How to Play Sic Bo
A Quick Look Into the History of Sic Bo
Many simply know Sic Bo as a classic sweepstakes casino game in both online and offline spaces, but aren’t aware of the beloved game’s origin and the long journey it took to find popularity in the West. Sic Bo found its humble beginnings in Imperial China under the name “Dai Siu” or “Tai Sai”, meaning “big and small” or “high low”. The literal translation of “Sic Bo” is “precious dice”; a nod to its roots in religious rituals.
During Imperial China, Chinese dice games began to emerge, with players using things like painted stones, ivory, or animal bones in place of the modern-day dice. Rolling dice in ancient China was linked to fortune-telling and divination rather than playing. Eventually, the use of dice was no longer limited to rituals and spirituality and was ultimately also used for entertainment. From there came the birth of Sic Bo, being seen as one of Asia’s most treasured dice-based games.
The game was widely popular in Asia and eventually made its way to the United States thanks to the Chinese immigrants of the early 20th century who brought over a bit of their culture to share with the West. Since then, it quickly gained popularity and is now considered a fan favorite and sweepstakes casino staple.
How Sic Bo Works– Game Rules and Wins
The Basics
To play Sic Bo, you’ll need a dealer, a Sic Bo playing mat/table, chips, and 3 dice. While online social casinos will give the dice a virtual roll (powered by an RNG), traditional social casinos (as well as online live social casinos like OMG Casino) will have the live dealer use a small chest or glass dome/shaker to place the dice in to shake for each play.
Play Sic Bo by betting on possible dice combinations from three dice rolled by the dealer. Players place bets on specific numbers, combinations, totals, or odds and evens. Wins depend on accurately predicting dice outcomes, with payouts varying based on the likelihood of the selected bet.
Sic Bo rules are straightforward, making it a beginner-friendly choice when taking your first step into live sweepstakes casino games. The goal of the game is for players to predict the outcome of the 3 dice before they are rolled by the dealer. Players win if their predictions are correct and lose if they are wrong. Participating players will then use the Sic Bo mat/table (real or virtual) to place their plays before the dealer rolls the dice. This is done by placing your chips for play on the designated part of the mat/table that represents your play.
Each Sic Bo round follows a simple flow: players choose a play on the Sic Bo table, the dealer rolls 3 dice, the dice total or combination is checked, winning plays are paid according to the table payout, and then the next round begins. Since Sic Bo uses 3 dice, the possible dice total can range from 3 to 18, although some play types exclude certain triple results.
Types of Plays
Small and Big Plays
Small and Big plays are the most basic plays in Sic Bo and are the most straightforward, making it a good place to start for beginners. These plays give players the smallest house edge and pay 1:1. A Small play refers to when a player plays on a dice sum that can range from 4 to 10. Meanwhile, a Big play refers to when a player makes a play on the dice sum being anywhere from 11 to 17.
For example, a roll of 2, 3, and 4 creates a total of 9, so Small wins. A roll of 5, 6, and 4 creates a total of 15, so Big wins.
| Play |
Payout |
| Small Play |
1:1 |
| Big Play |
1:1 |
The reason why Small plays start at 4 instead of 3 and why Big plays end at 17 instead of 18 is that these sums are an automatic loss as they are a special combination of the 3 dice. The only way to get a sum of 3 is with all 3 dice landing on 1, and the only way to have a sum of 18 is by all 3 dice landing on 6. Any triple sum of the dice is an automatic loss for Small or Big plays.
Odd and Even Plays
Odd and Even plays let players predict whether the total of the 3 dice will be an odd or even number. For example, a roll of 1, 3, and 5 creates a total of 9, so Odd wins. A roll of 2, 4, and 6 creates a total of 12, so Even wins. Some Sic Bo tables exclude triples from Odd and Even plays, so players should always check the table rules before placing this play.
Specific Sum/Total Plays
Instead of a play that covers a range of numbers (like a Big and Small play), players also have the option of making a play on a specific number. Players can make a specific sum play on any numbers between 4 and 17.
For example, if a player chooses a total of 12 and the dice roll 3, 4, and 5, the specific total play wins.
| Play |
Payout |
Play |
Payout |
| 4 |
62:1 |
11 |
6:1 |
| 5 |
31:1 |
12 |
7:1 |
| 6 |
18:1 |
13 |
8:1 |
| 7 |
12:1 |
14 |
12:1 |
| 8 |
8:1 |
15 |
18:1 |
| 9 |
7:1 |
16 |
31:1 |
| 10 |
6:1 |
17 |
62:1 |
However, it’s worth noting that these plays do not pay out similarly. The more combinations of dice rolls there are to make a sum, the smaller the payout; the fewer combinations there are, the bigger the payout.
Single Dice Plays
| Outcome |
Payout |
| Played number appears on 1 die |
1:1 |
| Played number appears on 2 dice |
2:1 |
| Played number appears on 3 dice |
3:1 |
Making a single dice play means making a play on the chance that a specific number (from 1 to 6) will appear on at least one dice. The sum and result of the other dice are not relevant. The more times your played number appears, the bigger the payout.
For example, if the player chooses the number 4, a roll of 4, 2, and 6 wins. A roll of 4, 4, and 1 pays more because the chosen number appears twice, while a roll of 4, 4, and 4 pays even more because the chosen number appears on all 3 dice.
Double Plays
A double play is when players make a play that 2 of the dice will end up rolling the same number. Any combination of 2 identical numbers rolled will win you your double play. This play pays out 10:1. For example, if a player chooses Double 3 and the dice roll 3, 3, and 5, the double play wins.
Triple Plays
Triple plays usually come in two forms: Any Triple and Specific Triple. Any Triple wins when all 3 dice show the same number, such as 1-1-1, 2-2-2, or 3-3-3. A Specific Triple wins only when the exact chosen number appears on all 3 dice, such as 6-6-6. Specific triples pay more because they are harder to hit.
Combination Play
A combination play (sometimes referred to as a domino play) is a play that any 2 specific numbers (from 1-6) will appear on a roll. The sum of the dice is irrelevant so long as the 2 numbers the player played on appear. The payout odds on a combination play are about 6:1.
| Play |
Payout |
| Double Play |
10:1 |
| Triple Play |
30:1 |
| Specific Number Triple Play |
180:1 |
| Combination Play |
6:1 |
Sic Bo Strategies– Best Ways to Grow Your Pot
Sic Bo is a game of chance over skill, which makes it a popular pick amongst newbies. While some bettors prefer games of skill, Sic Bo’s element of luck is its main charm that creates a sense of excitement and unpredictability, which draws both curious newcomers and experienced bettors in. Due to the amount of luck and probability in Sic Bo, there is no solid strategy that will suit every type of player. Instead, the best Sic Bo strategy will be dependent on your particular play style, preferences, and bankroll.
For beginners, the easiest plays to understand are Big, Small, Odd, and Even because each one asks players to predict a broad result category rather than an exact dice result. These plays are simple to follow, but Sic Bo is still a game of chance, and payouts or rules can vary by table.
If you’re a bettor who enjoys longer sessions with less uncertainty, then sticking with Big and Small plays is the way to go. Big and Small plays may have smaller payouts, but they have the best odds (at almost 50/50) and will pay out more frequently. This is best for players who like getting the most out of their bankroll and want to make it last for a longer session.
Another way to grow your pot is by making more conscious plays. Don’t feel pressured to place multiple plays every play; take your time and make sure every play is thought out and deliberate. Focus your attention on one play at a time instead of multitasking to avoid the uncertainty of overlooking bad calls. Avoid chasing losses; know when it is time to take a break if you find yourself frustrated or on a losing streak. Emotional playing is the number 1 way to drain your bankroll. Keep a level head and remember that the best playing session is a responsible one.
At the end of the day, the best Sic Bo playing strategy anyone can have is being well-researched. Understanding your odds of winning is the most effective way to make an informed play. Knowing all the rules and probabilities will give you a full understanding of your chances of winning. Always check the table rules before playing, especially for triple exclusions and payout differences
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