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Sic Bo is a three-dice game with a simple round structure and a deceptively busy betting board. A single roll can settle a total bet, a pair, a triple and several number bets differently. The useful questions are which results make your chosen field win, how much a win actually returns, and whether the payout belongs to the version you are looking at.
This guide explains those distinctions for Canadian readers, with independently calculated probabilities and worked dollar examples. Checked 9 November 2026. It does not claim a particular casino currently offers a table, a tested withdrawal or a guaranteed way to win. Our editorial policy explains the research approach; the affiliate disclosure explains commercial links elsewhere on the site.
Sic Bo essentials
| Feature | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Dice | Three dice, each numbered one through six. |
| Small | Total four through ten; loses on triples in the rules used here. |
| Big | Total eleven through seventeen; loses on triples in the rules used here. |
| Payouts | Different fields and versions can pay different amounts. |
| Math model | 216 equally likely ordered results, assuming fair independent dice. |
| Main check | Read the winning condition, payout and total stake before the round closes. |
Keep the distinction between a game rule and a mathematical assumption in mind. The calculations below describe stated conditions; they do not audit a casino’s equipment or software.
How a Sic Bo round works
You choose a chip value, put a stake on one or more betting fields and confirm the amount before betting closes. Three dice are shaken or their result is generated electronically, and each accepted wager is settled. The Fallsview and Casino Niagara Dynasty guide provides a Canadian example of live dice results delivered to an electronic betting screen.
A useful way to learn the board is to follow one field through a complete round without adding anything else. Identify the field, state its winning condition in plain language, then compare that condition with the revealed dice. This is easier than trying to interpret every illuminated area at once. You can learn the arithmetic from examples without placing a real-money wager.
For a physical table, ask the dealer about chip placement or a rule before the betting deadline. For an electronic interface, inspect the selected denomination and the displayed round total. A repeat button may restore several positions, not just the last field you remember. A double button may increase more than one stake. Review what is actually on the board rather than relying on the button’s short label.
Once betting is closed, the result belongs to that round. If an interface reports an error or a stake is not accepted, check the recorded transaction before trying to repeat it. The game’s own rules determine the treatment of interrupted or invalid rounds. Keep the round reference when asking support about a disagreement.
What the main bets mean
Common fields cover ranges, exact totals and repeated faces. OLG’s PlaySmart Sic Bo guide illustrates the main categories and several traditional payouts. The following descriptions separate a field’s condition from its price; a familiar label alone is not enough to identify the payout.
- Small and Big: bets on a range of totals. Under the rules used here, any triple loses even if its sum falls inside the range.
- Exact total: a bet on the sum of all three dice. A total of ten and a total of eleven are separate selections.
- Single number: a selected face appearing on one, two or three dice, with payment depending on the number of matches.
- Specific double: at least two dice showing the selected face in our example rule set.
- Specific triple: all three dice showing the one face you selected.
- Any Triple: all three dice matching each other, whichever face appears.
- Two-number combination: both selected, different faces appearing somewhere among the three dice.
These fields can overlap. A result of 2–2–5 contains a double two, both two and five, and a total of nine. It is not three separate rounds: several conditions describe the same result. Each position receives its own settlement, and losing positions still cost money.
For the triple exception and the “at least two” double condition, the Crown Sydney approved rules provide a detailed technical example. That is an overseas rules reference, not a Canadian licence or a claim about local availability.
Example payouts and calculated house edges
Every payout below is profit “to 1”, with the winning stake returned separately. The examples combine specified traditional prices so you can compare their mathematics. They are not one universal Canadian paytable. PlaySmart documents the 10-to-1 double, 30-to-1 Any Triple, 180-to-1 specific triple and 1/2/3 single-number structure; Crown’s rules provide the 6-to-1 two-number combination example.
| Selection and condition | Winning results | Example profit payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small, excluding triples | 105 / 216 | 1 to 1 | 2.78% |
| Big, excluding triples | 105 / 216 | 1 to 1 | 2.78% |
| A specific double, including its triple | 16 / 216 | 10 to 1 | 18.52% |
| Any Triple | 6 / 216 | 30 to 1 | 13.89% |
| A specific triple | 1 / 216 | 180 to 1 | 16.20% |
| Two selected different faces both appear | 30 / 216 | 6 to 1 | 2.78% |
| A single selected face appears | 91 / 216 | 1, 2 or 3 to 1 for one, two or three matches | 7.87% |
| One exact total: ten | 27 / 216 | 6 to 1 | 12.50% |
Rounded percentages do not change the underlying probabilities. The chance of a Small win is 105 ÷ 216, or about 48.61%, not 50%. A house edge of 2.78% also does not mean a 2.78% chance of losing: it measures average net loss relative to stakes over the mathematical distribution.
Compare price as well as frequency. The example double is more likely to win than Any Triple, yet its listed house edge is higher. A more frequent payout is not automatically a better mathematical return.
Why there are 216 outcomes
Each die has six possible faces. Counting the dice separately gives 6 × 6 × 6 = 216 ordered outcomes. For example, 1–2–3, 1–3–2 and 3–2–1 are different ordered results even though their total is the same. A triple such as 2–2–2 has only one ordering.
Small and Big
There are 107 ordered results with a sum from four through ten. Two are triples: 2–2–2 and 3–3–3. Removing them leaves 105 Small wins and 111 losses. At even-money profit, the net expectation on a one-dollar stake is (105 − 111) ÷ 216 = −$0.027777…. Big is symmetrical and gives the same result under the stated rules.
A general fixed-payout formula
When a winning bet pays profit of b units for each one unit staked, and its win probability is p, the expected return including the stake is p × (b + 1). The house edge is 1 − p × (b + 1), expressed as a percentage. This formula assumes the losing bet returns nothing and there are no pushes, commissions or extra charges.
For Any Triple at 30 to 1, the calculation is 1 − (6 ÷ 216 × 31) = 13.8889%. For a specific triple at 180 to 1, it is 1 − (1 ÷ 216 × 181) = 16.2037%. A larger headline payment can therefore come with a larger expected cost per dollar.
Single-number bets need separate match counts
For a chosen face, 75 outcomes contain exactly one match, 15 contain exactly two and one contains three. The other 125 contain none. With 1-, 2- and 3-to-1 profit payments, the net total across those 216 equally weighted cases is 75 + 30 + 3 − 125 = −17 units. Dividing 17 by 216 gives the 7.87% edge in the table.
These figures were checked by enumerating all 216 outcomes. They describe the model, not an observation of 216 actual casino rolls. Real samples need not reproduce those counts, even approximately over a short session.
Exact totals do not have equal probabilities
There are far more ways to make ten than four. The table pairs totals with equal counts for convenience, but each figure applies to one exact total. A bet on four does not also cover seventeen.
| One chosen total | Results out of 216 | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| 3 or 18 | 1 each | 0.46% each |
| 4 or 17 | 3 each | 1.39% each |
| 5 or 16 | 6 each | 2.78% each |
| 6 or 15 | 10 each | 4.63% each |
| 7 or 14 | 15 each | 6.94% each |
| 8 or 13 | 21 each | 9.72% each |
| 9 or 12 | 25 each | 11.57% each |
| 10 or 11 | 27 each | 12.50% each |
Three and eighteen are included to show the complete distribution; a game need not offer them as ordinary total bets. Also, an exact-total bet is not the same as Small or Big. Apply the triple exclusion only where the relevant wager’s rules impose it, rather than transferring an exception to every field.
Use the count with the displayed payout to calculate the price of a specific total. Ten wins more often than four, but that alone does not settle which wager has the lower edge. The casino’s payout determines how much of the difference in frequency is reflected in the reward.
A worked round: winning a field versus making a profit
Suppose, purely as an illustration, a player puts $2 on Small and $1 on a specific triple two. The total stake is $3. If the result is 1–2–4, Small wins at 1 to 1. It returns $4 including its $2 stake, while the triple wager loses. The round’s net result is therefore $4 − $3 = a $1 profit.
If the result is 2–2–2, Small loses despite the total of six. At the example 180-to-1 triple price, the one-dollar triple stake returns $181. Subtracting the full $3 round stake gives $178 net profit. That large payment corresponds to a very rare event; it does not make the two-bet package a profitable strategy.
Now suppose $1 is placed on Small and $1 on Big, with both paying even money and both losing on triples. A non-triple result returns $2 from the winning side against $2 staked, so the net is zero. Any triple loses both dollars. Covering both sides has created many break-even rounds and occasional complete losses, not protection against the house edge.
For every layout, keep three numbers separate: total staked, total returned and net result. This avoids treating a celebratory winning animation as proof of an overall profitable round.
Traditional, electronic and multiplier Sic Bo
An electronic interface describes how you place a wager, not necessarily how the outcome is produced. The Canadian Dynasty guide illustrates dealer-generated results shown on terminals. Other versions may use software-generated outcomes. Check the product name and help screen instead of deciding from the presence of an animation or a video window.
Evolution’s Super Sic Bo description explains a separate random multiplier feature applied to selected fields, with advertised multipliers reaching 1,000x. Selection occurs after betting closes, and a selected field still needs the winning dice result. Some rounds may select no fields. This does not make every bet a multiplier bet.
Do not apply our fixed-payout table as the complete expected return for Super Sic Bo or another enhanced version. Its own rules determine base payouts, selection probabilities and multiplier values. A maximum multiplier tells you little about its frequency. You need the full game information, not just the largest number in a promotion.
Even ordinary versions can differ. Keeping the same 16 winning double outcomes, changing profit from 10 to 1 to 11 to 1 changes the calculated edge from 18.52% to 11.11%. A two-number combination paying 5 to 1 has a 16.67% edge in our model; at 6 to 1 it is 2.78%. Those differences show why the exact paytable belongs beside any quoted percentage.
What a strategy can and cannot change
A decision about which field to use changes the payout distribution and expected cost. A decision about how much to stake changes the amount exposed. Neither lets you influence fair independent dice. A history board describes completed rounds; it does not supply a timetable for a future triple or compensate for earlier losses.
Consider a doubling sequence starting at $1. Six consecutive losing stakes would be $1, $2, $4, $8, $16 and $32, totalling $63. The next requested stake is $64. A modest-looking first bet can therefore lead to a much larger decision quickly. This arithmetic does not establish that the next result is more likely to win, and a personal budget or table limit may prevent continuation.
The same applies to spreading chips over several fields. It may change how often at least one field lights up, but the expected net results of the individual wagers still add together. Correlation between bets affects the pattern of wins and losses; it does not turn several negative expectations into a positive one.
For comparison with other games, see our craps guide and roulette guide. Craps uses a different dice structure and betting sequence, so its terminology and strategy advice should not be carried directly into Sic Bo.
Checks for Canadian players
Start with your province’s gambling arrangements, including eligibility and location requirements. In Ontario, iGaming Ontario’s directory identifies websites operated under its agreements and separately notes OLG.ca’s role. A supplier licence, a payment logo or a Canadian flag on a casino homepage is not a substitute for the applicable provincial checks.
Then confirm the exact Sic Bo version in the operator’s local lobby. A developer’s catalogue does not guarantee that every operator carries that title in every province. Our Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan pages provide regional starting points rather than a blanket promise of game availability.
Check account currency, banking limits and withdrawal requirements before considering a stake. Our Canadian-dollar guide, banking overview and withdrawal guide explain the distinctions. A game payout credits a gaming balance; a bank withdrawal is a separate process. A minimum deposit also does not establish the minimum on every betting field.
If you examine a promotion, check whether Sic Bo contributes to wagering and whether any fields or play patterns are excluded. Do not assume that a casino-wide offer covers every table game equally. Our bonus terms overview explains what to read, while the actual offer controls any specific eligibility decision.
Mobile layout and session controls
Sic Bo’s dense board can be awkward on a small screen. Check whether labels, chips and the round total remain readable after zooming or rotating the device. A chip placed on a neighbouring field represents a different wager. If you cannot clearly identify the selection, stop and resolve the display problem before confirming anything.
Our mobile guide, Android, iPhone and iPad pages cover general device preparation. A browser-versus-app comparison is useful for convenience, but neither format changes the dice probabilities. Use official download links and the help for the exact product, rather than installing an unrelated app with a similar name.
Set both a spending boundary and a stopping time before starting. Turnover is the sum of wagers, not just deposits: forty rounds at a total of $2 per round produce $80 of turnover even when the original balance was smaller. Reusing returned money does not make those later stakes free.
Leave money needed for bills outside the gambling budget. If you find yourself increasing stakes to recover a loss or staying longer than planned, take a break. Our responsible gambling page lists support routes. For a factual correction to this guide, use our contact page and include the public rules source rather than private account details.
Sic Bo FAQs
How many dice are used in Sic Bo?
Sic Bo uses three six-sided dice. With fair, independent dice there are 216 equally likely ordered results. Players bet on features of the combined result, such as a total, a repeated number or a particular combination.
Does Small win when the dice show 2, 2, 2?
No under the rules explained here. Although the total is six, a triple overrides the Small total range. Big also loses on any triple. Read the exact game rules before assuming that a total alone determines the result.
What is the house edge on Small and Big?
At a 1-to-1 profit payout, with all triples losing, each bet wins on 105 of 216 outcomes. The calculated house edge is 2.78%, equivalent to a theoretical 97.22% return. It is not a forecast for a short session.
Does a specific double win if three matching dice appear?
In the rule set used for our calculations, yes: at least two dice must show the selected number. A matching triple is included, but the double bet is paid once. Check your version because the precise winning condition matters.
What is the difference between Any Triple and a specific triple?
Any Triple wins on six outcomes: all ones through all sixes. A specific triple wins on just one selected outcome. Their probabilities are therefore 6 out of 216 and 1 out of 216 respectively, so their payouts should not be confused.
Can Sic Bo results be predicted from the history board?
No. For independent fair rolls, earlier results do not change the next roll’s probabilities. A sequence of Big results does not make Small due. Increasing the stake after losses changes the money at risk, not the probability of the next outcome.
Are all Sic Bo payout tables the same?
No. Compare the winning condition and the profit payout together. For example, a specific double that includes triples has an 18.52% calculated house edge at 10 to 1, but 11.11% at 11 to 1. Those figures assume the same fair-dice model.
Is Super Sic Bo the same as traditional Sic Bo?
Super Sic Bo adds a random multiplier feature. Its full return depends on its own payout and multiplier rules. A house edge calculated for a fixed-payout traditional wager cannot be treated as the complete return for a multiplier version.
Do I win overall if one of my Sic Bo bets wins?
Not necessarily. Add all stakes on the round and compare them with the total money returned, including returned winning stakes. A winning field can pay less than the combined amount placed on other losing fields.
Can I play every online Sic Bo game anywhere in Canada?
Do not assume nationwide availability. Check the rules for your province, the operator’s authorization and eligibility requirements, and the exact game available in its local lobby. A supplier’s product page does not establish that a particular casino offers it to you.
References
Primary rules and operator information checked on 9 November 2026. Probabilities and example house edges were calculated independently from all 216 ordered dice outcomes.