Sic Bo Probability Calculator

Sic Bo (meaning "precious dice" in Chinese) is an ancient dice game that has become one of the most popular table games in Macau's casinos. Also known as Tai Sai ("big small") or Dai Siu, this game involves betting on the outcome of three dice. This calculator reveals the exact probabilities, house edge, and expected value for every Sic Bo bet.

🎲 Sic Bo Odds Calculator

Explore the mathematics behind every Sic Bo bet

Total: 6 | Small/Big: Small

Best Bet

2.78%

Small/Big (House Edge)

Total Combinations

216

6 × 6 × 6 possible outcomes

Worst Bet

29.17%

Specific Triple (House Edge)

Small/Big Bets (Best Odds)

Bet	Wins On	Probability	Payout	House Edge
Small	Total 4-10 (no triple)	48.61%	1:1	2.78%
Big	Total 11-17 (no triple)	48.61%	1:1	2.78%

Total Bets

Total	Combinations	Probability	Payout	House Edge

Probability Distribution by Total

Double Bets

Bet	Wins On	Probability	Payout	House Edge
Specific Double	At least two dice show chosen number	7.41%	10:1	18.52%
Any Double	Any two dice show same number	*varies	*varies	*varies

*Some casinos don't offer "Any Double" bet. Where offered, payouts vary significantly.

Triple Bets (Highest Risk)

Bet	Wins On	Probability	Payout	House Edge
Specific Triple	All three dice show chosen number	0.46%	150:1 - 180:1	16.20% - 29.17%
Any Triple	All three dice show same number	2.78%	30:1	13.89%

Combination Bets

Bet	Wins On	Probability	Payout	House Edge
Two-Dice Combination	Two specific numbers appear (e.g., 1 and 2)	13.89%	5:1	2.78%
Single Number (×1)	One die shows chosen number	34.72%	1:1	7.87%
Single Number (×2)	Two dice show chosen number	6.94%	2:1
Single Number (×3)	All three dice show chosen number	0.46%	3:1

Odd/Even Bets

Bet	Wins On	Probability	Payout	House Edge
Odd	Total is odd (loses on triple)	48.61%	1:1	2.78%
Even	Total is even (loses on triple)	48.61%	1:1	2.78%

Understanding Sic Bo Mathematics

Sic Bo uses three standard six-sided dice, which means there are 6 × 6 × 6 = 216 possible outcomes. Unlike craps where only two dice are used, the additional die in Sic Bo creates a more complex probability distribution and allows for a wider variety of bets.

The mathematics behind Sic Bo probability calculations use combinatorics—the branch of mathematics dealing with combinations and permutations. For example, calculating the probability of rolling a total of 10 requires counting how many distinct combinations of three dice sum to 10.

Did You Know? Sic Bo is one of only two games of pure chance that the Nevada Gaming Commission approved for casinos in the 1990s—the other being Pai Gow Poker (which has a skill element). According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Sic Bo tables generate modest revenue in American casinos but dominate the tables in Macau and Asian gaming markets.

Why the Small/Big Bet is Best

The Small and Big bets have the lowest house edge in Sic Bo at 2.78%—comparable to the Pass Line bet in craps (1.41%) and much better than American roulette (5.26%). Here's why:

Small bet: Wins on totals 4-10 (excluding triples) = 105 winning combinations out of 216
Big bet: Wins on totals 11-17 (excluding triples) = 105 winning combinations out of 216
Both pay 1:1 (even money), giving a probability of 105/216 = 48.61%
The house edge comes from the triple exclusion: (50% - 48.61%) × 2 = 2.78%

The triple exclusion is crucial. Without it, Small would have 108 combinations (adding triples 1-1-1, 2-2-2, 3-3-3) and Big would have 108 (adding triples 4-4-4, 5-5-5, 6-6-6), making both exactly 50% probability. The triple exclusion is how the casino builds its edge into even-money bets.

Optimal Sic Bo Strategy

From a purely mathematical perspective, the best Sic Bo strategy is simple:

Stick to Small/Big or Odd/Even bets (2.78% house edge)
Consider Two-Dice Combination bets (also 2.78% house edge, but less frequently won)
Avoid Specific Triple bets (up to 29.17% house edge—worse than slot machines)
Avoid Total bets on 4 or 17 (highest house edge among totals at 15.28%)

Remember: no strategy can overcome the house edge. These recommendations simply minimize the mathematical disadvantage.

Sic Bo vs. Other Casino Games

How does Sic Bo compare to other casino games in terms of house edge? According to the American Gaming Association, players should understand relative house edges when choosing games:

Game / Bet	House Edge	Comparison
Blackjack (Basic Strategy)	0.5%	Best with skill
Craps (Pass Line)	1.41%	Better than Sic Bo
Baccarat (Banker)	1.06%	Better than Sic Bo
Sic Bo (Small/Big)	2.78%	Best Sic Bo bet
Roulette (European)	2.70%	Similar to Sic Bo
Roulette (American)	5.26%	Worse than Sic Bo
Sic Bo (Specific Triple)	16-29%	Worst Sic Bo bet

The History of Sic Bo

Sic Bo has ancient Chinese origins, with some historians tracing it back over 2,000 years. The game was traditionally played with bricks marked with numbers, later evolving to use dice. Chinese immigrants brought Sic Bo to the United States in the 19th century, where it was played in underground gambling halls.

The game gained legitimate status in American casinos in the 1990s and has since become a staple in any casino catering to Asian players. In Macau—now the world's largest gambling market—Sic Bo is one of the most popular table games, rivaling baccarat for floor space.

The Bottom Line: Sic Bo offers some bets with reasonable house edges (Small/Big at 2.78%) and others with truly terrible odds (Specific Triple up to 29.17%). Understanding these probabilities is the first step toward making informed decisions. For more about casino mathematics, explore our Casino Odds Calculator or learn about the Expected Value concept that underlies all gambling math.