24×cost of BOX against iBOX on RM1
Plenty of people fancy a number but are not sure of the order: they dreamt of 1, 2, 3 and 4, but is it 1234 or 4321? This is when the counter asks whether you want BOX or iBOX.
The two names differ by one letter. The money can differ by 24 times.
First, count the permutations
How many permutations a number has depends on whether any digit repeats:
| Type of number | Example | Permutations | How many of the 10,000 numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four different digits | 1234 | 24 | 5,040 |
| One pair | 1123 | 12 | 4,320 |
| Three the same | 1112 | 4 | 360 |
| Two pairs | 1122 | 6 | 270 |
| Four the same | 1111 | 1 | 10 |
The last column is our own count: from 0000 to 9999, just over half of all numbers have four different digits. So if you pick a number at random, there is an even chance it needs 24 permutations to cover.
BOX: every permutation is a full ticket
BOX RM1 means RM1 on each permutation. 1234 has 24 permutations, so you pay RM24.
The upside is that whichever permutation is drawn, you are paid in full. If the Big 1st prize is 3241, you get RM3,500, the same as buying 3241 on its own. (Payouts in this article follow the STAR4D odds table.)
iBOX: one stake shared by every permutation
iBOX RM1 costs only RM1. That ringgit is split evenly across the 24 permutations, so each one holds 1/24 of it. If the 1st prize is 3241, the payout is 3,500 ÷ 24 ≈ RM145.83.
For the same RM1 iBOX, the more a number repeats, the more each permutation holds:
| Number | Permutations | iBOX RM1 payout on the Big 1st prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1234 | 24 | RM145.83 |
| 1123 | 12 | RM291.67 |
| 1122 | 6 | RM583.33 |
| 1112 | 4 | RM875.00 |
A straight bet on one number pays RM3,500 for the Big 1st prize
But the more a number repeats, the fewer permutations it has, and the fewer numbers can win for you. The two cancel out exactly.
The return is the same
Think of BOX as buying 24 tickets at once. Each one returns RM0.86 per RM1 on Big over time (worked out here), and 24 of them together still return 0.86. iBOX shrinks each ticket to 1/24; the ratio does not change, so it is 0.86 as well.
So BOX does not make it "easier to win money". It only lets you hold more tickets at once. You win more often, and you spend more in the same proportion.
How to choose
The only real question is your budget:
- You are willing to put RM24 or more on one set of digits in a draw, and want the full payout if it wins: choose BOX.
- Your budget is a few ringgit, and you do not want to leave any permutation out: choose iBOX, and accept a small payout.
- You really only fancy two orders (say 1234 and 4321): buy the two numbers straight, or use reverse (
*1234*) to buy just those two. It costs far less than covering all 24.
The most common mistake is to think BOX RM1 costs one ringgit. Count the permutations before you bet, or check how each bet is written in the BOX and iBOX guide.
