Sic Bo is one of those classic casino games that a majority of Kiwis know what it looks like but have never been tempted to try. The board is full of symbols, and there are payouts everywhere, with the dice being rolled at a speed so fast, it looks like utter chaos.
Beneath the complex layout, Sic Bo is an uncomplicated three-dice game with an organized fixed wager menu that offers understandable odds. Once segmented, the table is as simple to work with as roulette or baccarat – with just a different pace. If you want to see where it sits alongside blackjack, baccarat, roulette, poker games, craps, and keno in real lobbies, you’ll find those categories – and the casinos that host Sic Bo tables on dashtickets.nz.
So, what is Sic Bo, anyway? Sic Bo is a traditional Chinese game played with three dice in a shaking vessel or dome. The dealer shakes the vessel, the result is revealed, and all winning bets are paid according to the value shown. Sic Bo has a decision before the throw, not after.
Which means that Sic Bo is a game of pure chance. The interest is based entirely on speed and distribution, ranging from low risk bets that pay even money to ones that are high risk and reward payouts of 30 to 1 and higher. It presents something different for a roulette or craps player from New Zealand, as it is popular in Asian online casinos.
The Sic Bo table is intimidating since all possible bets are marked on the table felt. Big, Small, numbers, doubles, triples, totals, and combinations occupy the same area on the table. For the most part, the basic bets lie nearest to the players, and the precise bets lie back.
To start, the trick is to divide the table into regions. There’s a region for bets on Big and Small, a region for the sum of the three dice, a region for the doubles and triples, and a grid for the combinations, like “1 and 3” and “2 and 5.” Once the regions are mastered, the table is not a puzzle anymore but a menu. If you want to find where Sic Bo rests alongside games like Craps and Roulette, the casino game category explains the game as a Chinese game of dice with variable RTP values depending on your chosen bets.
The most straightforward bets available on the Sic Bo layout are the “Big” and “Small” bets. “Small” is won when the total result of the three dice is between 4 and 10, while “Big” is won when the total result is between 11 and 17. In the case of “Small” and “Big,” any triple results in a loss, so 1-1-1 does not win “Small” and 6-6-6 does not win “Big.” Both bets normally pay 1 to 1 with one of the lowest house edges on the table.
Total bets take it a notch further. Rather than “high or low,” the player can place a bet on a particular total, like 9 or 13. Each sum has a different chance of occurring, which means each sum has a different payout. Those closer to the extreme, where there are fewer possibilities, pay more money than those near the center, where there are more possibilities.
For instance, 10 or 11 could possibly pay 6 or 7 to 1, but other totals, for example 4 or 17, could possibly pay much higher. The only problem with this gamble is that while it seems lucrative, the house advantage on this wager tends to be much higher.
Combination bets involve particular pairs such as “2 and 4” or “3 and 5.” These bets result in payouts when the two numbers chosen are found in any combination among the three dice. These bets are favorable since the odds are fair, and the payoff is decent. Therefore, most people choose these bets for the sake of variety.
Double bets are betting on a number to appear at least twice. A “double three” bet will win if the rolled numbers contain two or three threes. These bets will pay out more than a single number bet, but less than a triple.
Triple bets are the feature bets on the table. This particular Triple, for example 5–5–5, would normally pay about 150:1 at standard prices, while an “any Triple” bet would win if any Triple appears and would pay out at a significantly lower rate. These have a far higher house edge than the Big and Small bets.
As Sic Bo is based entirely on luck, no strategy can affect the probability. The only way in which the gambler has any control is with regard to the type of bets placed and the amount gambled in each case. An effective strategy for Sic Bo is not one that is clever or complicated.
In lower-risk wagering, a lot of work is done by Big and Small. Variance is reduced, and a game can extend for a longer period. In addition to Big and Small, some players place medium-risk bets on totals of 9, 10, 11, or 12, though with each successive wager, even more risk is involved.
“Fun money” bets are those with a high pay-out, such as a specific triple, where a significant amount of money can quickly add up with a little success. These are costly because of their limited chance of success, as well as a significant house edge, which will quietly drain a bankroll to zero.
Online casinos make it easy for people to play Sic Bo. The online version of this game utilizes a number generator that simulates the rolling of three different dice. Players can place bets using a simple interface, and results are displayed through animations.
Live casino studios provide Sic Bo games with a live dealer and an actual dice shaker. Players place their own bets at home or via a mobile device. However, rolling takes place at an actual table. Some live casino lobbies introduce additional game variations, such as Super Sic Bo, featuring random multipliers on specified results. This significantly boosts volatility and typically leads to an increased house edge. For a complete live game listing that also covers Sic Bo games, the page on live Sic Bo and other dice games is recommended.
For both options, the principle remains the same. The rules and the payouts are fixed; however, the return to the player varies according to the bets placed. The selection of the lower edge options whether online or at a casino is of equal importance.
Both craps and Sic Bo involve dice, but their gameplay varies greatly. While craps involves two dice, a shooting straight, and a social table, it offers bets like Pass Line, Come, and odds bets, which, if managed properly, involve low house advantages, and some bets remain in action over several rolls.
Sic Bo is relatively more self-contained because each throw is independent, and most bets start and end within one throw. There is also very limited table talk, and there is no need for a shooter. It is therefore suited for players who would want quick results and can afford playing a combination of small, consistent bets and high-risk high-reward bets.
As for those who are already well-versed in the mechanics of craps and eager for more comparisons, an in-depth guide on how to play online craps for real money is naturally complemented by Sic Bo. Side by side comparisons will show the value of low edge wagers found only in craps, versus the entire risk board on Sic Bo that can fit nicely into an overall strategy for New Zealand gamers.
If you’ve spent any time playing blackjack online or at a live casino, you’ve probably seen table rules mentioning whether the dealer hits or stands on soft 17. It’s one of those rules that looks pretty insignificant at first, but you’d be surprised at just how much impact it has on the house edge – […]
Each spin, each card deal, each roulette ball drop you watch online is a result that has been calculated in a rapid cycle running in the background. It looks like it’s all about luck, but it isn’t. Only by understanding how casino RNGs work can you distinguish what constitutes fair play and what constitutes superstition. […]
So you have a funded PayPal account, ready to use, and you wish to gamble online with it? Choice! It seems easy, doesn’t it – deposit to a casino, withdraw back, simple as. Sure is, if you know what you’re doing. You’ve probably read some articles that told you everything about PayPal but never really told […]
