KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 17): Sports Toto Bhd (KL:SPTOTO) raised its dividend payout as earnings in the recently ended quarter surged with sharply lower direct costs and indirect expenses.

Net profit for the three months ended June 30, 2026 (4QFY2026), was RM62.54 million, an increase of 55% when compared to the same quarter last year, the lottery operator and luxury car retailer said in an exchange filing. Revenue for the quarter fell 4.9% year-on-year to RM1.55 billion.

Sports Toto plans to distribute the fourth interim dividend per share of three sen payable Oct 16, lifting the total payout for the financial year to 11 sen from eight sen previously.

The outlook for the new financial year is "positive", Sports Toto said, noting that its businesses are expected to deliver “stable” performance.

For the full FY2026, net profit totalled RM188.86 million, a decline of 19% from a year earlier, as revenue fell with a lower number of draws. Further, lower vehicle sales and currency pressures from a stronger ringgit sent HR Owen into the red.

Sports Toto said it is in talks to restart its lottery operations in Kedah after the recent legal victory.

On Aug 12, Malaysia’s highest court denied the Kedah government’s bid to restore a ban on lottery operations in the state.

Known as “toto”, “4D”, “kedai empat nombor ekor”, number forecast or pool betting businesses, lottery operators have been unable to open their physical outlets in Kedah since 2023 despite holding federal business licences.