Sic bo is a three-dice casino game in which you bet on the result of one roll: whether the total is big or small, a specific total, a double, a triple or particular numbers. The bets vary hugely in value, from a 2.78% house edge on Big and Small to more than 18% on some totals, and this guide sets out every one as of 20 October 2026.
Big and Small (and Odd and Even) carry the lowest house edge on a standard table: 2.78%, because triples lose.
Specific doubles, the 9 and 12 totals and specific triples are among the worst bets, with edges above 16%.
Paytables differ between tables; a specific triple at 150 to 1 instead of 180 to 1 nearly doubles its edge.
Our partner free spins can’t be played on sic bo; bonus money may be restricted. 18+, terms apply.
Dice
Three
Outcomes
216 equally likely
Best standard bet
Big or Small, 2.78% edge
Worst common bet
Specific double at 10 to 1, 18.52% edge
Versions
RNG, live dealer, Super Sic Bo
What is sic bo?
Sic bo is a dice game of Chinese origin, played with three standard dice shaken in a closed container or, online, rolled by software or a mechanical shaker in a live studio. Its name is usually translated as “precious dice”, and in some places it is known simply as big and small, after its most popular bets. Unlike craps, there is no sequence of rolls: every round is one throw and every bet is settled at once.
The table is laid out with dozens of betting boxes, which can look intimidating, but each one asks a simple question about the three dice. What matters is that the payouts on those boxes are not equally generous. A sic bo player who sticks to a few low-edge bets loses far less on average than one who spreads chips across the table.
How to play sic bo online
Open a sic bo table at a UK-licensed casino and check the minimum and maximum stakes for each type of bet.
Choose a chip and place it on one or more betting boxes: Big, Small, a total, a double, a triple, a two-number combination or a single number.
Confirm your bets; the round starts when you press roll (RNG) or when the live betting window closes.
The three dice are shaken and revealed. Winning boxes light up and losing chips are cleared.
Winnings are paid at the odds printed on the table, and your balance and net position update before the next round.
On an RNG table you must start each round yourself and, under UK rules, a non-slot game cycle lasts at least 5 seconds. Live tables run to the dealer’s schedule, which is slower.
Sic bo bets, payouts and house edge
This is the standard sic bo paytable found at many online tables, with the true probability and house edge we calculated for each bet. Check the payouts printed on your table, because they can differ.
Sic bo payouts and house edge (common paytable)
Bet
Wins when
Pays
Chance
House edge
Small
Total 4–10, not a triple
1 to 1
48.61%
2.78%
Big
Total 11–17, not a triple
1 to 1
48.61%
2.78%
Odd / Even
Total odd or even, not a triple
1 to 1
48.61%
2.78%
Single number
Your number appears on 1, 2 or 3 dice
1, 2 or 3 to 1
42.13%
7.87%
Two-dice combination
Two named numbers both appear
5 to 1
13.89%
16.67%
Specific double
At least two dice show your number
10 to 1
7.41%
18.52%
Any triple
All three dice match
30 to 1
2.78%
13.89%
Specific triple
All three show your number
180 to 1
0.46%
16.20%
Total bets
Sic bo total bets: payouts and house edge (common paytable)
Total
Ways of 216
Pays
House edge
4 or 17
3
60 to 1
15.28%
5 or 16
6
30 to 1
13.89%
6 or 15
10
17 to 1
16.67%
7 or 14
15
12 to 1
9.72%
8 or 13
21
8 to 1
12.50%
9 or 12
25
6 to 1
18.98%
10 or 11
27
6 to 1
12.50%
If your table pays a specific triple at 150 to 1 instead of 180 to 1, its edge rises from 16.20% to 30.09%. Small differences in the printed odds make large differences in cost.
Why Big and Small lose on a triple
Big covers totals 11 to 17 and Small covers 4 to 10, so between them they span almost every result. The catch is the six triples: 1-1-1, 2-2-2 and so on up to 6-6-6. When any triple appears, both Big and Small lose, even if the total is in range. Triples come up 6 times in 216, which is exactly where the 2.78% edge comes from.
Worked example: stake £10 on Small 216 times, once for every possible outcome. You win 105 times and collect £20 each time (£2,100), and lose the other 111 rolls. You staked £2,160 and got back £2,100, a £60 loss, which is 2.78% of what you staked. Real sessions won’t follow that pattern exactly, but over thousands of rolls the result drifts towards it. Our house edge explainer shows the same method for other games.
The single number bet in detail
The single number bet is often misunderstood. You pick a number from 1 to 6, and you are paid 1 to 1 if it appears on one die, 2 to 1 on two dice and 3 to 1 on all three. Many players assume three dice give a 50% chance; it is actually 42.13%, because the dice can repeat numbers.
Number appears on no dice: 125 in 216 (57.87%), you lose your stake.
On one die: 75 in 216 (34.72%), paid 1 to 1.
On two dice: 15 in 216 (6.94%), paid 2 to 1.
On all three: 1 in 216 (0.46%), paid 3 to 1.
Combine those and the bet returns about 92p per £1 over the long run, a 7.87% edge. That is nearly three times the cost of Big or Small.
Sic bo versions: RNG, live and Super Sic Bo
You will meet sic bo in three main forms at UK sites. RNG tables use a random number generator certified for fairness. Live tables stream a real shaker from a studio. Then there are multiplier variants, the best known being Evolution’s Super Sic Bo, which its game listings describe as adding random multipliers of up to 1,000x each round. Evolution also lists Lightning Sic Bo, Instant Super Sic Bo and a First Person Super Sic Bo.
Sic bo formats compared
Format
How dice are rolled
Pace
Paytable
RNG sic bo
Software
Minimum 5 seconds per round in the UK
Usually the standard table
Live sic bo
Mechanical shaker on camera
Set by the dealer schedule
Usually the standard table
Super Sic Bo and similar
Live shaker plus random multipliers
Live schedule
Reduced base payouts to fund multipliers
Multiplier versions shift value from ordinary wins into rare boosted ones, so the edge of each bet can differ from the standard table. Always read the game’s own paytable and RTP. See our live casino guide for how studio games are run.
Sic bo strategy: what helps and what doesn’t
There is no way to predict three fair dice, and no staking system turns a negative bet into a positive one. The only real strategy in sic bo is bet selection: choosing the boxes that cost least.
Advantages
Stick to Big, Small, Odd or Even for the lowest edge
Use a flat stake rather than a progression
Set a loss limit and a time limit before you start
Drawbacks
Spreading chips across many boxes multiplies the margin you pay
Martingale-style doubling hits table limits fast
Chasing a triple after a long gap ignores that dice have no memory
Doubling after losses is especially tempting on even-money bets like Big. Our Martingale system page shows how a short losing streak drives stakes into the hundreds. The gambler’s fallacy guide explains why a run of Smalls doesn’t make Big more likely.
Sic bo and UK casino rules
Online sic bo is covered by the Commission’s Remote Technical Standards (opens in a new tab), which set the design rules for casino games. The key ones for players since 17 January 2025 are:
The same £50 stake goes very differently depending on the box you choose. Over 100 rounds at 50p each (£50 staked), the expected cost is £1.39 on Big or Small, £3.94 on a single number and £9.26 on a specific double. Choosing low-edge bets lets a budget last longer for the same entertainment. Our setting a gambling budget guide covers how to set a figure you’re comfortable losing.
If you are finding it hard to stop, the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 is free and confidential, and the NHS gambling support page (opens in a new tab) explains how to refer yourself to a specialist clinic.
Our partner offers are not sic bo offers. Casumo’s 50% bonus up to £100 (18+, new customers, opt in, £20 minimum first deposit, 10x wagering within 7 days, £5 max bet, game restrictions apply) is the only bonus paid as money. PlayOJO’s 80 spins (18+, £10 first deposit, 10p each, no wagering) are on Big Bass Bonanza, and Coral’s 100 spins (18+, bet £10 on slots, 10p each) are on selected slots. The games hub lists more dice and table games.
No partner offer is built for sic bo. Casumo’s match bonus is the only one paid as bonus money, subject to game restrictions; the spins offers are for named slots only. 18+, terms apply.
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Read the Coral reviewLicence: LC International Limited, UKGC account 54743. Offer checked 5 October 2026.
18+. Gambling should be entertainment that costs money, not a way to make it. Set a deposit limit before you play: how to set deposit limits. Free, confidential help: National Gambling Helpline 0808 8020 133.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best bet in sic bo?
Big or Small is the best bet on a standard sic bo table, with a house edge of 2.78%. Odd and Even carry the same edge where offered. Both lose when a triple appears, which happens 6 times in 216 rolls, and that is where the casino’s margin comes from. Every other bet on the standard table costs more, from 7.87% on a single number to 18.98% on totals of 9 or 12. See our guide to the lowest house edge games for comparisons.
How do you play sic bo?
You place chips on boxes predicting the result of three dice, then the dice are rolled once and every bet is settled. Popular bets include Big (total 11–17), Small (4–10), specific totals, doubles, triples and single numbers. Payouts range from 1 to 1 on Big and Small up to 180 to 1 on a specific triple on many tables. There is nothing to decide once the dice are rolled. Our casino dice games page compares sic bo with other dice formats.
What does sic bo mean?
The name is usually translated as “precious dice”, and the game is also known as big and small after its two main bets. It developed from traditional Chinese dice games and spread through casinos in Macau and Asia before appearing online. Despite the long history, the maths is modern and simple: 216 equally likely outcomes per roll. Online versions use either an RNG or a live shaker; our live casino guide explains the studio setup.
What is the house edge on sic bo?
It depends entirely on the bet. On a common paytable, Big, Small, Odd and Even carry 2.78%; a single number 7.87%; totals between 9.72% (7 or 14) and 18.98% (9 or 12); a two-dice combination 16.67%; any triple 13.89%; a specific double 18.52%; and a specific triple at 180 to 1, 16.20%. Tables that pay less, such as 150 to 1 on a specific triple, carry higher edges. Our house edge glossary entry explains how these figures are calculated.
What are the odds of rolling a triple in sic bo?
Any triple appears 6 times in 216 rolls, a 2.78% chance or about 1 in 36. A specific triple, such as three fives, appears once in 216 rolls, a 0.46% chance. Any triple commonly pays 30 to 1, which falls short of the fair 35 to 1, giving a 13.89% edge. A specific triple at 180 to 1 falls short of the fair 215 to 1, giving 16.20%. Dice have no memory, so a triple is never overdue; see the gambler’s fallacy.
Is online sic bo rigged?
No, not at UK-licensed casinos. RNG versions use generators that independent test labs check before the game goes live, and live tables use physical dice in a supervised studio. The game is still designed to favour the house through its paytable, which is how the casino makes money. If you believe a result was recorded incorrectly, contact the casino and keep the round ID. Our page on are online casinos rigged? explains testing and complaints.
What is Super Sic Bo?
Super Sic Bo is Evolution’s live sic bo with random multipliers. Before each roll, multipliers are applied to some bets, and Evolution’s listings describe them as reaching up to 1,000x. To fund those boosts, ordinary payouts on some bets are lower than on a standard table, so the edge of each bet differs from the figures in our main table. Check the game’s help screen for its own paytable and RTP. Our multiplier glossary entry explains how boosted games spread their return.
Can I play sic bo for free in the UK?
Some UK casinos offer demo versions of RNG sic bo, but since May 2019 free-to-play casino games can only be opened after your age has been verified. Live tables generally let logged-in players watch without betting, which is a useful way to learn the layout. Demo play uses the same paytable as real play, so it is a good place to check how the bets work. Our demo play guide explains the rules.
Does sic bo have a stake limit in the UK?
There is no national stake limit for sic bo. The £5 and £2 per-spin limits introduced in 2025 apply only to online slots. Each casino sets minimum and maximum bets per box, shown on the table, and maximums are usually lower on long-odds boxes such as specific triples. If you are using a bonus, its terms may also cap your stake, for example at £5 per bet. Our max bet rule explainer covers how those caps work.
Is sic bo better than craps?
Neither is better in general, but craps has the lower-edge options. Craps’ Pass and Don’t Pass bets carry about 1.41% and 1.36%, and the odds bet behind them has no house edge, while sic bo’s best bets carry 2.78%. Sic bo is simpler, with one roll per round and no points to track. If the lowest long-run cost matters most, craps wins; if simplicity matters, sic bo is easier. Our online craps guide explains its bets.
Gambling can be addictive. Free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133. Get free support from GamCare or NHS gambling support, or block yourself from all UK-licensed gambling sites with GAMSTOP.
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