Mobile payments surge as card turnover declines in Q2

Macau residents are increasingly turning to mobile payments, with both transaction values and volumes rising in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, according to the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM).

The total value of mobile payment transactions reached MOP8.12 billion by the end of June, up 2.3% from the previous quarter, while the number of transactions climbed 8.4% to just under 98 million.

Meanwhile, the city’s contactless payment infrastructure continued to expand, with 111,452 mobile payment terminals and QR code signs now in operation.

With regard to card payments, credit card turnover declined slightly to MOP5.87 billion in Q2, a decrease of 0.1% from Q1’s MOP5.88 billion and down 1.3% compared to MOP5.95 billion in the same quarter last year.

Debit card turnover also declined sharply to MOP434 million, a drop of 7% from the previous quarter and 26.4% lower than the MOP589.6 million recorded in Q2.

Despite these turnover declines, credit card transactions rose 6.3% quarter-on-quarter to 12.5 million, up from 11.78 million in Q1 and 11.24 million a year earlier.

The average transaction amount via mobile payments stood at MOP82.8, reflecting consumers’ preference for low-value, high-frequency spending through digital wallets.

Credit card credit limits granted by local banks fell marginally by 0.5% quarter-on-quarter to MOP50.3 billion as of end-June, but remained above the MOP49.4 billion seen in the same period a year earlier.

Total credit card receivables were reported by the AMCM at MOP2.8 billion, with the rollover amount – balances carried over month to month – comprising 26.9% or MOP741.7 million of that figure.

Cash advance turnover for credit cards was recorded at MOP143 million, representing 2.4% of total credit card turnover.

The number of debit card transactions, excluding cash withdrawals, totaled 1.8 million this quarter.