How they work
Small wins on a total of 4 to 10. Big wins on 11 to 17. Both pay even money, and both lose to any triple, which is the entire house edge.
Without the triple rule the two bets would split the outcomes exactly and the house would have no advantage. Six of the 216 rolls are triples, and taking those from the player produces 1/36, or 2.7778%.
The count
| Bet | Ways in 216 | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (4-10) | 105 | 1:1 | 2.78% |
| Big (11-17) | 105 | 1:1 | 2.78% |
| Any triple | 6 | 24:1 | 30.56% |
Small and Big cover 105 rolls each. The six triples belong to neither, and that symmetry is why the two bets carry an identical edge.
Why they are the only sensible bets
At 2.78% these are comparable to a roulette bet on a European wheel and cheaper than an American one. The rest of the sic bo layout ranges from 7.9% to over 47%, which is worse than any bet in a standard casino.
Our full bet comparison ranks every wager on the table, and the payout variations page covers the schedules that change those numbers.
The one thing to check
Small and Big are standard almost everywhere, so their edge does not move between casinos. That is unusual in sic bo, where most bets do. If you play the game and want to keep the cost sane, these two bets are the answer and the rest of the layout is decoration.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the house edge on Small and Big in sic bo?
- 2.78% for both. They are the cheapest bets on the table.
- Why do Small and Big lose on a triple?
- Because that is the entire house edge. Without it the two bets would divide the outcomes evenly and the house would have no advantage.
- Is sic bo a good game?
- Only these two bets are. Everything else on the layout costs between 7.9% and 47%.
- Do these odds change between casinos?
- No. Small and Big are standard, which makes them unusual in a game where most payouts vary.
Every figure on this page is counted from the 216 equally likely outcomes of three dice, in exact rational arithmetic, and checked against published references before publication. Sic bo payouts vary between casinos more than in any other table game, so where two schedules are common both are shown. Read the layout before you bet.