ICICI reworks rewards: Emeralde stops earning on rent, fuel, govt & tax; 2% gaming fee added
From January 2026, ICICI's Emeralde Metal drops reward earning on several everyday categories and ICICI adds a 2% fee on online gaming platforms like Dream11 and MPL.
ICICI Bank tightened reward rules across its card portfolio, with most changes live from 15 January 2026.
What changed
- Emeralde Metal no longer earns reward points on government services, fuel, rent, property management, tax payments, and third-party wallet spends.
- A 2% fee now applies to transactions on online gaming platforms: Dream11, Rummy Culture, Junglee Games, MPL and similar.
- Additional reward caps and a higher DCC (dynamic currency conversion) fee also apply.
Who's hit
Emeralde holders who used the card for high-value "utility" categories (rent, tax, government payments) lose reward earning entirely on those. Anyone funding online gaming/fantasy platforms via an ICICI card now pays 2% on top.
What to do
Rent and tax payments were often the whole reason people put big spends on a rewards card. With those zeroed out on Emeralde, route them where they still earn (or where the fee is lowest). Polo Brain can tell you which card in your wallet is best for a specific merchant or category in seconds.
Cards affected
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