There are numerical lotteries in virtually any part of India, for instance, popular Matka lottery in Mumbai. However, Kolkata Fatafat lottery seems to be exceptional compared to other lotteries of Kolkata. On the one hand, the game survived, and, on the other hand, it became an integral part of Kolkata culture. Let us consider distinctive features of Kolkata Fatafat, which led to popularity of this game.
The Culture of Adda Was Created for It
Everybody knows about adda in Kolkata. Adda characterizes the way people get together and discuss absolutely anything from football to philosophy and politics. Tea stalls, paan shops, para corners work due to adda culture. Discussion of current Patti, prediction of future Baji, or discussion of winning numbers became the new theme of adda.
Low Amount of Bets Corresponded to the Needs of Local Population
Everybody knows about huge working-class population of Kolkata and relatively poor financial condition of the citizens of the city. Lottery, whose amount is ₹100 or ₹500, would never become popular in such a city. Low amount of bets starting from ₹1 and ₹5 corresponded to the needs of the local population. It is another reason for popularity of Kolkata FF.
The Pace of the City Correlated With the Pace of the Game
It is surprising, but under all the impressions about the slow pace of the city, there is the process of fast decision making: trams change their routes, fast bargaining takes place in the market places, quick goals are scored during the football matches. Besides, “fatafat” nature of the game, when 8 draws take place in one day and the result of the game is given in minutes, correlates perfectly with the hidden side of the city. Slow lotteries with one draw per day are boring in comparison with this game.
Bengalis Love Charts
Indeed, Bengali culture is famous by the great love to charts, patterns, data, and analysis. Whatever it may be: cricket statistics, political forecast, or family astrological signs. Bengalis like keeping the charts of everything. Kolkata Fatafat lottery, including the history of results and 220 Patti chart, was created specifically for analytical approach. People spend hours analyzing these charts.
Legal Ambiguity of the Game in Kolkata
After the banning of Satta Matka in Maharashtra, Kolkata Fatafat remained in the state of legal ambiguity in West Bengal. Neither legalized nor banned, this lottery was not actively prosecuted for many years. Legal ambiguity of the game gave an opportunity for its development in tea stalls and neighborhoods in the case of Kolkata Fatafat, while this lottery was banned in Mumbai, and other regions did not have such conditions.
Community-Based Trust System
Kolkata is the city with close communities of paras, where everybody knows everybody – neighbors, bookies, and tea uncles. Community-based trust became the key factor of the success of the game. Gambler trusted his local bookie, since he could see him every day and drink a cup of tea with him. Bookie trusted the regular gambler since the reputation was the main thing. Community-based trust system supported the game even without any digital technology.
Conclusion
Kolkata Fatafat became popular in Kolkata owing to specific conditions of the city. All the above-mentioned factors were required for the success of the game, and if even one of them would be missing, the game would not become popular.
