The fate of casinos in Maharashtra will finally be known by the end of May, ending a four decade-wait since the Maharashtra Casinos (Control and Tax) act was passed and published in July 1976.

Citing highly placed government sources, Indian daily broadsheet DNA reported that the home department met all stakeholders – including revenue, tourism and law – last week to make a final call before coming out with a decision next week.

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), one of the major stakeholders, has supported the development of casinos in Maharashtra to give its tourism industry a major boost and at the same time for the state government to earn more revenues. It said that the Maharashtra will contribute a large portion in India’s $60 billion gambling market.

The Economic Times of India (ETI), quoting its own news sources, reported that MTDC has pushed for the state to allow offshore casinos — which could operate from a yacht off the coast — where entry would be limited to foreign tourists. Currently, Goa and Sikkim are the only states that allow casinos in India.