Page 30 - Public Gaming International September/October 2017

INTERVIEWS

PUBLIC GAMING Dato Lawrence

LIM SWEE LIN

Chief Executive Officer,
Magnum Corporation Sdn Bhd, Malaysia

Jackpot GOLD and 4D Jackpot Powerball.
Paul Jason:
PGRI Introduction: Chairman, Asia Pacific Lottery Association

In 1968, Magnum Corporation (MCSB) Please describe your portfolio of products and 4D Classic (which is the traditional 4digit
fixed odds game) is still the most popular
became the first private company to be channel mix. game in Malaysia. The same phenomenon
awarded the license by the Malaysian Dato Lawrence Lim Swee Lin: is also experienced here in that the
Government to operate the hugely Magnum pioneered the offering of customers will follow where the Jackpot
su c c e s s fu l legalized fixed odds 4 Digit Numbers level is high but the absolute amount is still
4Digit numbers game in Malaysia. In 2009, Magnum lower than the 4D Classic game.
f or e ca s t designed and copyrighted the first of its
betting game kind combination of the popular 4Digit This year we introduced a fractional play
in Malaysia. game with a Jackpot element, which is to enable our customers to cover more
Magnum is popularly called the 4D Jackpot game. bets but pay less and still get a share of the
listed on the This game primarily attracts players from Jackpot amount. This is very well received
Main Stock Exchange Board in Kuala the illegal market. Owing to the popularity and supported by our customers.
Lumpur, Malaysia, and is the first Lottery of this game, Magnum later also designed
in Asia to obtain the WLA SCS certifica- and rolled out the Jackpot Gold and 4D Is the regulatory framework set so that it is
tion. There are a total of three private Powerball games. Again, leveraging on the not likely to change in the coming years? Or
National Lottery Operators licensed by strengths in combining a fixed odd with a do you expect that more games will be licensed,
the Malaysian Government all fighting for pari-mutuel element to create the winning and online or other methods of distribution
the same customers. Malaysia is predom- experience. allowed?
inantly a Muslim majority country and
gambling is prohibited under the Muslim Dato Lawrence Lim Swee Lin:
religion. Magnum currently can only sell via its It is about convincing the authorities the
physical retail outlets; reason being the rationale for game changes: to appreciate
Dato Lawrence Lim Swee Lin graduated current legislation does not permit any the impact that legalized, regulated, and
from the University of Sheffield, UK with online channels. taxed games have over the illegals, and the
a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics loss in revenue that occurs if we cannot
(Honours) and a Master Degree of What games are offered by MCSB in compete with them. More importantly,
Business Administration from the Victoria Malaysia? Which games are trending up? the game itself must be what the players
University of Manchester, UK. “Dato” is will find interesting and will play! As
a title conferred by the royal sultans in Dato Lawrence Lim Swee Lin: far as alternative channels like online are
Malaysia and is awarded to key person- Like all Jackpot based games, when the concerned, it is more challenging as that
alities in the country. With experience in Jackpot level is high, the customer response requires legislative changes to allow it.
the Merchant Banking and Manufacturing is more intense. However the 4 Digit
sectors, Lawrence joined the Magnum number games are still the more popular I had the pleasure of attending your fabu-
Group in the year 2000 and has held the game here. The games offered by MCSB in lous Transform or be Disrupted conference
helm since 2008. Malaysia are 4D Classic, 4D Jackpot, 4D
Continued on page 69
30 // PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL // SEPTEMBER /OCTOBER 2017