Latest Rules And Regulations By The Indian Government On “kolkata Fatafat (ff)” — What You Need To Know (aug 22, 2025)

By Author: Suraj Mondal
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The short answer is: in India, lotteries and gambling are tightly regulated, and anything that looks like a privately-run lottery or betting scheme is generally prohibited unless it is explicitly organised by a State Government under the central lottery law. Below is a clear, up-to-date guide to the framework that governs Kolkata FF–type games.

1) Central law: Only States can run lotteries (and they must follow strict conditions)

India’s lottery framework is set by the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998 and the Lotteries (Regulation) Rules, 2010. These provide that only a State Government may organise a lottery (paper or online), and it must comply with detailed conditions such as notifying each scheme in the Official Gazette, stating the prize structure, periodicity of draws, ticket printing standards, publication of results, audit requirements, and limits like not more than 24 draws per day across schemes. Selling or organising a lottery in violation of these provisions attracts penal consequences.
India Code
upload.indiacode.nic.in
Indian Kanoon

Key implications for Kolkata FF:

If a particular “Kolkata FF ...
... �� scheme is not a state-run lottery notified by the Government of West Bengal, it does not fall under the permitted category and risks being unlawful under the central Act and its Rules.
India Code
Indian Kanoon

2) State law in West Bengal: Gambling offences exist outside the official lottery channel

Apart from the central lottery regime, West Bengal’s specific anti-gambling law—the West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competitions Act, 1957—criminalises operating or assisting a “common gaming house” and related gambling activities. This is the state-level backbone for law enforcement against privately-run betting/number games outside any authorised lottery framework.
India Code
Indian Kanoon

Takeaway: If a Kolkata FF operation is private (not state-run), it can attract prosecution under this state law, in addition to the lottery prohibitions above.
India Code

3) Advertising crackdown: Government advisories prohibit promoting betting/lottery look-alikes

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) has repeatedly warned TV, print, digital platforms, and especially social media influencers not to advertise or surrogate-advertise offshore betting and gambling platforms. In March 2024, MIB specifically cautioned influencers and intermediaries; earlier advisories (2022–2023) barred such ads on TV and digital media. Although these advisories targeted “offshore” platforms, the principle is that advertising illegal betting/gambling is prohibited; platforms and endorsers risk takedowns and other action.
Press Information Bureau
mib.gov.in
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cbfcindia.gov.in

Implication for Kolkata FF promotion: Any promotion that amounts to advertising a non-authorised betting/lottery service (or a surrogate for it) is barred on mainstream and social media channels.
Press Information Bureau

4) IT rules for online games: Wagering is not “permissible”

In April 2023, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 were amended to cover online gaming. The rules introduce the concept of a “permissible online real money game” and due-diligence obligations for platforms. Importantly, games that involve wagering on any outcome are not permissible. Intermediaries are expected to restrict such content, and the government has been issuing blocking directions against betting/gambling sites.
MeitY
Press Information Bureau
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What this means: If a Kolkata FF service is offered online and involves staking money on outcomes, it does not qualify as a permissible online game under the IT Rules framework and may be subject to takedown/blocking.
MeitY
Press Information Bureau

5) Fresh policy movement in 2025: Parliament advances a nationwide crackdown on money-based online gaming

As of August 21–22, 2025, national media report that Parliament has passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which bans online games involving monetary transactions (money-based gaming), with enforcement and ad restrictions to follow once it receives Presidential assent and is notified. While implementation details are pending, the intent is an even stricter national stance on digital betting/gambling.
Reuters
The Times of India
The Economic Times

Practical lens: If notified into force, this law would further prohibit any Kolkata-FF-type online money game nationwide, over and above existing lottery and state gambling restrictions. Keep an eye on official notifications for commencement dates and specific rules.
Reuters

6) Tax treatment (if and where lawful): 30% tax on lottery-style winnings; separate TDS for online gaming

For lottery-style winnings, the Income-tax Act taxes such income at a flat 30% under Section 115BB; TDS applies under Section 194B when thresholds are met. Separately, for online gaming platforms, Section 194BA (effective FY 2023-24) introduced TDS on net winnings during the year—reflecting the government’s focus on real-money gaming. (This does not legalise gambling; it only prescribes tax on winnings where applicable.)
India Today

Bottom line on taxes: If (and only if) a draw is part of a lawful, state-run lottery, winnings are taxable under the lottery provisions. Participating in an unlawful private lottery/betting scheme may still expose the player to tax obligations if winnings are credited, but it does not make the underlying activity legal.

7) So, is “Kolkata FF” legal?

Legal only if: It is explicitly organised and notified by the Government of West Bengal as a state lottery scheme that adheres to the 1998 Act and 2010 Rules (draw limits, Gazette notification, publication of results, audits, etc.).
Indian Kanoon

Otherwise: A privately-run Kolkata FF or similar number-guessing/betting operation—especially online—is not permitted. It may violate the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998, the IT Rules framework (wagering ban), and the West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competitions Act, 1957, and can also run afoul of MIB advertising advisories if promoted.
India Code
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MeitY
Press Information Bureau

8) Quick compliance checklist for players and platforms

For players:

Verify official status. Only participate if the draw is clearly a West Bengal State Lottery scheme with an Official Gazette notification and results published as per the Rules. If you cannot find the official notice, avoid it.
Indian Kanoon

Beware of online apps/sites claiming to be “Kolkata FF official”. Absent Government notification, these are likely unauthorised and vulnerable to blocking or police action.
MeitY
Press Information Bureau

Don’t be swayed by ads or influencers. Promotion of illegal betting is itself barred; ads are routinely flagged and taken down.
Press Information Bureau

Remember taxes on legal wins. Lawful lottery winnings are taxed at 30%, and TDS rules apply. Keep documentation of any legitimate claim.

For platforms/retailers:

No private lotteries. Do not offer, organise, or facilitate draws unless you are the State or its authorised agent under a notified scheme and you comply end-to-end with the 2010 Rules.
upload.indiacode.nic.in
Indian Kanoon

Advertising caution. Do not advertise or surrogate-advertise betting/gambling services; expect takedowns and potential liability under MIB advisories.
mib.gov.in
Press Information Bureau

IT compliance. Intermediaries hosting money-wagering games risk non-compliance under the IT Rules and blocking orders.
MeitY
Press Information Bureau

Watch the 2025 Bill. If/when notified, expect stricter national prohibitions on money-based online games.
Reuters

9) Bottom line

Legality turns on who runs it: Only State-organised lotteries are permitted. If your “Kolkata FF” experience is not clearly a West Bengal State Lottery scheme meeting all Rule-book conditions, it isn’t legal.
India Code
Indian Kanoon

Online wagering is out: Under the IT Rules, wagering-based online games are not permissible, and the government has been actively blocking such platforms.
MeitY
Press Information Bureau

Promotion is risky: Advertising or endorsing such services is under a strict MIB advisory regime; posts can be removed and accounts penalised.
Press Information Bureau

Policy is tightening: A 2025 central Online Gaming Bill—reported as passed by Parliament—aims to ban money-based online games nationwide once notified.
Reuters

If you’re in doubt, the safest approach is not to participate unless you can verify that the draw is a formally notified West Bengal State Lottery and every legal requirement is being followed.

Sources

Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998; Lotteries (Regulation) Rules, 2010 (Govt. of India).
India Code
upload.indiacode.nic.in
Indian Kanoon

West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competitions Act, 1957 (State law).
India Code
Indian Kanoon

MIB Advisories on betting/gambling advertisements (2022–2024) and influencer caution (Mar 21, 2024).
mib.gov.in
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Press Information Bureau

IT Rules (Online Gaming) Amendments, Apr 6, 2023; blocking/takedown actions.
MeitY
Press Information Bureau
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Parliamentary movement (Aug 2025) on the Promotion & Regulation of Online Gaming Bill.

Income-tax: Sections 115BB, 194B, 194BA (lottery/online gaming winnings).