Key points
- You bet on the result of three dice, and a win pays out.
- Bets include big or small totals (Small and Big), odd or even, an exact total, one number, a pair of numbers and triples (all three dice the same).
- Small (total 4 to 10), Big (11 to 17), Odd and Even all lose on a triple.
- The house edge is 2.78% on Small, Big, Odd and Even and 7.87% to 47.22% on the other bets (default table).
How a roll goes
- Place bets on the layout
- The dealer shakes three dice in a shaker and lifts the lid
- Losing bets are collected, then winners are paid
There are 6 × 6 × 6 = 216 combinations. Every bet’s chance is the number of winning combinations out of those.
Signals and etiquette
- Place bets before the dealer shakes the dice
Bets and payouts
Payouts follow a common table. Casinos differ (Differences between paytables), so check the table display.
| Bet | Pays | Winning / 216 | House edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (4-10), Big (11-17) | 1 | 105 | 2.78% |
| Odd, Even | 1 | 105 | 2.78% |
| One number | 1, 2 or 3 (per die) | 91 | 7.87% |
| Total 7 or 14 | 12 | 15 | 9.72% |
| Total 8 or 13 | 8 | 21 | 12.50% |
| Total 10 or 11 | 6 | 27 | 12.50% |
| Two-number combination | 5 | 30 | 16.67% |
| Total 9 or 12 | 6 | 25 | 18.98% |
| Total 4 or 17 | 50 | 3 | 29.17% |
| A specific triple | 150 | 1 | 30.09% |
| Total 6 or 15 | 14 | 10 | 30.56% |
| Any triple | 24 | 6 | 30.56% |
| At least two of a chosen number (Double) | 8 | 16 | 33.33% |
| Total 5 or 16 | 18 | 6 | 47.22% |
Example. Bet 100 on Small and a total of 8 comes: you receive 100. Bet 100 on total 7 and a 7 comes: you receive 1,200 (12 to 1).
Small, Big, Odd and Even lose on a triple (1-1-1 and so on). These four are the cheapest bets (2.78%).
Differences between paytables
- Paytables differ by casino, and the same bet can have a very different house edge.
- The house edge on a total of 4 or 17 is 29.17% on a table that pays 50 to 1 and 12.50% on one that pays 62 to 1.
Each table is named by the payout that sets it apart (for example, “4/17 50:1” is the table where totals 4 and 17 pay 50 to 1).
Payouts (to 1).
| Bet | 4/17 50:1 (default) | 4/17 60:1 | 4/17 62:1 | 5/16 30:1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total 4 or 17 | 50 | 60 | 62 | 50 |
| Total 5 or 16 | 18 | 30 | 31 | 30 |
| Total 6 or 15 | 14 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
| Total 9 or 12 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Specific triple | 150 | 180 | 180 | 150 |
| Any triple | 24 | 30 | 31 | 24 |
| At least two of a chosen number (Double) | 8 | 10 | 11 | 8 |
| Two-dice combination | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Single number (1, 2, 3 dice) | 1, 2, 3 | 1, 2, 3 | 1, 2, 12 | 1, 2, 3 |
House edge.
| Bet | 4/17 50:1 (default) | 4/17 60:1 | 4/17 62:1 | 5/16 30:1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total 4 or 17 | 29.17% | 15.28% | 12.50% | 29.17% |
| Total 5 or 16 | 47.22% | 13.89% | 11.11% | 13.89% |
| Total 6 or 15 | 30.56% | 12.04% | 12.04% | 12.04% |
| Total 9 or 12 | 18.98% | 7.41% | 7.41% | 18.98% |
| Specific triple | 30.09% | 16.20% | 16.20% | 30.09% |
| Any triple | 30.56% | 13.89% | 11.11% | 30.56% |
| At least two of a chosen number (Double) | 33.33% | 18.52% | 11.11% | 33.33% |
| Two-dice combination | 16.67% | 16.67% | 2.78% | 16.67% |
| Single number (1, 2, 3 dice) | 7.87% | 7.87% | 3.70% | 7.87% |
Small, Big, Odd and Even (1 to 1, 2.78%) and totals 7/14 (12, 9.72%), 8/13 (8, 12.50%) and 10/11 (6, 12.50%) are the same on every table.
Example. A bet of 10 on total 4 loses 2.9 per roll on average at a 50 to 1 table, and 1.25 at a 62 to 1 table.
The bigger those numbers, the less the long-shot bets cost. They still cost more than Small and Big (only the two-dice combination on the 62:1 table costs the same 2.78%).
How to play casino table games for the first time, and what to know before you sit down