looks busy, but the game is simple: pick the numbers or totals you think the three dice will show. If you want a fast, easy game to play for fun, sic bo is a good choice, especially if you stay on the Big and Small bets. If you want a casino game where skill makes a difference, look at blackjack or video poker instead. Sic bo is easy to learn, but it is a hard game to beat.
Sic bo FAQ
What is the best bet in sic bo?
Big or Small (and Odd or Even where offered). They pay even money and have a house edge of 2.78%. A two-dice combination bet is just as good where it pays 6 to 1, but Macau and Atlantic City pay 5 to 1.
Why does Big or Small lose on a triple?
Triples are how the house earns its edge on those bets. Without them, Big and Small would be a coin flip with no advantage to the casino.
How many dice are used in sic bo?
Three standard six-sided dice, giving 216 possible outcomes.
Is sic bo the same as craps?
No. Craps uses two dice and many bets take several rolls to resolve. Sic bo uses three dice and every bet is settled on every roll.
Please gamble responsibly. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, call or text the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET.