4D
How 4D Works in Malaysia: Box vs iBox, Big vs Small and Roll
In 4D you choose a number from 0000 to 9999. Each draw produces 23 winning numbers: 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes plus ten Special and ten Consolation numbers. A Big bet wins on any of the 23 at lower prizes; a Small bet wins only on the top three, at higher prizes.
By M2WIN Editorial Team, M2WIN Editorial · Reviewed 2026-10-07 · 6 min read
4D is one of the most familiar games in Malaysia. Many families have a favourite number from a car plate, a birthday or a dream. The rules are simple once you see them laid out, but the bet types (Big, Small, Box, iBox, Roll) change both the cost and the payout in ways that are easy to misread. This guide explains each one with worked examples.
The draw: 23 winning numbers
Every 4D draw produces these four-digit numbers:
| Prize | How many numbers |
|---|---|
| 1st prize | 1 |
| 2nd prize | 1 |
| 3rd prize | 1 |
| Special | 10 |
| Consolation | 10 |
That gives 23 winning numbers out of 10,000 possible ones. Your number has to match one of them exactly, digit for digit and in the same order, unless you bought a Box or iBox (more on those below).
Big and Small
Every straight 4D bet is either Big or Small. The difference is which of the 23 numbers count.
- Big wins if your number matches any of the 23 winning numbers. Because there are more ways to win, each prize is lower.
- Small wins only if your number is the 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize. There are only three ways to win, so each prize is higher.
Prize amounts per RM1 are set by each draw operator and shown on the ticket screen. On the common prize table Small pays more than Big for the top three prizes (about 1.4 times for 1st and twice for 2nd and 3rd), but pays nothing for Special and Consolation.
Which is better?
Neither has better long-run value; they simply spread the same kind of risk differently. Big gives you more frequent small wins. Small concentrates everything on the three main prizes. Many players buy both on the same number: for example RM1 Big and RM1 Small.
Box: cover every order of your digits
A normal bet only wins if the digits come out in exactly your order. A Box buys every arrangement of your four digits as separate full bets.
- Four different digits, such as 1234, have 24 arrangements. A RM1 Big Box costs RM24.
- One repeated digit, such as 1123, has 12 arrangements, so RM12.
- Two pairs, such as 1122, have 6 arrangements.
- Three of a kind, such as 1112, has 4 arrangements.
Each arrangement is a full RM1 bet, so if 3412 wins 1st prize you are paid the full 1st prize for a RM1 bet. The cost is that you paid for all 24 arrangements.
iBox: the same cover for the price of one bet
An iBox covers the same arrangements as a Box but costs only the amount you choose, for example RM1 in total. The catch is the payout: the prize is divided by the number of arrangements.
Example: you buy RM1 Big iBox on 1234 (24 arrangements). If 4321 wins 1st prize, you receive the RM1 1st prize divided by 24. A Box would have paid the full prize but cost RM24. An iBox costs RM1 and pays one twenty-fourth.
In other words, Box and iBox give the same chance of winning; Box simply bets more money. iBox suits players who care about the digits but not their order and want to keep the stake small.
Roll: one digit changes
A Roll replaces one position with every digit from 0 to 9. Rolling the last digit of 123R buys 1230, 1231, and so on up to 1239: ten separate bets. It suits players who are sure of three digits but not the fourth.
Draw days and operators
Regular draws are held on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, with occasional special draws, usually on a Tuesday, announced by the operators. Through Ekor at M2WIN you can place numbers for Magnum 4D, Sports Toto and Da Ma Cai. One number can be bought for more than one operator on the same draw date; each counts as a separate bet. Ticket sales close shortly before each draw.
How to read your chances
With 10,000 possible numbers, a single straight Small bet has 3 chances in 10,000 of winning anything. A Big bet has 23 chances in 10,000. That is why 4D is best treated as a small weekly flutter. No pattern, hot number or dream book changes those odds: each draw is independent of the last.
A simple way to play
- Pick your number and decide Big, Small or both.
- Decide whether order matters to you. If not, use iBox to keep the cost down.
- Choose the operators and draw date.
- Set a fixed weekly amount and stick to it, whatever happened last draw.
Ready to try? The 4D page explains how to buy through Ekor. If you have not funded your account yet, start with our deposit guide.
Worked example: one number, four ways
Suppose your number is 2580 and your weekly budget is RM24. Here are four ways to spend it:
| Option | Cost | Wins if | Payout size |
|---|---|---|---|
| RM12 Big + RM12 Small on 2580 | RM24 | 2580 exactly is drawn | Large on the top three prizes |
| RM1 Big Box on 2580 | RM24 | Any order of 2, 5, 8, 0 is drawn | Full RM1 prize |
| RM24 Big iBox on 2580 | RM24 | Any order of 2, 5, 8, 0 is drawn | RM24 prize divided by 24, the same as a RM1 full prize |
| RM1 Big on 2580 with 3 operators over 8 draws | RM24 | 2580 exactly, any operator | Full RM1 prize each time |
Notice that the Box and the RM24 iBox give exactly the same result for the same money. The choice between them is really about how you like to size your stake.
Frequently asked questions
Are some numbers luckier than others?
No. Every number from 0000 to 9999 has the same chance in every draw. Numbers that appeared recently are no more or less likely to appear again.
What happens if two prizes go to my number?
If the same number wins in more than one prize category, each category is paid according to the operator's rules shown on the ticket screen.
Play responsibly
4D should cost about the same as a weekend snack, not a monthly bill. If you catch yourself increasing stakes to win back last week's money, take a break. Our responsible gambling page lists tools and helplines.