Sic Bo

Officially Sic Bo (骰宝) / Tai Sai / Dai Siu

Ancient Chinese dice casino game — three dice shaken in a covered container; players bet on possible outcomes (specific numbers, sums 4-17, small/big totals, triples, doubles). Payouts range 1:1 to 180:1 based on outcome probability.

📐Sic Bo table⏱~1 min🌤indoor

What is Sic Bo?

Sic Bo (Chinese: 骰宝, literally 'dice treasure') is an ancient Chinese casino dice game — one of the oldest gambling games still played, dating to ~2000 BC in ancient China (mentioned in Book of Songs, ~11th-7th c. BC). Modern casino version: three dice shaken in a covered container/cage; players bet on multiple possible outcomes before reveal. Popular in Macau (Chinese dominant casino game after Baccarat), also called Tai Sai (大細 'Big Small') in Cantonese + Dai Siu in Mandarin. Widespread in Asian casinos + increasingly in Western casinos + online. Table layout: complex grid with 50+ different bet types with different payouts: Small (total 4-10, 1:1); Big (11-17, 1:1); specific single number (1-6, 1:1); Doubles (specific pair, 8:1); Triples (specific 111, 180:1); Any Triple (any 111-666, 30:1); specific total (4=60:1 to 10-11=6:1 to 17=60:1). House edge varies dramatically by bet type — from 2.78% (Big/Small) to 33.33% (specific single-number 3-of-kind on 3-die). Very fast game (~10-30 sec per round). Cultural importance in Chinese communities globally; Macau casinos derive significant revenue from Sic Bo. Simple mechanics + wide bet variety makes it beginner-friendly + strategically rich for advanced players. Similar to Grand Hazard (British dice game) + Chuck-a-Luck (American simpler version). Estimated 50+ million players globally.

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Correctly predict dice outcomes across 50+ possible bet types with varying payouts.

Match structure

Players place bets on layout before shake. Dealer shakes 3 dice in covered container. Container opened revealing dice. Dealer collects losing bets + pays winning bets per pay table. Next round begins.

Rules

Basic rules

Bet before dice shake
Place chips on any + multiple betting spots on layout before dealer shakes dice.
Dealer shakes 3 dice
3 standard dice in covered container; hidden from view until reveal.
Reveal + payout per bet type
Dealer opens container; each bet on layout evaluated; winners paid per table's fixed pay table.
Big/Small bets — 1:1
Big = total 11-17 wins (excludes triples); Small = total 4-10 wins (excludes triples). House edge 2.78%.
Specific number 1-6 — 1:1 to 3:1
Bet on 1-6 appearing: 1 die shows = 1:1, 2 dice show = 2:1, 3 dice show = 3:1.
Specific double 1-6 — 10:1
Bet specific pair (e.g. 2-2); wins if two of three dice match that number.
Specific triple 1-6 — 180:1
Bet specific 3-of-kind (e.g. 5-5-5); very high payout but only 1/216 chance (0.46%).
Any triple — 30:1
Wins if any three-of-a-kind (1-1-1 through 6-6-6); 6/216 chance.
Specific sum 4-17 — 6:1 to 60:1
Bet on exact total; payouts vary by probability (4 or 17 = 60:1; 10 or 11 = 6:1).

Advanced rules

Triples excluded from Big/Small
Triples (like 1-1-1 total 3, or 6-6-6 total 18) do NOT count as Big or Small — house wins Big/Small bets on triples.
Odd/Even bets
Bet total is odd or even; even payout 1:1; triples exclusion applies (house wins on triples).
Combination bets (2-dice)
Bet on specific 2-dice pair combinations (e.g. 1+2, 3+4); wins if those exact two numbers appear. Payout 5:1.
House edge varies dramatically
Big/Small: 2.78%. Any Triple: 13.89%. Specific Triple: 16.20%. Specific 2-dice combo: 33.33%. Bet selection critical for optimal play.
Chuck-a-Luck variant (US)
Simplified 3-dice game; only Any Triple + specific number bets (1:1 to 3:1). Higher house edge (7.87%).
Grand Hazard (British)
British 3-dice casino variant with slightly different pay table + additional bets.
Electronic vs table Sic Bo
Electronic Sic Bo faster + lower minimum bets; table version social + traditional feel.
Progressive jackpots
Some Sic Bo tables offer progressive for hitting specific rare outcomes (e.g. 3-of-kind on high number).

Scoring

Payouts range 1:1 to 180:1 depending on bet type. House edge varies 2.78% (Big/Small) to 33% (specific single number).

Action	Points
Big (11-17) / Small (4-10)	1:1 payout; house edge 2.78%
Specific single number (bet on 1-6)	1:1 if one die shows; 2:1 if two; 3:1 if three; house edge 7.87%
Specific double (e.g. 4-4)	10:1 payout; house edge 18.52%
Any triple (any 3-of-kind)	30:1 payout; house edge 13.89%
Specific triple (e.g. 5-5-5)	180:1 payout; house edge 16.20%
Specific total 4 or 17	60:1 payout; house edge 15.28%
Specific total 10 or 11 (most common)	6:1 payout; house edge 12.5%

Win condition · Dice outcome matches your bet type per pay table.

Playing area

Called

Sic Bo table

Dimensions

Standard casino table with layout grid displaying 50+ betting spots; dice shaker cage on top or side.

Rectangular casino table with betting layout grid showing all possible bets (Big/Small, single numbers, doubles, triples, totals). Dealer operates covered dice cage (3 dice); results revealed after all bets placed. Modern electronic Sic Bo: dice shaker + LCD betting screen.

Equipment

Three dice
Standard 6-sided dice (~15mm). Casino uses precision-milled matching dice.
Dice shaker / cage / cup
Covered container to shake dice; results hidden until reveal. Modern electronic version: enclosed pod with vibration + camera reveal.
Sic Bo table
Purpose-built casino table with layout grid ($1000-3000 casino version).
Casino chips
Standard denominations $1-$1000.
Electronic Sic Bo terminal
Increasingly common — LCD betting interface, automated dice shaking, RNG or physical dice.

Officiating

Dealer manages bets + shake + payouts. Electronic Sic Bo automated with RNG certification.

Casino dealer
Dice shaker (may be same as dealer)
Pit boss

Strategies

Stick to Big/Small (2.78% edge)
Lowest house edge on Sic Bo table; nearly even-money bets like blackjack/baccarat. Best long-term play.
Avoid high-edge specific bets
Specific single-die 3-of-kind (33% edge!), specific 2-dice combos (33% edge) are traps — never bet these regularly.
Any Triple (30:1) more attractive than Specific Triple
Any Triple 13.89% edge; Specific Triple 16.20% edge — both risky but Any Triple better math.
Combine bets strategically
Big/Small + one specific number bet as 'insurance' + entertainment; balance risk.
Bankroll discipline critical
Fast game (~20-45 sec per round) means bankroll drains quickly if playing high-edge bets.
Understand + accept variance
Even low-edge bets have variance; don't chase losses; set stop-loss + walk away.
Progressive jackpot analysis
Progressives can occasionally become +EV when jackpot large; requires triple-specific bet.

Terminology

Sic Bo (骰宝): Chinese for 'dice treasure'; standard Mandarin name.
Tai Sai (大細): Cantonese for 'Big Small' — Hong Kong / Macau name.
Dai Siu: Mandarin variant for Big Small; alternate name.
Big / Small: Total dice sum 11-17 = Big; 4-10 = Small; even payout.
Triple: All three dice show same number (1-1-1 through 6-6-6).
Double: Two of three dice show same number.
Single: Bet on specific number (1-6) appearing on any/all dice.
Any Triple: Bet any 3-of-kind will appear (any of 6 possible triples).
Specific Triple: Bet specific 3-of-kind (e.g. 4-4-4).
Total / Sum bet: Bet on exact total (4-17); different payouts by probability.
Combination bet: Bet on specific 2-dice combination (e.g. 1+2).
House edge: Casino's mathematical advantage; varies 2.78%-33% by bet type in Sic Bo.
Pai (排): Chinese for 'lineup' — bet layout on Sic Bo table.
Shaker / Cage / Cup: Covered container for dice shake; results hidden until reveal.
Chuck-a-Luck: Simplified US variant with limited bet types.
Grand Hazard: British 3-dice variant with different pay table.

Major competitions

No professional Sic Bo tournaments — pure gambling
n/a · n/a
Casino Sic Bo tables (Macau, Las Vegas, Manila, worldwide)
continuous · Asia + Western casinos · since 1900
Online + live-dealer Sic Bo (Evolution, Playtech, Ezugi)
continuous · worldwide online · since 2010

Where it is played

Governing bodies

Macau Gaming Inspection + Coordination Bureau
Founded 1984 · Macau, China
State gaming boards (Nevada, New Jersey, etc.)
Founded 1931 · state-level USA
eCOGRA + iTech Labs (online Sic Bo RNG certification)
Founded 2003 · UK/international

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

No named professional Sic Bo players — pure luck game
Various Macau + Chinese high-roller VIPs known for large Sic Bo bets (private not publicized)

Records

Age of the game
Ancient China — ~2000 BC; mentioned in Book of Songs 11th-7th c. BC (-2000)
Highest single Sic Bo payout
Specific triple bet — 180:1 payout ratio (2020)
Lowest house edge bet
Big/Small bets — 2.78% (2020)
Highest house edge bet
Specific single-die 3-of-kind — 33.33% (2020)

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Understand betting layout basics
Focus on Big/Small first (simplest, lowest edge). Ignore complex bets initially.
2
Play free online first
Free Sic Bo apps + browser games; practice mechanics without money.
3
Small casino minimums
Sic Bo minimums typically $5-25; smaller than most table games — good for casual entry.

intermediate

1
Study bet type house edges
Learn 2.78% (Big/Small) vs 30%+ (specific triples/combos); stick to low-edge bets.
2
Bankroll management for fast game
20-45 sec per round means quick decisions + fast drain; set strict limits.
3
Try live-dealer online Sic Bo
Evolution + Playtech offer live-dealer Sic Bo streams with actual dice + real dealers.

advanced

1
Combination betting strategy
Big/Small + one occasional 'lottery' bet (Any Triple 30:1) for entertainment + variance.
2
Progressive jackpot analysis
Some progressives become +EV when large; requires triple-specific bet.
3
Study probability + variance
Sic Bo mathematics well-documented; Wizard of Odds + casino strategy sites detail every bet's true odds.

Frequently asked

How do you play Sic Bo?+

Ancient Chinese 3-dice casino game. Place bets on any of 50+ possible outcomes on table layout. Dealer shakes 3 dice in covered container. Container opened; each bet evaluated per pay table. Common bets: Big (total 11-17, 1:1), Small (4-10, 1:1), specific number 1-6 (1:1 to 3:1), specific double (10:1), any triple (30:1), specific triple (180:1), specific total 4-17 (6:1 to 60:1). Fast game (~20-45 sec per round). Simple to learn but house edge varies dramatically by bet type.

What's the best Sic Bo bet?+

BIG or SMALL — lowest house edge (2.78%). Nearly 50/50 bet like baccarat's banker or blackjack. Excludes triples (house wins Big/Small on any triple, hence the edge). AVOID: specific single-die 3-of-kind (33% edge!), specific 2-dice combos (33%), single number bets (7.87% edge — but higher entertainment). Any Triple bet 30:1 has 13.89% edge — reasonable for lottery-style occasional plays. Never make bets you don't understand the odds of.

How old is Sic Bo?+

One of the oldest gambling games still played — origins ~2000 BC in ancient China; dice mentioned in the Book of Songs (11th-7th century BC). Modern casino form formalized in 19th-20th century Chinese gambling houses; brought to Macau's casinos in 20th century + spread globally. Related ancient variants: Chuck-a-Luck (US carnival version), Grand Hazard (British casino version), Yee Hah Hi (Chinese picture-based variant with fish/shrimp/crab instead of numbers).

Is Sic Bo skill-based?+

No — pure luck. Each dice roll is independent random event. NO strategy overcomes house edge in long run. But SKILL exists in BET SELECTION — knowing which bets have 2.78% edge (Big/Small) vs 33% edge (specific combos) makes huge difference in long-term losses. Bankroll management (setting loss limits) + avoiding chasing losses also critical skills. Understanding + accepting variance essential.

What's the difference between Sic Bo and Craps?+

Both dice casino games but very different: SIC BO — 3 dice, single roll per bet, 50+ bet types, all shaken together in cage. Simple + fast. CRAPS — 2 dice, extended play with 'come-out roll' then 'point' phase, complex bet timing (some bets only made after certain rolls), player rolls dice + shooter concept. Craps has social + team atmosphere (players cheer shooter); Sic Bo more individual. Craps house edge 1.4-16% (best bets ~1.4%); Sic Bo 2.78-33%. Sic Bo primarily Asian casinos; craps primarily Western casinos.

Is Sic Bo available online?+

Yes — widely available. RNG versions on virtually every online casino. Live-dealer Sic Bo on Evolution Gaming (industry leader), Playtech, Ezugi, Pragmatic Play — real dealer + real dice on video stream. Also electronic Sic Bo terminals in Asian casinos with automated shakers + LCD betting screens. Online typically lower minimums ($0.10-1 per bet vs $5-25 casino). Growing rapidly in Asian markets + Western casinos targeting Asian clientele.

Sources & provenance

Wikipedia — Sic bo— Wikipedia
Wizard of Odds — Sic Bo analysis— Wizard of Odds

Last verified 2026-08-25.community