Prospective casino operators are facing a Jan. 30 deadline to apply for Massachusetts' final gambling license.

The state Gaming Commission says its staff hopes to meet privately with at least three groups ahead of the deadline: Mass Gaming & Entertainment, Seafan Trust Corp. and Somerset on the Move.

The three would join KG Urban, which has proposed a casino on the New Bedford waterfront and has already paid a $400,000 state application fee. Tribe-run casino Foxwoods had expressed interest before, but has not reached out to regulators recently.

The final license is for the southeastern region around Fall River and New Bedford.

Massachusetts has licensed two resort casinos: Wynn Resorts in Everett and MGM Resorts in Springfield. Penn National Gaming has a slot parlor license for its Plainville development.

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