What each bet covers
Specific triple: all three dice show the chosen number. One outcome in 216. Any triple: all three match, any number. Six in 216. Specific double: at least two dice show the chosen number, which is 16 rolls in 216.
Both schedules, counted
| Bet | Ways in 216 | Payout | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific triple (180:1) | 1 | 180:1 | 16.20% |
| Specific triple (150:1) | 1 | 150:1 | 30.09% |
| Any triple (30:1) | 6 | 30:1 | 13.89% |
| Any triple (24:1) | 6 | 24:1 | 30.56% |
| Specific double (10:1) | 16 | 10:1 | 18.52% |
| Specific double (8:1) | 16 | 8:1 | 33.33% |
Read the pairs. A specific triple at 180:1 costs 16.20%; the same bet at 150:1 costs 30.09%. Any triple moves from 13.89% to 30.56%. A specific double moves from 18.52% to 33.33%.
Those are the same wagers on the same dice. Only the number printed on the layout differs, and it moves the cost by more than fourteen percentage points.
Why 180:1 is not generous
A specific triple lands once in 216 rolls, so a fair payout would be 215:1. Paying 180:1 removes 35 units from every 216, which is 16.20%. Paying 150:1 removes 65, which is 30.09%.
The size of a payout tells you nothing about its value. What matters is the gap between the payout and the true odds, and on these bets the gap is enormous.
Our payout variations page covers how to read the layout before betting, and Small and Big covers the two bets that are actually priced sensibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the house edge on a sic bo triple?
- Between 16.20% and 30.09% for a specific triple, depending on whether the table pays 180:1 or 150:1.
- Is 180:1 a good payout?
- No. A specific triple lands once in 216 rolls, so the fair payout is 215:1. At 180:1 the house keeps 16.20%.
- Which is better, any triple or a specific triple?
- A specific triple at 180:1 costs 16.20% against 13.89% for any triple at 30:1, so the specific bet is cheaper on the better schedules.
- How much do the schedules differ?
- By more than fourteen percentage points on the same bet. Read the layout.
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.