Those wanting to know how to play Sic Bo will find that the game has been around for centuries. While not as popular, the ancient Chinese game has its similarities to roulette and craps, features a unique table and three dice, and is often referred to as Dai Siu or the Big and Small Game.
In this guide, we take you through the Sic Bo rules, strategies, and odds. We also rank and review the top five sites for online Sic Bo gaming and provide tips on how to win Sic Bo.
How to Play Sic Bo
Players wanting to know how to play Sic Bo will find it relatively straightforward, despite the confusing-looking Sic Bo tables. The game includes a table, three dice, and a dice cage, where the dice are shaken before they are rolled. Overall, the game sees players wagering on the outcome of the dice roll.
In online Sic Bo, players make their bets by placing chips on the area of the table that depicts the outcomes they want to wager on. The computer then shakes the three dice in the dice cage and then rolls them. If a player has accurately bet on the outcome of the roll, they win.
Sic Bo allows players to place more than one bet, which means a player can win more than once on a single roll. For instance, a player can wager a Big or Small bet, where a Small bet predicts the dice will land on a number between four and 10, and a Big bet stakes the dice will land on numbers between 11 and 17. Players can also wager on the total number the dice will role (between four and 17), whether the dice will land on a double or triple number, two dice combinations, and single dice bets.
The Best Sic Bo Strategy
Sic Bo is predominantly a game of chance, and as a result, there are only so many Sic Bo strategies that players can use to improve their chances of winning. Below, we take a look at a few strategies players can try.
Limit Your Bets
Sic Bo tables are large and allow bettors to place multiple wagers (online casinos usually accept up to 16 bets per roll). As a result, it can be tempting to lay down too many bets and deplete your bankroll quickly. In this Sic Bo Strategy, we recommend looking at the chances of winning each wager you want to place and what the odds are on that payout. Doing this will help you better manage your bankroll and gain funds rather than lose them.
Stick to Big or Small Bets
Big and Small bets have the smallest house edge and the best odds, making playing these two options a top Sic Bo strategy, especially for new players still learning the game. While bettors can advance to placing other wagers, if you’re starting out, sticking to Big or Small stakes is best.
Heed the Gambler’s Fallacy
Players wanting to know how to win Sic Bo may wish to follow this suggestion closely. In games of chance, there is a construct called Gambler’s Fallacy that states that if something happens more frequently at one stage (say the dealer rolls a double six three times in five rolls), it will happen less frequently further on in the game. While this sounds like a solid strategy, it is, unfortunately, a myth. Sic Bo is a game of chance; anything can happen at any point, so be careful of putting down bets based on these sorts of notions.
Top 5 Tips How to Win at Sic Bo
Another aspect that can help those learning how to play Sic Bow is to have a few tips to follow. Generally, these won’t improve your chances of winning, but they will help you manage your bankroll and allow you to play longer without extending your budget. Below, you’ll find our top five Sic Bo tips.
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Get to Know the Sic Bo Rules
One of the best tips we can give you is to learn the Sic Bo rules and understand how the game works before you put down real money wagers. While reading through the rules is a good idea, putting them into practice by engaging in several free-play games of Sic Bo will ensure you get a good handle on the game before you start betting from your bankroll. -
Learn the Sic Bo Table and the Available Bets
In addition to understanding the rules, we recommend getting to know the layout of Sic Bo tables, what the various bets mean, and the odds and house edge they carry. In doing this, you can easily place more informed wagers that are more likely to win than placing random bets that could cost you your bankroll. -
Start Out Placing Straightforward Bets
New gamers learning how to play Sic Bo may want to try sticking to the most straightforward wagers (generally Big or Small bets) with a low house edge and better Sic Bo odds. Doing this makes your chances of winning greater so you can build up your bankroll, allowing you to try more risky wagers without risking too much of your original deposit. -
Visit a Reputable Online Sic Bo Casino
While many online casinos offer Sic Bo, we recommend using reputable sites that provide fair play. For instance, the top offshore online casinos on our list are all licensed and provide consistent payouts, competitive odds, and a selection of Sic Bo game variations. -
Carefully Manage Your Bankroll
The layout of Sic Bo tables makes it tempting to place several bets to up your chances of winning. But the amount you win back from this rarely covers what you initially laid out and only depletes your bankroll. Placing carefully thought-out wagers will help boost your bankroll and allow you to keep playing longer without extending your budget.
Types of Sic Bo Games to Play
While there is only one true version of Sic Bo, online casinos have developed several variations based on the game. Below, we look at these different takes on the game and how they work:
Grand Hazard
This version of the game also uses three dice, but it differs from traditional Sic Bo in the layout of the table, the betting options, and their payouts. Grand Hazard provides fewer betting options than Sic Bo, leading to unique payouts. However, the overall aim remains the same.
Super Sic Bo
This variation offers a take on classic Sic Bo that sees the addition of random multipliers (up to 1000x) in each game round, adding greater excitement and more chances to win. Players can enjoy a round of Super Sic Bo at BC Game.
Macau Sic Bo
Sic Bo Macau offers a more traditional take on the game. Since the game originated in Macau, the board is often very traditional and provides a more authentic Asian feel than others created to look more westernized.
Sic Bo Dragons
This version of Sic Bo features a dragon motif on the table and provides a slightly different take on the original game. Here, the “one” on the dice is swapped out for the image of a dragon. Rolling two or more dragons makes players eligible to win exciting jackpots.
Sic Bo Odds and Payouts
The Sic Bo odds players find at online casinos are simple to understand and are usually highlighted on Sic Bo tables. Generally, the online casino applies a house edge (the profit the casino makes) which then determines the payout odds. These odds then outline how much a bettor will win back depending on the amount they stake on their bet. The following table summarizes the various Sic Bo odds, wagers and house edge.
| Bet type | Payout | House Edge |
| Small or Big Bet | 1 to 1 | 2.78% |
| Sum of 4 or 17 | 60 to 1 | 15.28% |
| Sum of 5 or 16 | 30 to 1 | 13.89% |
| Sum of 6 or 15 | 17 to 1 | 16.67% |
| Sum of 7 or 14 | 12 to 1 | 9.72% |
| Sum of 8 or 13 | 8 to 1 | 12.50% |
| Sum of 9 or 12 | 6 to 1 | 18.99% |
| Sum of 10 or 11 | 6 to 1 | 12.50% |
| Single Dice Bet |
1 to 1
2 to 1 3 to 1 |
7.87% |
| Double Bet | 10 to 1 | 18.25% |
| Any Triple Bet | 30 to1 | 13.89% |
| Specific Triple Bet | 180 to 1 | 16.20% |
| Two Dice Combo | 5 to 1 | 16.67% |
Playing Sic Bo Online
In live dealer casino games, online casinos set up a studio to replicate the gaming floor of a brick-and-mortar casino. A Sic Bo table is added to the studio, and a live croupier is brought in to deal out the game, as you would find in a traditional casino setting. The online casino then films and live streams the game as it plays out, which players can watch from home. Players can also participate in the game and place bets by communicating with the croupier over live chat. Sites like BK8 and BC Game offer some of the best live Sic Bo games.
In contrast, online Sic Bo offers a virtual table where a computer uses Random Number Generating (RNG) software to roll the dice and come up with numbers. These games often come as a free-play version, making it easier for bettors to practice the game before placing real-money wagers.
FAQs
How do you play sic bo for beginners?
Playing Sic Bo is relatively straightforward. Here, players place their chips on the areas of the table that denote their chosen bets. The dealer then shakes three dice in a dice cage and rolls them out. Depending on the outcome of the throw, bettors either win or lose their bets.
What is the trick to win sic bo?
Unfortunately, there is no hard and fast way to win at Sic Bo. But, we recommend starting off by only placing Big or Small bets. These wagers have a lower house edge and greater odds, meaning you win more, and have a 50/50 chance of winning.
Is sic bo a skill or luck game?
Because Sic Bo relies on the outcome of the rolling of three dice, it is considered a game of luck or chance, rather than a game of skill. As a result, there are very few strategies that players can use to win Sic Bo, but there are several ways to manage your bankroll.
What’s the smartest way to play sic bo?
When playing Sic Bo, one of the best things bettors can do is pace themselves. While the Sic Bo table presents over 16 different bets a player can place, putting money on all of them is one of the worst things to do. Instead, it is best to start small and slowly increase the wagers you place by considering all of the options.
What should you not do in sic bo?
One of the biggest mistakes players make when playing Sic Bo is putting down too many bets for a single roll. While the thought is often that if a player puts down more bets, the more likely they are to win. Although this increases their chances of winning, it generally won’t recoup all the funds a bettor has put down in the first place and only depletes their bankroll, rather than increasing it.
Comparison of the Best Sic Bo Casinos
Now that you have insight into how to play sic bo at casinos, it is time to pick the site that best meets your needs. So, to help you do this, we created the comparison table below, highlighting the main features of each online casino we recommend.
| Casino | Sign-Up Bonus | Sic Bo Games | Live Sic Bo | Free Sic Bo | Bitcoin? |
| BK8 | 100% up to $100 | 7 | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| BC Game | 270% up to 20,000 BCD | 9 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Lucky Block | 15% Cash Back on all losses (In seven days) | 2 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| mBit | 110% up to 1BTC | 4 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Coinzino | 100% up to 0.03 BTC | 11 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Where to Play Sic Bo Online
Playing sic bo online is entertaining and can be rewarding. Casinos that have this game in demo mode offer players the opportunity to learn how to play sic bo from the comfort of their own home, it also makes it easier to try their hand at the game before making real money bets. Although not every site you come across will offer this game, there are a few real money sic bo casinos that are worth checking out, such as BK8, for example.
