What is Sic Bo?
You’ve mastered your blackjack online strategy, you’ve become a pro at poker, and you’ve even learned all there is to know about online roulette. So, what’s next? Well, I have a certain game in mind, which might be of interest to you: Sic Bo.
Sic bo is a dice game, which can be literally translated as meaning “big small”. The game is played with three dice, and the aim is simple: you’ll be betting on the result of the roll of the dice.
When you’re playing Sic Bo, there are a whole lot of betting options, which I’ll tell you more about later. For now, it’s enough to know that you can bet on the total of the three dice, or other combinations like doubles or triples, as well as individual numbers.
Does Sic Bo sound like something you’d like to try? You can play at lots of top UK online casinos, and some sites even have live dealer versions of the game. But before you go ahead and play, you’ll need to know exactly how to play, and what you can bet on. Keep reading my full guide, and I’ll give you all the details.
How To Play Sic Bo
Sic Bo is exciting, because there are a whole lot of different types of bets you can place. Just like any other casino game, some bets pay out more than others (but they’re more likely to win), while other bets pay out bigger amounts, but less often.
Let’s take a quick look at the types of Sic Bo bets.
Small and Big Bets
This is the most simple type of Sic Bo bet, and it refers to the total of the three dice. A “Big” bet wins if the total is between 11 and 17, and a small bet wins if it’s between 4 and 10. If a “triple” is rolled (all three dice show the same number), then both bets lose.
Odd and Even Bets
An odd bet wins if the total of the three dice is an odd number, while an even bet wins if the total is an even number. Odd or even bets usually pay out 1:1. There’s one important rule to keep in mind though - if a triple is rolled, both the odd bet and the even bet will lose, no matter what the total is.
Triple Bets
There are two types of triple bets - specific triples, or any triples. They do pretty much what they sound like. If you’re betting on a specific triple, you’ll need a specific number to land on all three of the dice. For example, you might place a specific triple bet on the number 4. This is a really attractive bet, because it can pay out as much as 150:1 or 180:1, depending on the casino. But beware - the odds should give you a hint that this bet doesn’t win all that often.
If you prefer, you can simply place an “any triple” bet, where it doesn’t matter which number lands three times. This bet is definitely less risky, but it also pays out less, at 24:1 or 30:1.
Double Bets
When you place a double bet, you’ll be wagering that two of the three dice will show the same number. It usually pays out 8:1 or 11:1, and it’s far less risky than triple bets, because the outcome doesn’t depend on the third dice. At some casinos, you might get a special bonus payout if you do land a triple.
Single Number Bets
Single number bets are very easy to understand - it’s just a case of choosing a number that you think will show on at least one of the three dice. If your chosen number shows on more than one dice, you’ll get a bigger payout.
Here’s how single number bets usually pay out:
- 1 die shows the number: 1:1
- 2 dice show the number: 2:1
- 3 dice show the number: 3:1
Two Dice Combo Bet
When you place this type of bet, you’re guessing two numbers that you think will appear on any three of the dice. For example, you might choose 3 and 6. As long as those two numbers show on two dice, it doesn’t matter what lands on the third one. But if one or none of your numbers land, the bet loses. The payout for two dice combo bets is usually 5:1.
Best UK Online Casinos for Sic Bo
All this talk about Sic Bo might just have you ready to start playing! There’s only one thing left to do: sign up at a great Sic Bo site. But don’t worry, you won’t have to scour the internet in search of our - the team at Casinos.com has done all the hard work for you.
Here’s my list of the top three online casinos where you can play Sic Bo and lots of other fun games right now.
Fun Casino
While the range of Sic Bo games at Fun Casino might not be the biggest you’ve ever seen, the quality is excellent. All of the live dealer Sic Bo games come from Evolution Gaming, absolute masters in the world of casino gaming. You’ll feel like you’ve just stepped into a real, luxurious casino when you play here. I’d recommend trying out Lightning Sic Bo, which comes with multipliers, so you could be in for seriously huge wins.
But the fun doesn’t end with Sic Bo. I was impressed to see that Fun Casino also has a whole host of other games including Rapid Fire Jackpots, new releases, classic video slots, and even slingo.
There’s a casino welcome bonus of up to £100 to help you kick off on the right note, and UK players can deposit and withdraw using convenient methods like debit cards, PayPal, and Trustly.
Pub Casino
A combination of two of our favourite things here in the UK: a pub and a casino. This themed gambling site features live Sic Bo games from Evolution Gaming and Pragmatic Play. You’ll game alongside a real dealer and tablemates, and you might just stand a chance at a win. The live casino also has lots of other fun tables for you to explore, like baccarat, roulette, blackjack, and poker.
If you want to try your luck at slot games, I’d recommend the Rapid Fire jackpots like Eye of Horus and The Goonies, or you might prefer to stick with retro-style slots like Love Joker or Double Triple Chance.
Pub Casino is brand new on the market, so they’re still building up their offering, especially when it comes to promotions. I look forward to seeing how the experience shapes up in the future.
Mr Vegas Casino
With a selection of over 11,000 games to choose from, it’s no surprise that Mr Vegas Casino offers lots of Sic Bo options. You can choose from games like Super Sic Bo, Mega Sic Bo, Speed Sic Bo and lots more, including an innovative First Person game, which feels like a live casino experience, but with animations instead of a real dealer.
If you want to try something different, have a go at one of the brand new slot games, or stick with favourites like Big Bass Splash and Starburst. There are even some exciting seven-figure jackpots including titles in the Mega Moolah series.
Both the desktop and mobile experience here is simple and straightforward, although I’d like to see the look and feel of the site be made a little more modern.
What is The Best Strategy for Playing Sic Bo?
While some other games like blackjack and poker have a strategic element, Sic Bo is entirely based on chance. That probably makes a lot of sense when you think about it. After all, rolling dice is totally random, and there are no specific numbers that will land more often than others.
That said, there are a few things you can do to maximise your chances of winning, and minimise any losses, if you’re a little bit unlucky. Remember, some of the best things you can do are to manage your bankroll effectively, and to always gamble in a responsible way.
Low-Risk Bets
Placing low-risk bets is an obvious way to make sure you win as often as possible. This is a great thing to do, especially if you’re new to Sic Bo, or if you’re playing with a small bankroll.
The idea here is to bet on outcomes that you know are likely to come up quite often. This ensures that you’ll have at least a few small wins as you play, so you won’t get through your bankroll too quickly.
If you want to place low-risk bets, you might opt for odd and even bets, small and big bets, or even single number bets. You’ll definitely want to stay away from triples!
Combining Bets
Combining bets is a great way to balance high stakes with more conservative betting. When you combine bets, you’ll stand a chance at getting some big payouts, but there’s also a good chance that you’ll win the less risky bets quite often, and keep adding small amounts to your bankroll.
We’d recommend mixing some safer bets like big and small or odd and even with triples, specific triples, or double bets. You might even get really lucky and have multiple bets win at the same time - for example a double and an odd bet could win on the same roll of the dice.
Practise on Free Sic Bo Sites
After reading my guide on this page, you should be feeling pretty confident about paying Sic Bo. But if you want to hone your skills even more, there’s one foolproof way to do it: play for free.
Not all Sic Bo sites have free options, but a lot of them do. You’ll usually have to create and verify your account, and log in, and then you’ll be able to demo the games for free. Free Sic Bo games give you virtual money, which you can use to place bets of your choice.
The gameplay on free Sic Bo is exactly the same as playing the real money version, except you can’t win any money. Playing for free is a great way to try out different bet types and strategies, without the risk of losing your real cash.