Live Online Casino Games From Asia: A Comprehensive Guide

Sic Bo

Sic Bo, also known as tai sai or dai siu – is an ancient Chinese game played traditionally with three dice. Today, Sic Bo is available at most online and land-based casinos, and most leading online software providers offer live game versions.

While Sic Bo originated in the Far East, it’s become a popular casino game in the Western world.

As with most casino games, there are variations of Sic Bo, with different game developers offering many betting options.

For the most part, the game remains true to its roots. I’ll begin by looking at the history of Sic Bo and how it entered the Western gambling world.

Background and History

Historians can’t put an exact date on the creation of Sic Bo. Like many games, it developed and transformed over time, with several incarnations affecting and changing gameplay.

However, ancient Chinese history books show that warriors used to play the game to relax. They did not use dice back then, so these ancient warriors used easy-to-acquire objects such as animal bones, rocks, and teeth.

Over time, Sic Bo made its way into the homes of the Chinese elite, and at one point, it experienced its own “boom” as Texas Hold ’em did in the USA.

However, Sic Bo isn’t just popular among Asian players. At the start of the 20th century, it was introduced to the US by Chinese immigrants and quickly caught on in popularity.

Today, you’ll find it offered at many land-based casinos in the US and Europe.

Online game versions are standard, with major software providers like Evolution now offering Super Sic Bo.

How to Play

Sic Bo is an easy game with no skill involved. You make a bet, the dice get rolled, and players receive a payout if they win.

While betting options vary between developers, most Sic Bo variants offer some “standard” bets. For example, the most common is “Small/Big.” If you place the Small bet, you’re guessing the total of the three dice will be below a particular sum.

The “Total” bet allows you to place a wager on what you think the total of the three dice will be. Payouts get big here, as the chances of your picking successfully are slim.

Other betting options include “Single”, “Double”, “Triple”, “Any Triple”, and “Combination”.

Who Offers Sic Bo and Where to Play

Despite the growing popularity of Sic Bo, it’s relatively easy to find in live online casinos.

Evolution, Pragmatic Play, and Playtech all offer game variations. For example, Evolution has added a random payout multiplier, which allows you to win up to 1,000X on specific bets.

LeoVegas is a solid place to play Pragmatic Play and Evolution’s variation of Sic Bo, while Betfred carries Playtech’s version.

Dragon Tiger

Dragon Tiger is a poker-inspired casino game found in certain land-based casinos. In recent years, it’s also started to make its way to online casinos, and some live dealer providers now offer it as part of their online gambling package.

To many, Dragon Tiger is simply a two-card version of Baccarat. But there are some differences, as I’ll reveal below.

Background and History

The exact origins of Dragon/Tiger are unknown. However, historians know the game originated in Cambodia and quickly spread to other Asian countries.

It’s a popular game in Macau, and Western audiences are also starting to realise the appeal.

How to Play

Dragon Tiger always uses a standard 52-deck of cards. There are no wild or joker cards.

The objective is to bet on the Dragon or Tiger playing positions. Once you’ve placed your bet, the dealer will deal two cards face up. The highest card wins.

Despite the game’s apparent simplicity, it’s popular with players. It’s essentially a 50/50 gamble, although the house edge is slightly higher than similar games like Casino War and Baccarat, 3.73%.

The Tie is a winning bet if both cards are the same value. Many developers offer several side bets. The “Dragon or Tiger Big” bet pays if your card exceeds a seven. In contrast, the “Dragon or Tiger Small” pays if your card is lower.

Who Offers Dragon Tiger and Where to Play

Several game developers offer Dragon Tiger, including Evolution, Playtech, Ezugi, XPG, and Pragmatic Play. These games are mostly the same, although Ezugi only pays 8:1 for a tie, while the others offer either 10:1 or 11:1.

As with most live casino games, Evolution’s product is superior. Their interface is clean, easy to use and navigate, and they have detailed road maps showing the shoe’s previous results. They also pay 50:1 for a suited tie, which not all software providers offer.

You’ll find Dragon Tiger at several online casinos. However, I recommend playing at LeoVegas or NoBonus Casino. Both sites offer a vast range of live casino games, accept various payment methods and boast super-fast cashouts, so you don’t have to wait long to receive your winnings!

Fan Tan

Fan Tan is a popular gambling game that originated in China.

It uses a fixed-odds betting system, which means that all winning bets get paid at true odds. As a result, game developers implement their unique mechanics to compensate the casinos offering the game.

Background and History

The exact origins of Fan Tan are unknown. Historians argue it may have developed during the third and fourth centuries during the Qing dynasty.

However, the current name, Fan Tan, only dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. Until 1850, less was known about the origins.

After 1850, however, Fan Tan spread fast. Cantonese immigrants brought it to the USA. It became a famous and popular game in New York City. Fan Tan games were operated illegally in the US, leading to the police closing many underground gambling establishments.

Today, Fan Tan isn’t as popular as it once was. More modern casino games like Baccarat have replaced it. Even the Chinese prefer Pai Gow Poker and MahJong, although Fan Tan is available at a few land-based and online casinos.

How to Play

Fan Tan is a straightforward game to play. It’s played on a special table mat known as a Tan Ching. The croupier selects a random number of beads from a glass dome using a metal cup. A selection stick separates the beads into groups of four until one last line of beads remains in play.

This final line will always contain one, two, three, or four beads. Your goal is to predict how many beads will be at the end.

There are lots of bets available at the Fan Tan table. You can bet whether there will be one, two, three, or four beads at the end of the gameplay.

Some game developers offer other betting options, too.

For example, Evolution offers the “Nim” bet, which covers two numbers instead of one, doubling your chances of winning.

The “Kwok” bet also allows you to pick two numbers. Here, both numbers are winners, so you’re only paid out at half the “Nim” bet rate.

Who Offers Fan Tan and Where to Play

Few reputable online live casino developers offer Fan Tan, the only name worth mentioning is Evolution. Like all of their titles, their Fan Tan game operates from a custom-built studio, and they’ve done an excellent job of keeping the traditional Chinese look and feel of the game. There are detailed game statistics available, along with several side bets.

If you’d like to try Evolution’s Fan Tan, I recommend checking out LeoVegas.

Andar Bahar

Andar Bahar is a popular Indian card game that originated in Bangalore, Karnataka. While it was played almost exclusively by Indian players for a long time, it’s started to appear at Western-facing gambling sites in the last few years. Some notable software providers offer their spin on the game.

Andar Bahar is also known as Katti or Maang Patta. However, these names are generally only used in India. Elsewhere, Andar Bahar is the common name.

Background and History

Andar Bahar is an ancient game originating in India. It used cloth pieces called Krida-Patram, which had highly-flamboyant motifs. While still prevalent in India, it appears in land-based and online casinos worldwide.

The game is straightforward to play, making it an excellent choice for those wanting to try a new game without a learning curve, and no skill is involved when playing online.

How to Play

Andar Bahar uses a standard 52-deck of cards. Two players are required to begin the game, although this includes the dealer.

When you play online, you play solo. The dealer starts by placing the first card face-up on the table. The following cards get placed into two piles. Firstly, there’s the “Andar” pile, which translates to “inside”. Secondly, the “Bahar” pile translates to “outside.”

You need to guess which of these two piles contains the twin card of the first-dealt face-up card.

Once you have placed your bets, the dealer will begin dealing with the cards. Alternating from the Andar to Bahar pile until one of the cards matches the value of the first-drawn card.

Andar Bahar has an RTP of 97.85% when played online. The payouts for the main bet are 1:1 for Andar and 0.9:1 for Bahar. Some game developers offer side bets.

Evolution, for example, offers randomly-assigned multipliers worth up to 4,000X. Ezugi has Ultimate Andar Bahar, where multipliers of up to 500X can appear.

Who Offers Andar Bahar and Where to Play

Several game developers offer Andar Bahar. Evolution, Playtech, Pragmatic Play, Ezugi and Betgames all have variations. Most are similar in design, with the main differences being the side bets offered.

PlayOJO is where I suggest you play to enjoy Evolution Andar Bahar & Playtechs version.

BetVictor offers Pragmatic’s Andar Bahar, while LeoVegas offers Ezugi’s.

At the time of writing, the only site where you’ll find Betgames’ Andar Bahar is Hollywood Bets Casino.

Teen Patti

Teen Patti, also known as Teen Pathi, literally means three cards. This Indian gambling game is popular during the Hindu Festival of Lights, known in the West as Diwali.

The game is almost identical to 3-Card Brag, a popular card game that originated in the UK.

Teen Patti uses a 52 deck of cards, and it’s usually played with between four and seven players in a live environment.

Today, many leading live iGaming studios offer Teen Patti as part of their portfolio.

In Teen Patti, the player plays directly against the dealer. The goal is to form the best three-card poker hand.

Background and History

Teen Patti originated in India and quickly became popular in South Asia.

It’s a highly social game among families and friends, especially during festivities and holidays.

Poker heavily influenced the game, and in some areas of India, it’s known just as Flush.

How to Play

Before a round begins, you must place an ante bet before seeing your cards. Once you’ve placed your ante bet, the dealer will deal two cards to you and themselves. If the dealer’s hand is less than Queen-high, they will not qualify. However, you forfeit your entire stake if you fold your hand before seeing the dealers.

If you like your hand and want to play, you can choose to place a Play bet. Once made, the dealer will turn over their cards and compare the hands. If the dealer does not qualify and you win, the payout is 1:1 on the ante bet. If the dealer does qualify and you win, the ante payout is also 1:1.

The hand rankings of the game are identical to Three-Card Poker. A Mini Royal Flush is the best possible hand, while a high card is the lowest hand ranking. Several game developers offer side bets, too. These include “Pairs Plus” and the “6-Card Bonus”.

Who Offers Teen Patti and Where to Play

Some developers offer Teen Patti, including Evolution, Ezugi, and Playtech. Evolution’s version is what I’d recommend. The game environment is more pleasant than Ezugi and Playtech’s. Their state-of-the-art betting interface combines modern technology with this ancient game.

You can play Evolution’s Teen Patti at LeoVegas Casino. Here, you’ll find Ezugi’s version of the game. If you’d like to play Playtech’s Teen Patti, you can find it at Playojo.

Niu Niu (Bull Bull)

Niu Niu, also known as Bull Bull, is a straightforward card game sometimes referred to as the “Chinese version of poker”.

It’s found primarily in Asian-focused casinos and is yet to make its way to Western-facing sites. Niu Niu uses six 52-card decks, and the gameplay is fast.

Background and History

Unfortunately, we know very little about the origins of Niu Niu. Historians believe it’s been in China for hundreds of years, but nobody knows where or how players have adapted the game.

It appears it has become semi-popular in today’s gambling world because a game developer called AllBet Gaming created their adaptation of the game.

How to Play

Niu Niu is a two-player game between the banker and the player. You must choose between two bets; the flat bet or the double bet. Once you’ve made your bet, the dealer will deal five cards to the player and themselves. Once the cards are on the table, the dealer will flip the first three of their cards over. They look to see if they can add up to make a multiple of 10. If so, this combination is called “The Bull.”

The two remaining cards determine the value. For example, if the dealer’s initial three cards do not reveal a multiple of ten, they will choose the highest-ranking card out of the remaining two and use that card moving forward.

Niu Niu is all about hand values; No Bull, Bull 1, Bull 2, Bull 3, Bull 4, Bull 5, Bull 6, Bull 7, Bull 8, Bull 9, and the 5-Flower Bull.

You need to understand how these hand rankings are calculated before playing, as it can get confusing otherwise.

Essentially, your hand gets compared against the dealers. Using a points-based system, the dealer will determine how many points their hand is worth and compare it against yours. Aces always count as low, and in the result of a tie, suits are used in the following order: spades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds.

If you place an “equal” bet and win, you’ll receive 1:1. However, a 5% commission gets taken. If you place a “double” bet and win, you will receive a payout according to the lengthy paytable. You also pay a 5% commission.

Who Offers Niu Niu and Where to Play

Unfortunately, I could not find any game developers in the UK or Europe currently offering Niu Niu. If and when this changes in the future, I’ll update this page.

Xoc Dia

Xoc Dia uses four coin-shaped tokens in four different colours. You bet on what combination you think these tokens will land in when shaken by the croupier. Essentially, it’s an odd-even game – all of the tokens/chips have two sides with different colours.

Background and History

Xoc Dia is a Vietnamese gambling game. To this day, Vietnamese authorities consider it an illegal game due to alleged links with criminal activity. As a result, the game is most common in the Philippines. Some reports also claim it’s available to play in Macau.

More information about the game is needed. It’s unclear when it arrived in the online gambling market.

How to Play

Xoc Dia requires players to guess what combination the four chips will land in once the dealer has finished shaking them in a bowl. The bet is lost if any part of a player’s guess is wrong.

Once you’ve placed your bets, the dealer will cover the bowl and shake it. They remove one chip at a time and put them on the table. Once all four chips are on the table, the dealer will calculate awards and payouts.

Xoc Dia offers a few betting options. For example, you can stick to near 50/50 bets by guessing whether there will be more even or odd chips showing. Or you can attempt to guess specific combinations for larger payouts.

Who Offers Xoc Dia and Where to Play

Only two game developers currently offer Xoc Dia; Asia Tech Live and Vivo Gaming. However, the latter doesn’t appear to provide Xoc Dia as a live product, simply stating on their website that it’s “available on request”.

One of the only online casinos where you can play Xoc Dia is at www.12macau.com. However, I don’t play here regularly, and I don’t have much experience with Asia Tech Live, so proceed with caution and do your due diligence.

Belangkai (King Crab)

Belangkai, also known as King Crab, is a simple casino game played on a spinner with four sides. The player must bet which symbol will appear once the spinner has finished spinning.

Background and History

Belangkai was developed in Malaysia and translated into King Crab. Malaysians are also known to call it Blangkas.

According to one website, Belangkai is gradually gaining traction in the Philippines. It’s also reportedly popular in China. However, all forms of gambling are illegal in China.

This game is likely played for fun most of the time. It could be available in land-based casinos in Macau, but I’ve been unable to verify this myself.

How to Play

Belangkai uses a unique spinner which has four sides. Each side has a symbol; a King Crab, a Fish, a Prawn, and a Flower. Players place a bet on which character will appear on top once the spinner has completed its spin.

To begin, the player makes one of the following bets. For example, you can place a straight-up bet, guessing which of the four symbols will appear on top, which pays between 2.85/1 and 2.9/1.

There is a second betting option. You can cover two symbols out of six possible combinations. This bet will pay 0.95/1 for a win, with a 5% commission taken by the house.

Because no leading online gambling developers currently offer Belangkai, it’s hard to pinpoint specific rules or payouts.

There is a lack of information about the game. It appears available in Asia, although it doesn’t look like a popular game.

It’s also not overly practical for a live casino environment. A spinner with four sides doesn’t offer many betting opportunities, so it’s unlikely we’ll see leading game studios releasing the game soon!

Who Offers Belangkai and Where to Play

At the time of writing, the only software provider offering Belangkai is Asia Live Tech. I rarely play at Asia Live Tech tables, so I can’t recommend them from first-hand experience. The game developer focuses mainly on Asian casino table games and works with Bitcoin and other crypto-focused online casinos. They are not licensed in the UK, based instead in Cambodia.

If you’d like to try out the games from Asia Live Tech, one of the only sites I know about is www.12macau.com. However, I have never played here, and they’re not UK-licensed, so I’d recommend proceeding with extreme caution.