BOSTON (AP) — Developers who are unsuccessful in their pursuit of casinos in the eastern or western regions of Massachusetts could compete in the newly opened southeastern region under a plan approved by the state’s gaming commission on Thursday.

The decision follows the panel’s recent vote to open up southeastern Massachusetts — known as Region C in the state’s 2011 casino law — to commercial casino bidders. The Mashpee Wampanaog tribe had previously enjoyed exclusivity in Region C while it pursued state and federal approvals for a proposed tribal casino in Taunton.