How Sic Bo Works
Sic bo is a traditional Chinese dice game played with three dice. Each round has three steps:
- Place your bets on the table layout during the betting window.
- The dice are shaken, either by a random number generator in RNG games or by a dealer’s shaker in live games.
- Winning bets are paid according to the paytable, and a new round begins.
Every bet is settled on a single roll, so there are no points or follow-up decisions as in craps. With three dice there are 216 possible outcomes, and totals from 4 to 17 can be bet on directly.
Sic Bo Bets, Payouts and House Edge
| Bet | Wins when | Typical payout | House edge |
| Small | Total is 4–10, not a triple | 1:1 | 2.78% |
| Big | Total is 11–17, not a triple | 1:1 | 2.78% |
| Odd / Even | Total is odd or even, not a triple | 1:1 | 2.78% |
| Single number | Your number appears on one, two or three dice | 1:1, 2:1 or 3:1 | 7.87% |
| Two-dice combination | Two chosen numbers both appear | 5:1 | 16.67% |
| Specific double | At least two dice show your number | 10:1 | 18.52% |
| Any triple | All three dice match | 30:1 | 13.89% |
| Specific triple | All three dice show your number | 180:1 | 16.20% |
Payouts differ between games. For example, a specific triple paying 150:1 instead of 180:1 raises the house edge to about 30%. Total bets pay from about 6:1 to 60:1 depending on the number and the game, with house edges well above Big and Small. Always check the paytable in the game’s help screen.
Why Triples Matter
Big, Small, Odd and Even look like even-money bets, but they all lose when a triple is rolled. Triples appear in 6 of the 216 possible outcomes, and that is where the 2.78% house edge comes from.
Live Sic Bo and Multiplier Versions
Live sic bo is streamed from a studio, where the dice are usually shaken in a mechanical shaker operated by a dealer. Some live games add random multipliers. Evolution’s Super Sic Bo, launched in 2019, applies random multipliers of up to 1,000x to selected bet spots just before the dice are shaken.
Multiplier versions usually pay less on regular wins to fund the multipliers, so their paytables differ from the classic table above. Check the game rules before you play so you know what each bet pays without a multiplier.
Where to Play Sic Bo in Ontario
Sic bo is a niche game in Ontario, usually found in the table games or live casino section. Among the brands we review, JackpotCity lists sic bo for Ontario players, and LeoVegas includes Super Sic Bo in its live casino. Game lobbies change, so check the casino’s Ontario site before you register.
Only play at casinos registered with the AGCO and operating under iGaming Ontario. Licensed sites must use tested games and offer responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits, time reminders and self-exclusion.
Sic Bo Tips
- Stick to Big, Small, Odd or Even if you want the lowest house edge.
- Read the paytable. The same bet can pay differently in different games.
- Treat triples and totals as long shots. They pay more because they rarely win, and they cost more over time.
- Do not follow “hot” or “cold” numbers. Every roll is independent of the last one.
- Keep your stake per round small, because rounds are quick and add up.
Sic Bo vs Craps
| Feature | Sic bo | Craps |
| Dice | Three | Two |
| Rounds | Every bet settled on one roll | Rounds can last several rolls |
| Lowest house edge | 2.78% (Big, Small, Odd, Even) | 1.36–1.41% (Pass and Don’t Pass), 0% on Odds |
| Learning curve | Easy | Moderate |
Play Sic Bo Responsibly in Ontario
Set a deposit limit and a session budget before you play, and take regular breaks. Gambling is for adults 19+ and should be treated as entertainment. Free, confidential support is available 24/7 from ConnexOntario at 1-866-531-2600. Read more on our responsible gambling page.