Sic Bo is an ancient Chinese dice game that has become a fixture of Asian-facing online casinos and is increasingly available on UK-facing sites. Three dice are rolled and the result is compared against a betting layout that offers more than thirty wagering options — from simple high/low bets to specific triple predictions with payouts of up to 180:1. The game requires no strategy and no prior knowledge of card values or table rules. If you can read a betting layout and understand basic probability, you can play Sic Bo. This guide explains the game from the ground up and compares it to other dice-based casino formats.
How Sic Bo Works
Three standard six-sided dice are placed inside a closed cage or shaker. The cage is shaken (by a live dealer or a mechanical shaker) and the three resulting numbers are revealed. You win or lose based on the bets you placed before the shake.
In online versions, a certified random number generator produces three independent dice outcomes. In live dealer Sic Bo, a real physical shaker is used in a broadcast studio, with the result confirmed by sensors connected to the game software.
Each round is self-contained. Unlike craps, there is no multi-roll progression — every shake is settled immediately. This makes Sic Bo one of the simplest casino games in terms of flow.
The Betting Layout
Small and Big Bets
The closest Sic Bo has to even-money outside bets:
- Small: the total of all three dice is between 4 and 10 (inclusive). Pays 1:1. House edge approximately 2.78%.
- Big: the total is between 11 and 17 (inclusive). Pays 1:1. House edge approximately 2.78%.
Both Small and Big lose if all three dice show the same number (a triple). This exclusion is what gives the house its edge — without it, Small and Big would each cover exactly half the possible outcomes.
Small and Big are the best bets on the Sic Bo layout and are a sensible starting point for new players.
Odd and Even
Some Sic Bo layouts add Odd and Even bets alongside Small and Big. These also pay 1:1 and carry the same 2.78% house edge with the same triple exclusion.
Total Bets
A bet on the specific sum of all three dice, from 4 to 17 (totals of 3 and 18 are covered by Triple bets). Payouts and house edges vary by total:
- Total 4 or 17: pays 60:1, house edge approximately 15.28%
- Total 5 or 16: pays 30:1, house edge approximately 13.89%
- Total 6 or 15: pays 18:1, house edge approximately 16.67%
- Total 7 or 14: pays 12:1, house edge approximately 9.72%
- Total 8 or 13: pays 8:1, house edge approximately 12.50%
- Total 9 or 12: pays 7:1 or 6:1 depending on the table, house edge approximately 18.98% (at 6:1) or 7.4% (at 7:1)
- Total 10 or 11: pays 6:1 or 7:1 depending on the table, house edge approximately 12.5% (at 6:1)
Total bets offer the allure of large payouts but carry significantly higher house edges than Small and Big. The middle totals — 9, 10, 11, 12 — occur most frequently and have the lowest payouts relative to their probability. The extreme totals — 4, 17 — occur very rarely (only one combination each: 1-1-2 and 6-6-5 or equivalent) and pay generously but still at a substantial house disadvantage.
Single Dice Bets
Bet on a specific face value (1 through 6) appearing on at least one of the three dice:
- One die shows the number: pays 1:1
- Two dice show the number: pays 2:1
- All three dice show the number: pays 3:1 (on most UK tables; some pay 12:1 for this outcome)
House edge: approximately 7.87% at the 1:1/2:1/3:1 payout structure. If the table pays 12:1 for all three dice showing the chosen number, the house edge falls to approximately 3.70%.
Double Bets
Bet that at least two specific dice will show the same number (for example, at least two dice showing 4). Pays 10:1. House edge approximately 18.52%. These bets are not recommended for regular wagering.
Any Triple (Any Alls)
A bet that all three dice will show the same number, regardless of which number. Pays 30:1. House edge approximately 13.89%.
Specific Triple
A bet that all three dice show a specific number (for example, three sixes). Pays 180:1 on most UK tables. With only one winning combination out of 216 possible outcomes and a payout of 180:1, the house edge is approximately 16.67%.
Combination Bets
A bet on a specific pair of numbers appearing across the three dice (for example, a 2 and a 5 on any two of the three dice). Pays 5:1. House edge approximately 16.67%.
House Edge Summary
| Bet Type | Payout | House Edge | |---|---|---| | Small or Big | 1:1 | 2.78% | | Specific Double | 10:1 | 18.52% | | Specific Triple | 180:1 | 16.67% | | Any Triple | 30:1 | 13.89% | | Combination | 5:1 | 16.67% | | Single Die (three showing) | 3:1 | 7.87% | | Total 10 or 11 | 6:1 | 12.50% |
The message is consistent: Small and Big dominate the value landscape. Every other bet type carries a house edge considerably higher, ranging from approximately 7.87% to over 18%.
Sic Bo Compared to Craps
Both Sic Bo and craps are dice games available at UK casinos, but they differ in structure and strategy:
- Sic Bo: all bets settle on a single shake. No multi-roll progression, no point phase. The best bets carry 2.78% house edge.
- Craps: multi-roll game with a progressive point phase. The best bets (Pass Line with full free odds) carry house edges well below 1%.
For pure odds, craps offers the better value, particularly when free odds bets reduce the blended house edge. Sic Bo is simpler and faster, but the floor on its house edge is 2.78% compared to craps' sub-1% with odds.
Super Sic Bo
Evolution's multiplier variant of Sic Bo. Before each shake, between four and fourteen random bet types are assigned multipliers ranging from 2x up to 1,000x. If your chosen bet wins with a multiplier applied, your payout is multiplied accordingly. Stated RTP: 97.22% — equivalent to a 2.78% house edge, identical to standard Sic Bo's Small/Big bets. The multipliers redistribute the expected value across fewer wins rather than reducing the overall house take.
Super Sic Bo is available at several UKGC-licensed live casinos, with minimum bets typically starting at £0.20 per segment and maximum stakes varying by bet type and table.
Other Dice Games at UK Casinos
Chuck-a-Luck
An older three-dice game common in American casinos and occasionally available online. The betting structure is similar to single-die bets in Sic Bo but with worse payouts. House edges range from approximately 7.87% to 25%. Strictly worse than Sic Bo for all equivalent bets.
Klondike
A five-dice comparing game where the player and dealer each roll five dice. Rarely found at modern online casinos.
Lightning Dice
Evolution's multiplier dice game uses three dice dropped through a pin tower (pachinko-style). Bets are placed on totals from 3 to 18, with random lightning multipliers applied to one to three totals before each drop. RTP: 96.20%. The total distribution is smoother than Sic Bo because the pin tower somewhat flattens the probability curve. Lightning Dice is covered in more detail in the Casino Game Shows article.
Playing Sic Bo at UK Live Casinos
Live Sic Bo tables are available from Evolution and a small number of other providers. The live experience adds a broadcast dealer who shakes the cage and provides commentary. Betting windows are typically 20 to 30 seconds. The visual layout mirrors the physical casino Sic Bo table.
UKGC licensing requirements apply to all UK-facing live Sic Bo tables. Minimum bets at standard live tables typically start at £0.50 on Small/Big. High-roller tables may offer minimums from £10 with upper limits of £25,000 or more on Small and Big.
Practical Tips
- Focus on Small and Big. They carry the lowest house edge on the board and the most predictable frequency of wins.
- Avoid Specific Triples and Combination bets for regular wagering. The payouts look exciting; the house edge is severe.
- Total bets can be used occasionally for variety, but their house edges make them expensive entertainment.
- Set a session budget before you start. Sic Bo's fast pace — one to two bets settled per minute in live play, faster in RNG versions — means a budget can disappear quickly without discipline.
- Responsible gambling tools, including deposit limits and session timers, are mandatory at all UKGC-licensed sites.
Conclusion
Sic Bo is a pure chance game with a clear best-bet hierarchy. Small and Big at 2.78% house edge represent the game's floor, and everything else sits well above it. The game is simple to learn, fast to play, and available at an increasing number of UK live casino lobbies. If you enjoy dice and prefer a single-roll structure without the complexity of craps, Sic Bo is a reasonable choice — provided you stick to the outside bets and treat the high-payout options as occasional speculative additions rather than core wagering strategy.