Table Game

Banca Francesa is a traditional Portuguese dice game played only in Portuguese casinos. Three dice are thrown and players bet on one of three outcomes: Pequeno (Small), Grande (Big) or Ases (Aces). For players aged 18 or over.

Despite its name — literally "French Bank" — Banca Francesa has all but disappeared outside Portugal and is now a signature game of Portuguese casinos: visitors will not find it anywhere else. It is also one of the fastest and simplest table games in the casino: there are only three possible bets, each throw takes only seconds, and no complex strategy or in-round decisions are required.

How do you play Banca Francesa?

1. Exchange cash for chips at the table or at the casino cashier.

2. Place your chips on one of the three betting areas marked on the layout: Pequeno (Small), Grande (Big) or Ases (Aces). You may bet on more than one area in the same round.

3. Keep within the table limits.

4. The dealer throws the three dice.

5. If the total of the three dice is 5, 6 or 7, bets on Pequeno win.

6. If the total is 14, 15 or 16, bets on Grande win.

7. If all three dice show a 1 (total of 3), bets on Ases win.

8. Any other total (4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17 or 18) is not decisive: all bets stay on the table and the dice are thrown again until a decisive result comes up.

9. Winning bets are paid immediately and a new round begins.