What is 4D in Malaysia?
4D is a fixed-odds numbers game: you pick a four-digit number, choose how to bet on it, and the operator pays a fixed amount per RM1 if your number comes up. Each draw produces 23 winning numbers: a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize, 10 Special and 10 Consolation prizes5. The two basic bets are Big and Small. A Big bet wins on any of the 23 numbers; a Small bet wins only on the top three and pays more for them. Per RM1, the 1st prize is RM2,500 on Big4 and RM3,500 on Small4. The Big vs Small guide compares them tier by tier.
Who runs 4D in Malaysia?
Three companies hold licences for 4D in Peninsular Malaysia, each under a federal law:
| Operator | Company | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Magnum 4D | Magnum Corporation Sdn Bhd, owned by Magnum Berhad6 | Section 5, Pool Betting Act 1967, renewed every year since 19696 |
| Sports Toto | STM Lottery Sdn Bhd, under Sports Toto Berhad7 | Section 5, Pool Betting Act 19677 |
| Da Ma Cai | Pan Malaysian Pools Sdn Bhd8 | Racing (Totalisator Board) Act 19618 |
All three publish the same Big and Small prize tables. They differ in claim periods, outlet payout limits, side games and digital tools; the Magnum vs Sports Toto vs Da Ma Cai comparison sets these side by side. For the wider law on gambling, see is gambling legal in Malaysia?
Who can buy 4D tickets in Malaysia?
Only adults aged 21 and over can buy 4D, and the operators that state a religion rule limit sales to non-Muslims. Da Ma Cai’s FAQ says its games are for people aged 21 or over who are non-Muslim2. Sports Toto’s FAQ, which we could read only as a search excerpt, gives the same two conditions9. Magnum states that no one under 21 may buy a ticket or claim a prize; the Magnum pages we read do not mention a religion rule1.
When are the 4D draws held?
Regular 4D draws take place three times a week, on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, at 7pm:
- Da Ma Cai: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, plus Tuesday special draws set by the Ministry of Finance2, at 7.00pm3.
- Magnum: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, with special draws usually on a Tuesday10, at 7pm10.
- Sports Toto: Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday9, at 7.00pm at Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur9.
Special-draw dates for 2026 are not published in one place we could check, so confirm the date on your ticket.
Can you buy 4D through an app?
The legal position on buying 4D through an app is unsettled in our sources. Vulcan Post reported in October 2026 that the operators’ licences cover their outlets, not apps11. Da Ma Cai, however, runs its own member service, dmcGO, which takes bets by app and phone2, and its page names no licensing authority. Magnum’s app tool only prepares a QR code that you take to an outlet to buy the ticket12. The online gambling law explainer covers the wider rules.
Which 4D guide do you need?
The 4D guides below cover how to play, working out a payout and boxing a number.
- New to 4D: how to play 4D, from choosing a number to claiming a prize.
- Working out a payout: the 4D prize calculator and prize table.
- Boxing a number: iBox and permutations.
4D is a form of gambling. If it stops being fun, our responsible gambling page lists free help in Malaysia.