When it comes to dice-based games, there are few which are quite as prolific as Sic Bo Online. Unlike some casino games that need you to plan ahead and learn pages and pages of strategy, you can actually make some serious money at this exceptional casino game from the very first time you take a seat at the table.
The Sic Bo Table Layout
Unlike some other casino games which seem to simply blend into the background, if a land-based casino has Sic Bo in its arson, it is very easy to spot it amongst its table game cousins. While many of the European table games that one can find in casinos have a green or blue felt betting surface, Sic Bo makes use of more bold colours in the form of reds and yellows and has a black and white rectangular betting area which is made of plastic or glass. Players are able to make bets by putting their chips on the numbers of their choice and these same sections will light up from underneath when the round is over to show the winning bets. The chips used by players to place bets are placed in stacks in the groves which are found in the wood or leather railing on the edge of the table and can also be stacked on the unmarked felt apron situated around the betting field. In addition to all this, one can also see a board listing the table limits, a rack for the dealer’s chips (the bank’s chips), the all-important three dice without which no game can actually be played and a cage or a shaker. The losing bets are collected from the unlit sections of the betting layout.
Facts about Sic Bo:
- Sic Bo was born in China;
- It’s played with 3 dice and a shaker;
- The most basic bet, close to a 50/50 chance is between the Big and small numbers;
- Sic Bo’s rules are profoundly simple.
How to Play Sic Bo Online
As already mentioned, this casino game is played with three dice with the main condition for gameplay being that the dice are all rolled at once. The job of the player is to place his bets on whichever numbers he thinks will be rolled and this can be done by placing chips on the corresponding area of the Sic Bo table. After the final bets have been placed, the dealer picks up a small chest containing the dice which he then proceeds to close and shake. Finally, the dealer opens the chest to reveal what luck has rolled. Alternatively, many modern, land-based casinos have a glass-domed shaker which is attached to a vibrating platform which starts shaking when the croupier presses a button. When the shaking stops, the croupier will read the dice combination that has been rolled. Like Roulette, each Sic Bo bet has different payouts based on probability and the player can place as many bets as he likes.
But isn’t Sic Bo just like Online Craps?
Despite the fact that many people revel in making this comparison, the reality is it mainly happens because Sic Bo is one of two casino games which involve dice, the other game being Craps. However, unlike Craps, Sic Bo is primarily a game of luck because with every roll of the three dice a bet is won or lost. In the Craps world, things are a lot less easy as certain bets need to get particular rolls before it can be determined whether it is a winning or losing bet which means that a lot of strategy must be employed by the player. Brick and mortar casinos aside, below please find the payouts and the house edge which one can usually find online:
Type of Bet |
Payout |
House Edge |
Single number bets | 1:1 | 7.87% |
Two number bets | 5:1 | 16.67% |
Three number totals: 10 and 11 | 6:1 | 12.5% |
9 and 12 | 6:1 | 18.98% |
8 and 13 | 8:1 | 12.5% |
7 and 14 | 12:1 | 9.72% |
6 and 15 | 17:1 | 13.67% |
5 and 16 | 30:1 | 13.98% |
4 and 17 | 60:1 | 15.28% |
Pairs | 10:1 | 18.52% |
Any Triple | 30:1 | 13.98% |
Specific Triple | 180:1 | 16.2% |
Small | 1:1 (Lose on triples) | 2.78% |
Big | 1:1 (Lose on triples) | 2.78% |
From these figures alone, you can clearly see that the small or big bets are by far the best bets a player can make as the house edge is only 2.78% which explains why you have a far better chance of winning and winning big. Of course, if you get bored of playing the small or big bet types, you can always place a single number bet which also has a 1:1 payout (even though the house edge for this bet is quite high at 7.87%). That said, when it comes to Sic Bo Online, part of the thrill and the excitement can be found in betting on specific triples and really pushing the hands of luck to their limit. Indeed, the reward for a successful bet on specific triples can offer a pretty massive payout of 180 to 1 and even the three number totals of 4 and 17 both carry hefty payouts of 60 to 1.
Sic Bo Online Variants
They say that every great game has imitations or variants and this casino game is no different in this regard as both Grand Hazard as well as Chuck-a-Luck owe their beginnings to Sic Bo Online:
Grand Hazard: Distinct from the game of Hazard which is a gambling game of Old English origin which is only played with two dice instead of three, Grand Hazard is also of English origin but has the distinction of being played with three dice. The three dice are either thrown with a cup or rolled down a chute which consists of a series of inclined planes which is aptly named a “hazard chute”. The hazard chute functions by tumbling the dice as they fall. Should Lady Luck be so kind as to offer a fortunate player three of a kind (also known as ruffles), the payout will be at an extraordinary 180 to 1.
Chuck-a-Luck: Despite the great difference in name, Chuck-a-Luck which is also known as "sweat cloth", "chuckerluck" and birdcage is an American variant of Grand Hazard. In Chuck-a-Luck, the three dice are kept in a device that resembles a wire-frame bird cage and that pivots from the centre. The job of the dealer is to turn the the cage end over end making the dice fall to the bottom. Chuck-a-Luck has the distinctive feature of usually featuring single-number wagers; however, sometimes one can make an additional wager for any “triple” (all three dice showing the same number) with odds of about 30 to 1. Although it was once commonly found in Nevada casinos, Chuck-a-Luck has now largely been replaced by Sic Bo.