The Game of Tai Sai Rules and Winning Strategy

Tai Sai, or Big and Small, is the popular game of dice and the other name for Sic Bo.

The Game of Tai Sai is an ancient Chinese game of chance with a modern twist, and it’s easy to learn and fun to play. 

At casinos, the game of Tai Sai is mentioned as Sic Bo and has less popularity as compared to other tables games.

The instruments to play eventually changed to the more common dice with six sides, but the premise of betting on the outcome of each role is more or less the same in modern Sic bo online game tables.

During the Industrial Revolution, the game started spreading from China, finding its way to Macau and Las Vegas.

From there, it has become a fixture worldwide, including in New Zealand casinos. In addition, the Sic bo game has also found a home at online casinos.

The tables at a Sic bo online casino allow Kiwis and punters from nearly every other corner of the globe to play whenever they want and win real cash.

Many consider the Sic bo games in New Zealand to be some of the best.

Legality of Tai Sai in NZ

The legality of gambling in New Zealand is regulated by the Gambling Act 2003, which oversees both land-based and online gambling activities.

Tai Sai, known internationally as Sic Bo, is classified as a casino game and is only permitted in licensed venues such as SkyCity Auckland or Christchurch Casino.

However, in March 2020, SkyCity Casino Management Limited requested to increase the number of permitted player terminals for Electronic Tai Sai from 30 to 50.

These casinos operate under strict guidelines set by the New Zealand Gambling Commission to promote fair play, responsible gambling, and player protection.

Players must be over the age of 20 to participate in casino games.

However, New Zealand-based companies are prohibited from offering online casino games, including Tai Sai, unless explicitly permitted by law.

How Do You Play Tai Sai?

To play Tai Sai, place your cash on the table, and the Dealer will exchange it for gaming chips—then you’re ready to go! After playing, go to the cashier to exchange chips for cash or take them to another table to continue the fun.

Tai Sai is a game played with three dice concealed within a tumbler. The game aims to correctly predict the numbers or combinations of the dice before the Dealer reveals them.

The Dealer will cover the dice and activate the tumbler, spinning them three times. Place your chips clearly within the area marked on the table to bet on any numbers or combinations you think will appear.

Every possible bet and the odds for each bet appear on the table layout.

• Bet on one die:
  • Predict whether a certain number will appear on at least one die.
• Bet on two dice combinations:
  • Predict whether two specific numbers will appear.
• Bet on the total value of all three dice.
• Other betting options:
  • Trebles.
  • Big and small bets.

You can bet on as few or as many areas as you like.

When all bets have been placed, the Dealer will call no more bets and reveal the dice. The winning areas will light up to see if you have won.

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Rules of Tai Sai (Sic Bo)

The basic objective of Tai Sai is very simple: you just need to guess which number is going to show up on the three dice.

For example, if you think the number 4 will appear, place a bet on it. However, some rules must be kept in mind before starting the game.

These can be considered the features or rules of the game.

• First things first: The game only involves the dice and the dealer, that’s it.
• Next, the available bets:
  • Single Die Bet: Bet on a specific number appearing on at least one die.
  • Two Dice Combination: Bet on two specific numbers appearing on two dice.
  • Total Value Bet: Bet on the total sum of the dice roll.
  • Special Bets: Such as “triple,” where all dice show the same number.
• It has two styles of play:
  • Style A: Uses a traditional dice tumbler.
  • Style B: Involves a designated area with raised sides to avoid any interference with the dice.

The dealer announces when to place and stop bets. They also manage dice throwing when no player is eligible. If you’re eligible, you get a turn to throw the dice.

The dice must cross a specific line and land properly. If anyone interferes with the dice or the throw, the dealer will declare the roll invalid.

Online Tai Sai – The Game of Tai Sai Rules and Winning Strategy

Online Sic Bo has steadily increased in popularity over the past years. The exciting combination of wins and a fast pace has attracted many to the simple game.

As such, NZ online Sic bo players are growing, and many have even ventured to nearby Macau to play the game. Still, online Sic bo is the most popular game form for Kiwi gamblers.

However, the good players will be pleased to learn that New Zealand, of all places, is renowned for the most attractive tai sai payouts on the planet.

This contrasts land casinos’ collective reputation for short-odds blackjack games and double-zero roulette tables. This is the way to play the game of Tai Sai.

See also: SkyCity Online Casino Review.

The reason is pretty simple: casino operators love Chinese tourists due to the ancient nation’s profoundly ingrained gambling culture.

So combine great odds with your relative geographical proximity compared to the UK and the US, and New Zealand and Australia become prime destinations for Asian players.

Wagers In Tai Sai

Following are the wagers allowed on a typical NZ layout to play the game of Tai Sai, such as the ones commonly found at SkyCity Casino Auckland.

1. Small – Win if the total sum of the dice is between four and 10, excluding triples (i.e. when all dice show the same number). Pays 1 to 1.

2. Big – Win if the total sum of the dice is between 11 and 17, excluding triples. Pays 1 to 1.

3. Total values—You win if you pick the total sum of all three dice. Payouts vary, with four and 17 the largest (62 to 1) and 10 and 11 the smallest (6 to 1).

4. Any triple–win if all three dice are the same number, regardless of the number (e.g. 1-1-1 and 6-6-6 both win). Pays 31 to 1.

5. Specific triples – Win if all three dice show a specific chosen number (e.g. if we bet on triple ones, we only win if 1-1-1 shows). Pays 180 to 1.

6. Specific doubles – Win if two of the three dice show a certain number (e.g. if we bet on double ones, we would win if the dice turned 1-5-1). Pays 11 to 1.

7. Two-die combination – Win if two specific numbers show (e.g. betting on one and three both turning up). Pays 6 to 1.

8. Single number – Win if the chosen number shows, with larger payouts if the number turns two or three times. Pays 1 to 1 for a single, 2 to 1 for a double, and 12 to 1 for a triple.

Some games also allow wagers, rarely found outside the high-roller rooms or Macau’s gaming floors.

9. Evens or Odds –Identical as in roulette, the player bets on the total value of the dice being either an even number (four, six, eight, et cetera) or an odd one (three, five, seven, et cetera). Pays 1 to 1.

10. Three of four – This wager resembles a horse and greyhound racing boxed trifecta. Players choose four numbers, from one to six, and win if any three numbers should hit. For example, we win if we choose three, four, five, and six, and the roll shows 5-4-6. (Some casinos limit this bet to a few specific combinations – e.g. Crown when using this rule, allows only four combos, each paying 7 to 1.)

Bets And Odds

Tai Sai has many ways to win, and the table may look confusing. Don’t worry; each area is marked, and you can ask the dealer for help if you’re unsure.

Bet	Description	Payout
Big and Small	Total 11-17 (Big) or 4-10 (Small). Triples lose.	1 to 1
Odd and Even	Bet on odd or even total. Triples lose.	1 to 1
Single Die Result	Bet on a number appearing on 1, 2, or 3 dice.	1 die: 1 to 1 2 dice: 2 to 1 3 dice: 12 to 1
Two Dice Combo	Bet on two specific numbers on two dice.	6 to 1
Four Dice Combo	Bet on two specific numbers on two dice.	7 to 1
Three Dice Totals	Bet on total of three dice.	6 to 1 to 62 to 1
Doubles	Bet on a specific double (two same numbers).	11 to 1
Specific Three Dice Combo	Bet on three specific numbers appearing.	Varies
Any Triple	Bet on any triple (three same numbers).	31 to 1
Specific Triple	Bet on a specific triple.	180 to 1

After playing, you can go to the cashier to exchange your winnings for cash or take them to another table to continue the fun.

Table Limits

The Game of Tai Sai tables at casinos have varying minimum and maximum bets. Before you play, please check the sign displaying the betting range at the table.

As with all casino games, if you are unsure about a bet or the game’s rules, ask one of the staff for assistance. They will happily explain anything you may not understand or provide further information about the rules.

The Game of Tai Sai – Winning Strategy

The best bet you can make in The Game of Tai Sai is on Big or Small. In other words, you bet that the total score of the rolled dice is from 4 to 10 and 11 to 17, respectively.

These bets pay 1:1 and have the smallest house edge (only 2.76%).

Use combination bets: You can bet on two specific numbers or a combination bet. This bet also has a low house edge of 2.77%, and the odds against it winning are 6:1. You can expect to win once in every seven bets.

Bet on the totals from 7 to 14: If you closely look at the payout table of The Game of Tai Sai, you will quickly notice that the odds on certain sums vary, as well as their house edge.

For example, bets on totals from 7 to 14 offer 12:1 and have a lower house edge (9.7%) than the other specified sums.

On the other hand, bets on totals from 8 to 13 or 10 to 11 have a 12.5% house edge. Other sums have a pretty high house edge. A strategy tip here is to bet on the totals from 7 to 14.

Avoid betting triples: If you bet on a triple and win, which rarely happens, you have correctly predicted the only number that has come up on all three dice.

A triple bet is worth 180:1, but it is the riskiest bet one can make. Therefore, more experienced

Avoid betting triples: If you bet on a triple and win, which rarely happens, you have correctly predicted the only number that has come up on all three dice. A triple bet is worth 180:1, but it is the riskiest bet one can make.

Therefore, more experienced the game of Tai Sai players avoid triples entirely or use them as additional bets. It would be best if you never made a triple bet as the main bet because the bet will lose you money most of the time.

Tai Sai players avoid triples entirely or use them as additional bets. It would be best not to make a triple bet as the main bet because it will usually lose you money.

Never make foolish bets: You should avoid making foolish bets with a huge house edge. If you bet on a total from 5 to 16, the odds of being hit are 6 in 216.

According to the standard paytable, the bet pays 30:1, but it has a high house edge of 13.9%. Some bets have an even higher house edge and are rarely hit.

Finally, though this game is purely a game of chance, no betting system in Tai Sai will help you reduce the house edge. You should properly understand the game and betting rules before you play Tai Sai.

You can play Tai Sai in real land casinos of New Zealand like the SkyCity Casino Auckland, Christchurch Casino, and various other online casinos in NZ with the game of Sic Bo.

Conclusion

The game of Tai Sai, also known as Sic Bo, is a traditional Chinese dice game that has evolved into a popular and exciting modern casino game.

However, the presence of Sic Bo in online casinos is very limited, and the casinos that have it only offer 2 or 3 games in this sub-category.

With its easy-to-learn rules and various betting options, players can enjoy the ability to predict dice outcomes and win real cash.

Betting on Big or Small, utilizing combination bets, and focusing on certain totals can enhance your chances of success.

However, it’s essential to avoid high-risk bets like triples and always be mindful of the house edge.

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