A number of the most popular casino games have their roots in European culture, while others are very much the brainchild of innovators from North America.
But for one of the most popular dice games, both in casinos and online, it’s off to China we go.
Sic Bo, which translate from Chinese into English as ‘precious dice’, offers a stack of different betting options and high octane action – it’s a fantastic alternative to the card and table games you may be used to playing.
Known as Sic Bo in many casinos in the Western world and online, if you head to Macau the game may be called Dai Siu or Dai Sai – translated as ‘big or small’, which offers a clue as to one of the its most popular bet types.
You may be familiar with games like Craps already, but if you want to try a different dice game that is supremely popular in Asia and other parts of the world, Sic Bo ticks the boxes as far as entertainment and betting possibilities are concerned.
What is Sic Bo?
In essence, Sic Bo is as straightforward as casino games get – you are simply betting on the outcome of the roll of three dice.
Like roulette, Sic Bo has its own betting table that outlines all of the different wager types that are available – you can bet on single numbers, combinations, total scores, doubles, triples and big or small numbers.
Place your bets, watch the dealer roll the dice and then hope for the best – what could be easier?
How Do You Play Sic Bo?
Because Sic Bo is so easy to understand, players tend to become firm fans the first time they play it – there’s no skill involved, it’s simply a case of betting on the numbers and/or combinations you fancy and then sitting back and crossing your fingers.
The gameplay is fast and smooth with little interruption or slow down, which is another reason Sic Bo is growing in popularity on the Vegas floor, in casinos across Europe and, of course, online.
To really understand Sic Bo, all you need is an awareness of the different bet types and their associated payouts. Just for reference, a double is where two of the dice are the same number while a triple is where all three are of the same number.
- Big – any combination that adds up to between 11-17, except in a triple
- Small – any combination that adds up to between 11-17, except in a triple
- Odd – any combination that adds up an even number, except in a triple
- Even – any combination that adds up to an odd number, except in a triple
Each of these four bets pays at 1:1, although it’s worth noting that when a triple is settled as a loss – even if it adds up to your target number.
- Specific Single – betting that a specified number will appear on at least one dice
- Specific Double – betting that a specified double will appear
- Specific Triple – betting that a specified triple will appear on the three dice
- Any Triple – betting that any numbered triple will appear on the three dice
Landing a specific number on one dice pays 1:1, the same number on two dice pays 2:1 and the specified number on all three dice earns 3:1.
The specific double bet pays 10:1, any triple earns 30:1 and the specific triple bet – the highest paying in Sic Bo – delivers a 180:1 payout.
- Three Dice Totals – betting that a specific total score will be rolled
There’s different permutations to the three dice total bet, because some numbers – such as four or seventeen – only have one possible combination of dice that can score them. They offer the best payout for this bet type at 60:1.
Others, such as ten or eleven, have various different combinations available and so these pay at a lower rate of 6:1.
- Dice Combinations – betting that two of the three dice will have specific numbers
Let’s say you think that a one and a three will be rolled next up. You could wager on this pair of numbers in your next bet, and if they appear on any two of the three dice you will be paid at 6:1.
Some Sic Bo variants offer other exotic bet types. You can wager on three specific numbers to appear – a high risk option that pays at 30:1, while the specific single and double number combination bet is exactly as it sounds; the three dice need to show your specified single number and your chosen double for a win of 50:1.
Once you’ve absorbed these different betting options and their payouts, Sic Bo will soon become second nature. You place your chips on the bet table (or click as appropriate in online Sic Bo games), and then watch as the dealer shakes the chest in which the dice are housed – he or she will then open the chest to reveal where the three dice have landed, with bets paid accordingly.
Beginner’s Guide to Sic Bo
It’s only natural for casino game enthusiasts to try and find some kind of winning angle, but you won’t find one in Sic Bo – an ancient game that is bulletproof as far as the casinos are concerned.
Your budget and your personality type will ultimately determine how you bet. The lowest house edge is in those ‘50/50’ bets like big, small, odd or even. Of course, these aren’t true 50/50 wagers because triples will see your bet lose even if the right number is shaken – hence the house edge of 2.78%.
At the other end of the scale, there’s two bet types in Sic Bo you absolutely should avoid. Specific doubles offer a payout of just 10:1 but have an implied probability of just 7.4% and a house edge of a whopping 18.5% – this is a bet that, over time, simply lines the pockets of casino bosses.
The specific single and double combination bet has a house edge of 29.2%, an implied probability of just 1.4% and pays the meagre return – based on these stats – of 50:1. Again, avoid it like the plague.