Definition
Sic Bo
Also known as Tai Sai, Dai Siu, Big and Small
By Abhinav VasudevanReviewed Editorial policy
In short
Sic Bo is a three-dice game where you bet on the outcome of a roll. House edges range from about 2.8% on the best bets to over 30% on the worst, making bet selection unusually important.
Sic Bo, “precious dice”, is a Chinese dice game played with three dice in a shaker. It is a staple of Macau and Asian casinos and has become common on live casino platforms.
Unlike craps, there is no sequence or point. Every roll is settled immediately and independently.
The bets and their cost
| Bet | Pays | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Big (11–17) / Small (4–10) | 1:1 | 2.78% |
| Odd / Even | 1:1 | 2.78% |
| Single number (one die) | 1:1 | 7.87% |
| Single number (two dice) | 2:1 | 7.87% |
| Single number (three dice) | 12:1 | 7.87% |
| Two dice combination | 5:1 | 16.67% |
| Total 10 or 11 | 6:1 | 12.5% |
| Total 4 or 17 | 60:1 | 29.2% |
| Any triple | 30:1 | 13.9% |
| Specific triple | 180:1 | 30.1% |
The spread is enormous. From 2.78% to over 30% on the same table. Very few casino games vary this much between bets, and none of it is signposted.
The only sensible bets
Big and Small at 2.78% are the only bets that stand comparison with other casino games. They lose only to triples, which is why they pay even money rather than slightly less.
Everything else is substantially worse, and the high-paying bets are the worst. A specific triple at 180:1 sounds spectacular and carries a 30% house edge. Three times worse than a bad slot and comparable to a lottery.
Live casino variants
Online versions frequently add multipliers to specific outcomes. Lightning Dice and Super Sic Bo apply random multipliers to certain totals.
These are funded by reducing the base payouts elsewhere, so the advertised excitement comes out of the same pot. Check the stated RTP in the game information rather than assuming a multiplier version is more generous; it usually is not.
Against craps
Both are dice games and craps is clearly the better one. Craps offers a 1.41% base bet and a zero-edge odds bet; Sic Bo’s best available bet is 2.78% and there is no equivalent to odds.
Sic Bo is faster and simpler, with no sequence to follow. That is its appeal, and it is paid for in edge.
Common questions
What is the best bet in Sic Bo?
Big or Small at 2.78%, and odd or even at the same figure. Everything else is substantially worse, ranging up to 30% on a specific triple. Very few casino games vary this much between bets on the same table.
Is Sic Bo better than craps?
No. Craps offers a 1.41% base bet and a zero-edge odds bet, while Sic Bo's best available bet is 2.78% with no equivalent to odds. Sic Bo is faster and simpler, and that is what you pay for.