Sic Bo Bets Explained — Complete Bet Reference with House Edges
Every Sic Bo bet explained with payouts and house edges: Small/Big, totals, single numbers, doubles, triples, and two-dice combinations. Includes a full comparison table.
The Sic Bo layout looks overwhelming the first time you see it. Dozens of bet options printed on a single board, each with a different payout. But the underlying logic is consistent: every bet is a prediction about how three dice will land, and every bet has a calculable house edge. This reference covers every major bet type, what it pays, and what it actually costs you.
Small and Big — house edge 2.78%
Small and Big are the benchmark bets in Sic Bo. Small wins if the total of the three dice is between 4 and 10; Big wins if the total is between 11 and 17. Both pay 1:1 and both lose if a triple appears — any result where all three dice show the same number.
Out of 216 possible three-dice combinations, 108 produce Small totals and 108 produce Big totals before accounting for triples. Six triple outcomes exist (one for each number 1–6), and these are excluded from Small and Big. This exclusion gives the casino its edge of exactly 2.78% on both bets.
Small and Big are the most player-friendly bets on the Sic Bo layout.
Single number bets — house edge 7.87%
You choose a number from 1 to 6 and bet it will appear on at least one die. The payout scales with how many dice show your number:
| Matching dice | Payout |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1:1 |
| 2 | 2:1 |
| 3 | 3:1 |
The house edge is approximately 7.87% across all single-number bets. Despite the tiered payout feeling generous, the probability of matching on all three dice is low enough that the overall return is significantly below a fair game.
Two-dice combination bets — house edge 16.67%
You bet that two specific numbers will each appear on at least one of the three dice — for example, a 3 and a 5. There are 15 such combinations available. Each pays 6:1.
Only 30 of 216 outcomes match any given two-dice combination (accounting for the three ways the two values can appear across three dice), which gives these bets a house edge of approximately 16.67%. This is substantially higher than Small/Big and should generally be avoided.
Specific double bets — house edge ~18.52%
You bet that two specific dice will show the same predetermined number — for example, two 3s. There are six specific double bets. Each wins if at least two of the three dice show the target number, and each pays 11:1.
With only 16 winning combinations out of 216 for any specific double, the house edge comes in at approximately 18.52%. The payout sounds attractive but the probability does not justify it against a house edge in that range.
Any triple — house edge 16.67%
Any triple wins if all three dice show the same value, regardless of what that value is. It pays 30:1 or 31:1 depending on the casino. Only six of 216 combinations qualify, making the true odds 35:1. At 30:1 the house edge is 16.67%; at 31:1 it drops to 13.89%.
Specific triple bets — house edge 30.09% (at 180:1 payout) to 13.89% (at 215:1 payout)
Specific triples are the highest-paying and worst-value bets on the Sic Bo table. You bet that all three dice will show one particular number — all 6s, all 2s, etc. Only one combination out of 216 wins for each specific triple.
Most casinos pay 180:1 for specific triples. At that payout the house edge is approximately 16.2%. Some online casinos offer 215:1, which cuts the edge to just 0.46% — essentially a fair bet. The payout published at the table determines everything; always check before betting.
Total bets (4–17) — house edge varies from 9.72% to 47.22%
Total bets wager on the exact sum of all three dice. Totals of 3 and 18 are excluded from most layouts (covered by triple bets). The house edge varies enormously depending on which total you choose:
| Total | Combinations | True odds | Common payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 71:1 | 60:1 | 15.28% |
| 5 | 6 | 35:1 | 30:1 | 13.89% |
| 6 | 10 | 20.6:1 | 17:1 | 16.67% |
| 7 | 15 | 13.4:1 | 12:1 | 9.72% |
| 8 | 21 | 9.3:1 | 8:1 | 12.50% |
| 9 | 25 | 7.6:1 | 6:1 | 18.98% |
| 10 | 27 | 7:1 | 6:1 | 12.50% |
| 11 | 27 | 7:1 | 6:1 | 12.50% |
| 12 | 25 | 7.6:1 | 6:1 | 18.98% |
| 13 | 21 | 9.3:1 | 8:1 | 12.50% |
| 14 | 15 | 13.4:1 | 12:1 | 9.72% |
| 15 | 10 | 20.6:1 | 17:1 | 16.67% |
| 16 | 6 | 35:1 | 30:1 | 13.89% |
| 17 | 3 | 71:1 | 60:1 | 15.28% |
Totals 7 and 14 have the lowest house edge among specific totals at 9.72%, but even those are more than three times worse than Small/Big. No specific total bet approaches the value of sticking to the edges of the distribution.
Summary comparison
| Bet type | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 1:1 | 2.78% |
| Big | 1:1 | 2.78% |
| Single number (1 die) | 1:1 / 2:1 / 3:1 | 7.87% |
| Best total (7 or 14) | 12:1 | 9.72% |
| Worst total (9 or 12) | 6:1 | 18.98% |
| Any triple (30:1 payout) | 30:1 | 16.67% |
| Two-dice combination | 6:1 | 16.67% |
| Specific double | 11:1 | 18.52% |
| Specific triple (180:1) | 180:1 | 16.20% |
| Specific triple (215:1) | 215:1 | ~0.46% |
The gap between Small/Big at 2.78% and the rest of the layout is striking. With one exception — a specific triple at 215:1 if your casino offers it — the table rewards simplicity. Sic Bo Strategy explains how to build a session around these numbers. Play free Sic Bo games and see the bet layout firsthand.