E-coupons can be used every day each week
The government announced yesterday that it will launch a new round of its community e-coupon consumption stimulation programme next month. Several changes will be introduced to this new round’s modus operandi, compared to the previous round implemented earlier this year.
In the previous round – lasting 10 weeks between April 10 and June 18 – e-wallet users had the chance to win e-coupons on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and had to use them between the immediately following Mondays and Thursdays; otherwise, they were to expire.
In the new round starting next month, e-wallet users will also have the chance to win e-coupons with a purchase on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but they can then use the coupons for the next purchase on the same day right after winning them. The period for using the won coupons will run through to the following Thursday. This means that an e-wallet user will have up to seven days to use the coupons each week before they expire.
As with previous rounds, the upcoming new round of the programme will be run by the Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) in collaboration with the Macao Chamber of Commerce (ACM), colloquially known in Cantonese as Chung Chung. The programme will be implemented with the assistance of the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM).
The programme’s new round was announced during a press conference at the bureau’s headquarters in Nam Van yesterday.
The new round will run between October 9 and December 17, also lasting 10 weeks.
Unchanged from previous rounds, in the new round, all real-name authenticated users of any of the eight e-wallets covered by the programme, regardless of whether they are local residents or non-locals, who have spent at least 50 patacas in a purchase at participating businesses will then have three chances to win e-coupons with a face value of 10 patacas, 20 patacas, 50 patacas, 100 patacas, or 200 patacas.
However, each authenticated e-wallet account will be entitled to up to three draws per week, regardless of the number of 50-pataca-plus transactions made during the period.
Unchanged from previous rounds, in the new round, each e-coupon stored in the smartphone user’s e-wallet will be automatically redeemed in a purchase if the transaction amount is at least three times the face value of the coupon.
If the e-wallet has more than one coupon at the same time, the e-payment platform will automatically validate one or more coupons after the user spends at least three times the total value of these coupons.
Addressing the press conference, DSEDT Director Yau Yun Wah said that the government decided to change the programme’s modus operandi (coupons can be used every day each week) with the aim of making it more convenient for residents to use their e-coupons – thereby enhancing their consumption flexibility, while also encouraging them to stay more often in Macau to spend money during weekends.
In all previous rounds implemented before the round earlier this year, smartphone users received their e-coupons in their e-wallets between Mondays and Fridays and had to use them on the immediately following Saturdays and Sundays.
2 new types of coupons
According to Yau, in addition to the changes to the days each week when e-wallet users can win and use e-coupons (the normal ones financed by the government with a face value of 10 patacas, 20 patacas, 50 patacas, 100 patacas, or 200 patacas), the upcoming round will include two new types of coupons, which will be offered by shops, restaurants, and other businesses.
Yau said that the two new types of coupons aim to highlight government-business collaboration in boosting community consumption.
The first new type of coupon will provide a 12-pataca discount on a purchase of 100 patacas or more.
The second new type of coupon will offer a free gift upon spending a certain amount. The gifts and the spending thresholds will be determined by the participating businesses. For instance, Yau said, a restaurant can offer a patron a free snack or side dish if he or she spends 100 patacas or more.
Different to the normal e-coupons with a face value of between 10 patacas and 200 patacas financed by the government, these two new types of e-coupons will be paid for by the participating businesses.
As with the normal e-coupons, e-wallet users will also have the chance to win the two new types of e-coupons on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and can then use them through the immediately following Thursday.
The three chances of winning e-coupons each time will include the normal e-coupons and the two new types of e-coupons.
5 rounds previously
The government first rolled out its community e-coupon consumption stimulation programme in 2024, but only for the peninsula’s northern district at that time. The government launched the programme once again later the same year, with that round extended to the whole city. Afterwards, the government launched two rounds of the programme last year, covering businesses across the city.
After a round launched earlier this year (also a citywide one), the government will now launch a new round next month.
As previously, this time the government-financed e-coupons cannot be used in certain types of transactions and businesses, such as water and electricity bills, large supermarket chains, and all shops and businesses in resorts and properties run by the city’s six gaming operators.
Yau said that large supermarket chains and shops and businesses in gaming resorts can nevertheless offer their customers the newly introduced 12-pataca discount e-coupons.
E-coupons for seniors
In the new round, according to the press conference, senior citizens can continue to receive an additional 500-pataca e-coupon by topping up their version of Macau Pass cards at over 100 designated service points across the city.
Only local residents aged at least 65 are entitled to apply for a Senior Citizen Macau Pass card.
As previously, senior citizens can use the e-coupons on their Macau Pass cards every day during the programme’s period. When a senior citizen makes a purchase, half of the transaction’s amount will be paid by the e-coupons, while the other half will be deducted from the card’s remaining balance that he or she has top-up loaded with their own money. Consequently, with the 500-pataca e-coupons to be provided by the government, senior citizens can buy goods and services worth 1,000 patacas in total, with the other 500 patacas paid with their own money.
E-coupons for people with disabilities
Moreover, in the new round, according to the press conference, people with disabilities can continue to receive an additional 500-pataca e-coupon.
Holders of government-issued Disability Assessment Registration Cards will receive their 500-pataca e-coupons by topping up their version of Macau Pass cards at over 100 designated service points across the city, an arrangement similar to that for senior citizens.
A Disability Assessment Registration Card is only issued to local residents. Disabled residents need to be assessed by the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) first before they can get the card.
Those holding a Disability Assessment Registration Card are entitled to apply for a Disability Macau Pass card.
Senior Citizen Macau Pass cards and Disability Macau Pass cards entitle their holders to free public bus and Light Rapid Transit (LRT) rides.
As previously, the modus operandi of the use of e-coupons on Disability Macau Pass cards will be the same as that for Senior Citizen Macau Pass cards.
Yau said that the government expects to spend 468 million patacas on the programme’s upcoming new round, comprising 400 million patacas for e-coupons issued to those using any of the eight e-wallets and 67.5 million patacas for e-coupons issued to holders of Senior Citizen Macau Pass cards and Disability Macau Pass cards.
Economic and Technological Development Bureau (DSEDT) Director Yau Yun Wah speaks during yesterday’s press conference at the bureau’s headquarters in Nam Van. – Photo: Tony Wong
