Online Casino

As casino games go, especially in the West, one of the less well known of them is Sic bo. That doesn’t mean it’s a game to be avoided. In fact, Sic bo is hugely popular in casinos in Macau, the largest gambling hot spot on the planet. So what is this casino game with the strange sounding name all about and where did it come from? More importantly, how do you play it and how can you win at it?

Sic bo originated in ancient China and spread to other far eastern countries before migrating to the United States with Chinese immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In China, and especially where it is played in Macau, Sic Bo is known as Dai Siu. It is also known as Tai Sai, Big and Small or Hi-Lo as it is known in the Philippines. There are variants known as Chuck-a-Luck and Grand Hazard and these are believed to be of English origin, although their close resemblance to Sic Bo is an indication that these games also travelled from East to West at some point in history. Sic bo name means “dice pair” or “dice bowl,” Dai Siu means “lucky dice” and Tai Sai means “big small.”

The game that has become popularised in casinos both online and real world is played using three dice and an elaborately lighted table that at first glance looks confusing. However, once you get the hang of the game it’s really very easy to play. The object of Sic bo is simply to predict the numbers or the right combination that will appear once the dice have been shaken and rolled. You then place your bets accordingly. The Sic bo table depicts the many betting possibilities as well as their payout amounts by displaying all the dice combinations that are possible to bet on. These are shown as single die, doubles, triples or combinations that can be created from the dice.

The betting for Sic bo is as follows and the odds given are those you’d expect to see in Macau. In Atlantic City the payout odds are generally better, although those in Las Vegas casinos will vary from casino to casino. 

A single bet can be placed on any single number, from 1 to 6. If, after the dice have been rolled, your number appears on one die, you are paid out at even money. If your number comes up twice, you are paid at 2:1 and if your number appears on all three, you are paid 3:1

A double bet is made where you pick two numbers. If the same two numbers appear on any two out of three dice, you are paid out at 5:1

A total bet can be placed on the total sum of the outcome of the roll. This can be between 4 and 17. If you pick the right result, you are paid out according to the payout odds set out on the Sic bo table. Payouts for this bet range from 6:1 right up to 50:1.

A Big or Small bet can be placed where you choose either big, with a total of 11 to 17 inclusive, or small with a total of 4 to 10 inclusive. Making the correct bet pays out even money.

A pair bet, which pays out at 8:1, is won when any pair of dice comes out on the roll.

A triplet bet is similar to a pair, except you win when all three dice are the same of any number. This pays out at 24:1

The big outside bet is to correctly pick an exact triplet, such as three sixes. This pays out at a whopping 150:1, although this bet carries by far the longest odds and biggest house edge.

The rest of this game is pure simplicity. Betting chips can be placed on the relevant places on the table by the players or by the dealer. Every player is wholly responsible for ensuring their chips are placed on the correct bets. Once all chips have been placed, the dealer shakes then rolls the dice out of a sealed container. He announces the values of dice as well as entering those results into the electronic keypad on the table. This makes the dice combinations light up on the table so all players can clearly see the results. The winners are then paid out by the dealer.

Can Sic bo be beaten?

Not directly, although in a similar way to strategies used in craps, a player can play in such a way as to maximise their winning odds. This involves staying away from bets that carry long odds, as these also come with the highest house edge. The safest bets are evens bets, such as Big or Small, or singles, which also have the added benefit that you can increase your win if two or three instances of your number also come up.

The house edge is higher on Sic bo than on other table games, but nevertheless it’s a fun game to play and makes an interesting change from the regular casino games.