The Maharashtra state government will potentially earn an estimated $277.78 million should it allow the establishment of land-base casinos, according to the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC).

The Times of India reported that the potential revenue of on-shore casinos was one of the issues discussed by the MTDC to the state government during last Wednesday’s high-level meeting on whether or not to allow brick-and-mortar casinos (gambling on ships) on the lines of Goa in the state.

“A certain percentage of this turnover, may be around 25% tax, makes up to Rs 1,500 crore ($277.78 million) a year for the public exchequer,” an MTDC official said.

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.Currently, Goa and Sikkim are the only states that allow casinos in India.