Gaming to Travel Spends: What Changes for ICICI Credit Card Users in 2026

ICICI Bank has announced a fresh set of changes to its credit card charges and reward structures, set to take effect from January 2026, with phased implementation continuing through February.

The revised rules will impact gaming transactions, travel spends, entertainment offers, wallet loading, and foreign currency usage, prompting cardholders to reassess their spending patterns to avoid higher costs and reduced benefits.

New Charges on Online Gaming Transactions

ICICI Bank will introduce a 2% fee on online gaming transactions carried out on platforms such as Dream11, MPL, Rummy Culture, and Junglee Games.

The charge will apply to wallet top-ups, deposits, and similar gaming-related payments. The bank has also stated that the fee will extend to new gaming merchant categories added in the future.

BookMyShow Offer Now Linked to Minimum Spend

The popular BookMyShow Buy-One-Get-One movie ticket benefit will no longer be unconditional.

To qualify for the offer, cardholders must now spend at least ₹25,000 in the previous calendar quarter. From February 2026, Instant Platinum credit card users will lose access to the offer entirely, while other eligible cards can continue to avail it subject to the spending threshold.

Higher Costs and Reward Caps on Travel Spending

High-value transportation spends will become costlier. A 1% fee will be levied on transport-related transactions exceeding ₹50,000, impacting expensive travel bookings under select merchant category codes.

In addition, reward points on railway and bus bookings will be capped monthly:

• Premium cards such as Emeralde and Sapphiro will earn rewards only up to ₹20,000 per month

• Mid-tier cards will have a lower cap of ₹10,000 per month

Wallet Loading and Foreign Spend Revisions

Loading money into third-party wallets like Paytm, Amazon Pay, and MobiKwik will attract a 1% fee on transactions of ₹5,000 or more.

ICICI Bank has also revised foreign currency markup and dynamic currency conversion charges, with rates now varying based on card category.

Other Key Revisions

Additional changes include:

• Higher branch cash payment charges

• Introduction of foreclosure fees on cancelled Instant EMIs

• HPCL Super Saver credit card users will continue earning rewards on insurance payments only up to ₹40,000 per month

What Cardholders Should Do

With multiple fee hikes and reward caps coming into effect, ICICI credit card users are advised to review spending habits, particularly in gaming, travel, and wallet transactions, to minimise additional charges in 2026.