Casino game guide
Sic Bo Rules, Bets, Probabilities and Paytables
Sic Bo is a three-dice casino game with wagers on totals, ranges, triples, combinations and appearances of selected faces. A typical round is straightforward: inspect the displayed paytable, choose a wager before wagering closes, resolve three dice and settle each wager according to its stated condition and payout.
Unlike the point-based lifecycle of craps, most Sic Bo wagers are decided by one three-dice result. You can compare Sic Bo with craps and other dice games without treating either game as universally preferable.
- Editorial role
- Desk research and reproducible calculation
- Last modified
- Not provided in the supplied editorial record
- Last verified
- Not provided in the supplied editorial record; the page must not be represented as currently verified until a completed review date is recorded
- Review status
- The supplied content identifies operational and mathematical sources, but it does not document a completed verification date. No hands-on casino testing is claimed.
- Principal ruleset
- Sic Bo Game Rules, Marina Bay Sands Version 5, hosted by the Singapore Gambling Regulatory Authority
- Sources checked
- Singapore Gambling Regulatory Authority operational rules and Wizard of Odds Sic Bo mathematical reference
Follow the round sequence before reviewing the individual wager families.
On this page
Essential Sic Bo terms
- Paytable
- The documented schedule of winning conditions and payouts. A house-edge calculation is not valid without a defined paytable.
- Ordered outcome
- A result that distinguishes the value of each die. For example, 1-2-3 and 3-2-1 are different ordered outcomes even though both total 6. Three six-sided dice have 216 ordered outcomes.
- Total
- The sum of all three dice. A roll of 2-3-5 has a total of 10.
- Triple
- A result in which all three dice show the same face, such as 4-4-4. Some wagers specifically predict triples, while range wagers may exclude them.
- Combination
- A wager that requires specified faces to appear in the result. The exact condition and whether order matters must come from the applicable rules.
- Selected-face wager
- A prediction that a chosen number will appear on one or more dice. Payouts may depend on how many times it appears.
- Small and Big
- Range wagers on defined three-dice totals. The exact range, treatment of triples and payout must be checked in the named ruleset. This guide analyzes Small as 4 through 10 and Big as 11 through 17, with all triples losing and a 1:1 payout.
- Payout
- The amount awarded for a winning condition. A 1:1 net payout produces one unit of winnings for each unit wagered, with the original stake also returned.
- Hit rate
- How often a wager wins. A high hit rate does not by itself establish favorable expected value.
- Expected value
- The probability-weighted average net result across all possible outcomes.
- House edge
- The player’s expected loss as a percentage of the specified initial wager under stated rules and payouts. It is not the probability of losing one round.
Use these definitions while following the sample round and calculation below.
Rules and paytable used in this guide
The layout of a Sic Bo table commonly groups wagers by range, total, triple, combination or selected face. Labels and available bets can differ, so the displayed rules remain authoritative for that particular table.
This venue-specific rulebook is used to define the examples; it does not show that the same game or paytable is lawful or available in any U.S. jurisdiction. Rules research, legal availability and operator licensing are separate questions.
How to play a Sic Bo round
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Inspect the rules and paytable
Identify the wager’s exact winning condition, exclusions and net payout. Pay particular attention to triple rules and whether any result is a push.
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Select a wager
A wager may concern a range, an exact total, a triple, a combination or the appearance of a selected face. Each wager is a separate proposition.
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Wagering closes
No further wager selection is accepted for that round after the applicable closing procedure.
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Three dice are resolved
Read the value of each die, calculate the total and identify relevant features such as a triple or matching faces.
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Compare the result with each condition
One roll can satisfy several descriptions. For example, 2-3-5 has a total of 10, contains the faces 2, 3 and 5, and is not a triple. Each placed wager is still evaluated separately.
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Settle using the displayed payout
First determine whether the condition won, lost or pushed. Then apply the documented payout. The dice result alone does not determine the amount paid.
Worked example: resolving one three-dice result
This educational example compares two one-unit range wagers. It is not a suggested betting pattern.
- Rules used
- Small covers 4–10, Big covers 11–17, all triples lose, and each wager pays 1:1.
- Example wagers
- One unit on Small and one unit on Big
- Dice result
- Die one: 2; die two: 3; die three: 5
- Total
- 10
- Triple?
- No
| Example wager | Rule applied | Result | Net settlement |
|---|---|---|---|
| One unit on Small | Total 10 is within 4–10, and the result is not a triple. | Wins | +1 unit in net winnings; the original one-unit stake is also returned. |
| One unit on Big | Total 10 is outside 11–17. | Loses | −1 unit |
The same dice result is used for both decisions, but each wager has its own condition. If an additional total, combination or selected-face wager had been placed, it would require its own rule and payout entry.
Common Sic Bo wager categories
| Category | Condition | Common exclusions or qualifications | Payout field | What to verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small or Big | The total falls within a stated range. | Triples may lose even when their totals fall within the range. | 1:1 for the analyzed version. | Exact range, triple rule, payout and push conditions |
| Exact total | The three dice add to one selected total. | The probability changes by total; central totals have more combinations. | Varies by total and paytable. | Net payout, total-return wording and any exclusions |
| Specific triple | All three dice show one named face. | Only one ordered outcome satisfies a specified triple. | Venue-specific. | Exact face, payout and settlement rules |
| Any triple | All three dice match, regardless of face. | There are six possible triple outcomes among 216 ordered outcomes. | Venue-specific. | Whether all six triples qualify and the net payout |
| Combination | Specified faces must appear in the roll. | The rule may require two particular faces and may define how repeats are treated. | Varies among paytables. | Required faces, whether order matters, payout and any push |
| Selected face | A chosen number appears on one or more dice. | The settlement may depend on whether it appears once, twice or three times. | The schedule must be checked. | Qualifying match counts and the payout for each count |
A category’s rules explain when it wins. They do not establish its mathematical value. Hit rate, payout and exclusions must all be included in the expected-value calculation.
Small and Big probability and house edge under the stated rules
This analysis applies to either of the following range wagers:
- Small: total 4 through 10, with every triple losing.
- Big: total 11 through 17, with every triple losing.
Each analyzed wager pays 1:1. With three fair six-sided dice, there are 6 × 6 × 6 = 216 ordered outcomes.
| Bet | Small or Big range wager |
|---|---|
| Named ruleset | Marina Bay Sands Sic Bo Version 5 rules used as the operational reference |
| Net payout | 1:1 |
| Winning outcomes | 105 of 216 |
| Losing outcomes | 111 of 216 |
| Push outcomes | 0 |
| Win probability | 105 ÷ 216 = 48.611% |
| Loss probability | 111 ÷ 216 = 51.389% |
| Expected value per unit wagered | (105 ÷ 216 × 1) + (111 ÷ 216 × −1) = −6 ÷ 216 = −0.027777… units |
| House edge | 6 ÷ 216 = approximately 2.78% |
| Calculation denominator | 216 ordered three-dice outcomes |
| Primary source | Singapore Gambling Regulatory Authority-hosted Marina Bay Sands Version 5 rules |
| Secondary check | Wizard of Odds Sic Bo mathematical reference |
| Verification date | Not documented in the supplied editorial record; confirm before publication |
The 2.78% figure is not the probability of losing one round. Under these rules, the one-round loss probability is 111/216, or approximately 51.39%. House edge instead describes the long-run expected loss relative to the initial amount wagered.
Three-dice totals from 3 through 18
The number of ordered outcomes rises toward the middle of the distribution and then falls symmetrically. Total 10 and total 11 each occur in 27 of 216 ordered outcomes, while totals 3 and 18 each occur in only one.
| Total | Ordered outcomes | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 of 216 | 0.463% |
| 4 | 3 of 216 | 1.389% |
| 5 | 6 of 216 | 2.778% |
| 6 | 10 of 216 | 4.630% |
| 7 | 15 of 216 | 6.944% |
| 8 | 21 of 216 | 9.722% |
| 9 | 25 of 216 | 11.574% |
| 10 | 27 of 216 | 12.500% |
| 11 | 27 of 216 | 12.500% |
| 12 | 25 of 216 | 11.574% |
| 13 | 21 of 216 | 9.722% |
| 14 | 15 of 216 | 6.944% |
| 15 | 10 of 216 | 4.630% |
| 16 | 6 of 216 | 2.778% |
| 17 | 3 of 216 | 1.389% |
| 18 | 1 of 216 | 0.463% |
Central totals occur more often because more ordered combinations produce them. Frequency alone does not make a total wager better: expected value also depends on the payout and every exclusion or push rule. This table describes theoretical frequencies and cannot predict the next roll.
Learn how ordered outcomes, probabilities and house edge are calculated.
Why Sic Bo paytables must be compared directly
Sic Bo total and combination payouts can differ among jurisdictions and venues. However, the supplied editorial record establishes only one named operational ruleset. The Wizard of Odds page is a specialist mathematical secondary reference, not a second venue rulebook. This edition therefore does not claim a specific cross-venue payout difference that has not been documented.
| Named source | Source type | Documented use on this page | Terms available for comparison | Verification date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marina Bay Sands Sic Bo Game Rules, Version 5 | Regulator-hosted operational rules document | Defines the analyzed Small and Big ranges, triple treatment and 1:1 payout. | Small 4–10; Big 11–17; all triples lose; 1:1 net payout. | Not documented in the supplied editorial record |
| Wizard of Odds: Sic Bo | Specialist mathematical secondary reference | Secondary check for three-dice outcome counts and wager mathematics. | Useful for checking calculations, but it does not replace a current operational rulebook for a venue being evaluated. | Not documented in the supplied editorial record |
What a documented paytable comparison must show
- The names and versions of both operational rule documents or displayed paytables.
- The same wager compared across both sources rather than unrelated wagers.
- Each winning condition, triple exclusion, push or commission rule.
- The net payout under each source, without averaging the two schedules.
- A separate expected-value calculation whenever a condition or payout differs.
- The source URL and completed verification date for each document.
Paytable checklist
- Confirm the exact name and winning condition of the wager.
- Check the Small and Big ranges rather than assuming them.
- Look for triple exclusions or other losing exceptions.
- Distinguish net winnings from a total return that includes the original stake.
- Check for pushes, commissions or alternative settlement rules.
- Record the rulebook or table version and the date checked.
- Recalculate expected value whenever a payout or condition changes.
Frequent totals are not due, and frequent wins do not guarantee value
- Misconception: “Total 10 has not appeared recently, so it is due.”
- Fact: assuming fair dice and unchanged conditions, each roll is independent. Earlier results do not change the next roll’s distribution.
- Misconception: “A wager that wins often must be favorable.”
- Fact: hit rate describes how often a wager wins. Expected value also accounts for how much is won or lost and any exclusions.
- Misconception: “A short session should resemble the theoretical table.”
- Fact: short sequences can differ substantially from long-run frequencies. The 216-outcome model does not promise a balanced set of results over the next 216 rolls.
- Misconception: “Tracking recent totals can predict the next result.”
- Fact: a frequency record describes past results. It is not a prediction method for an independent future roll.
Review independent rolls, hit rate and expected value in more detail.
Sic Bo names, formats and rules vary by source
This guide concentrates on current rules and reproducible calculations rather than asserting a single origin story. Historical evidence, modern casino procedures and current paytables are different kinds of information and should not be blended.
The Marina Bay Sands Version 5 document is one operational ruleset associated with a named venue and jurisdiction. It should not be treated as a universal Sic Bo standard. Other documented versions may use different wager labels, available combinations or payouts, but each difference must be established from its own source before publication.
What to verify beyond the paytable
- Rules: identify the current game rules, wager conditions and displayed payouts.
- Format: determine whether the game uses a physical table, live-dealer feed or digital outcome system.
- Jurisdiction: identify the state, tribal jurisdiction or other authority governing the activity.
- License: use the relevant official authority to verify the venue or operator where applicable.
- Minimum age and permitted activity: confirm both from current official sources.
U.S. gambling law cannot be reduced to one nationwide yes-or-no rule. Commercial, tribal, land-based and online gaming operate under different legal and regulatory frameworks. This page does not make a state-specific legal determination.
For digital Sic Bo, RNG testing addresses aspects of outcome generation and implementation. It does not prove that a paytable offers favorable expected value, establish legality or guarantee that a player will win.
Sic Bo outcomes cannot be predicted or used to recover losses
Ruleset, calculations and sources checked
- Research method
- Desk research using a regulator-hosted operational rules document, a specialist mathematical secondary reference and reproducible combinatorial calculations
- Primary operational source
- Sic Bo Game Rules, Marina Bay Sands Version 5, hosted by the Singapore Gambling Regulatory Authority
- Secondary mathematical source
- Wizard of Odds Sic Bo reference
- Ruleset version
- Marina Bay Sands Version 5
- Calculation method
- Enumeration of 216 ordered outcomes, equivalent to 6 × 6 × 6
- Small and Big assumptions
- Small 4–10; Big 11–17; all triples lose; 1:1 net payout; no pushes
- Calculation denominator
- 216 ordered outcomes
- Last modified
- Not provided in the supplied editorial record
- Last verified
- Not provided in the supplied editorial record; a completed source-review date is required before the page is described as current
- Review status
- Desk-research calculations are shown for reproduction. The supplied record does not substantiate a dated editorial review, interview, casino visit or hands-on test.
- Correction history
- The unsupported future verification date was removed. The paytable section now distinguishes the verified operational ruleset from the mathematical secondary reference and does not claim an undocumented cross-venue difference.
How the counts were checked
Every result can be written as an ordered triple: first die, second die and third die. Each position has six possible values, giving 6 × 6 × 6 = 216 outcomes. Grouping those outcomes by total produces the sequence 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 25, 27, 27, 25, 21, 15, 10, 6, 3 and 1 for totals 3 through 18.
For Small, totals 4 through 10 account for 107 outcomes before exclusions. The triples 2-2-2 and 3-3-3 fall within that range but lose, leaving 105 winning outcomes. The same symmetry gives 105 wins for Big after excluding 4-4-4 and 5-5-5.
Sources
- Singapore Gambling Regulatory Authority: Sic Bo Game Rules, Marina Bay Sands Version 5 (external PDF)
- Wizard of Odds: Sic Bo mathematical reference (external website)
Review the editorial standards and calculation methodology. To report a mathematical, rules, sourcing, accessibility or broken-link issue, use the editorial contact route described there.