Sic Bo is a fun and exciting casino game that is played with dice. For the new player, the game may appear quite complex at first sight, but once the layout is understood, it is a simple game to play. It's a straightforward dice-rolling game, and on this page, we'll explain how to play Sic Bo.
Sic Bo is played with three dice and players will bet on the outcome of these rolls. There are multiple betting options, each with its own set of odds and outcomes. To prepare for the game, it is best to review how to bet and learn some different betting strategies to optimize the chances of collecting real money payouts. Our live Sic Bo tutorial will cover all of these topics, along with some basic Sic Bo strategies to get you started.
Live Sic Bo is a true casino classic - especially in Asian live casinos. Playing it live online with real dealers is the best way to get an authentic, lifelike experience.
Playing Sic Bo is relatively easy and the goal is to determine the value of the dice that are thrown. The core loop of Sic Bo has only two basic steps.
The first step is the betting period. You have some time to place bets, and you do so using the chips on the game’s interface. Click on the chips to determine the size of your stake, and then click on the bet(s) you wish to make.
You can place any number of Sic Bo bets per round. All of these can win or lose independently of each other. That’s why bet hedging is a common Sic Bo strategy.
There are three dice in play and players will bet on the outcome of one, two, or all dice that are rolled. Each bet will offer different payouts based on the likelihood of the predicted outcome.
If you play Sic Bo online at a live dealer casino, you’re not actually rolling the dice. A bell-like shaker is used instead, which is controlled by the dealer. However, the rolling motion itself is completely automated to ensure absolute fairness.
Two of the most popular bets placed with live Sic Bo are Small and Big bets. Sticking to simple, even-money bets is a good way to play before you get used to the rules
The most important thing to understand about how Sic Bo works are the various bets. Choosing which bet to play in Sic Bo (and how much to stake on it) is your main way of interacting with the game. Let’s go through the main wagering options and explain how each one works.
Note that these are the most common types of Sic Bo bets found at live casinos. There are rare variants in places like Macau casinos, but these are often specific to the table and casino. The wagers listed above are all you need to play Sic Bo live.
There are two important things to understand about Sic Bo bets. The payout in case you win is one of them, and the probability of winning is the other. RTP is another factor, which may vary across different bets and Sic Bo tables.
Generally, the payout is inversely proportional to the likelihood of the bet winning. In other words, the less likely you are to win – the bigger the payout.
You can find an industry standard Sic Bo payouts in the table below. Note that some tables occasionally offer lower payouts. Be sure to check the Sic Bo odds of a table before you start playing. We don’t recommend playing with lower odds than the ones listed below.
Sic Bo Payouts | ||
Bet | Payout | Probability |
Small/Big | 1:1 | 48.61% |
Even/Odds | 1:1 | 48.61% |
Double | 11:1 | 7.41% |
Triple | 180:1 | 0.46% |
Any Triple | 31:1 | 2.8% |
Total 4 or 17 | 62:1 | 1.4% |
Total 5 or 16 | 31:1 | 2.8% |
Total 6 or 15 | 18:1 | 4.6% |
Total 7 or 14 | 12:1 | 6.9% |
Total 8 or 13 | 8:1 | 9.7% |
Total 9 or 12 | 7:1 | 11.6% |
Total 10 or 11 | 6:1 | 12.5% |
Combination | 6:1 | 13.9% |
Single | 1:1, 2:1 if Double result, 12:1 if Triple | 34.72%, 6.94% for Double, 0.46% for Triple |
Playing Sic Bo does not require much knowledge, but players should study the paytable so they can learn the best odds and best bets to place. The paytable is displayed when playing a live dealer game, but players can also see this when playing free and standard online games.
It’s important to understand that not all bets in Sic Bo are equal. The ratio of the probability of winning compared to the payout is not always optimal. You can find a detailed look at Sic Bo RTP in our Sic Bo strategy guide.
The difference between some Sic Bo rules can be incredibly important.
Let’s use the Combination bet as an example. In standard rules, this is one of the best bets in Sic Bo because it offers a low house edge of 2.8%. However, this number assumes the payout is 6:1. Some Sic Bo tables pay 5:1 for combination bets instead, which increases the house edge to over 16%.
In other words, picking bad Sic Bo games can cost you dearly in the long run. Our live dealer Sic Bo game reviews can help you find the ones worth playing. However, the choice of a casino to play them on is equally as important. A good casino will not only host good tables but will also improve your Sic Bo returns through good bonuses and terms of use.
Check out our list of top 10 live casinos to find the best offers the industry has to offer. Alternatively, here are some of the best live casinos to play Sic Bo live.
Want to know more about how to win Sic Bo? Here are more amazing articles and guides on Live Casinos:
Sic Bo is traditionally most popular in Asian casinos, mostly in Macau and Hong Kong. However, nowadays Sic Bo can be played in gambling establishments across the world. Online gambling especially allows players to play all sorts of casino games anywhere in the world.
No, Sic Bo results are completely based on random chance. However, the odds are stacked in the casino’s favor, which is true for every casino game out there. Actually, most bets in Sic Bo have a much steeper house edge than competing games like Blackjack or Baccarat. That’s why this game can seen harder to beat than some other gambling options.
Sic Bo originates in ancient China, but its exact origins are impossible to determine. Gambling games involving dice are as old as gambling itself, and one such game developed into what we call Sic Bo today. The first known reference to Sic Bo can be found in ancient Chinese texts that note the game’s existence as a popular pastime among soldiers.
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As the Creative Director of LiveCasinos, Milos and his team at MM Editing handle everything from content creation and publishing to SEO, promotion, and strategic planning, making sure readers get the most out of their experience.
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