Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation ratifying an amended tribal-state gaming compact between California and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, clearing the way for the tribe to add up to 500 gaming devices and extending its gaming agreement through December 31, 2061.
The bill, Assembly Bill 2173, was authored by Assemblymember Greg Wallis and passed both houses of the California Legislature without opposition, according to KESQ. The amended compact was formally executed on July 13, 2026, before being submitted to the Legislature for ratification, according to LegiScan records. The amendment revises the 1999 Compact.
“Agua Caliente has been a tremendous partner to the Coachella Valley for generations, working closely with local governments and investing in local communities,” Wallis said, per the station's report. Tribal chairman Jeff Grubbe and other tribal representatives worked with state officials throughout the compact amendment process, the outlet notes.
What the Expanded Compact Changes
Beyond the device increase, the amended agreement restructures the tribe's contributions to California's Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, which supports non-gaming and limited-gaming tribes across the state, per the same account. That fund supports eligible tribes through contributions from gaming tribes like Agua Caliente, according to PBS SoCal. The amended compact maintains Agua Caliente's financial contributions to that statewide revenue-sharing system even as the device count and duration expand, the article states.
AB 2173 took effect immediately upon the governor's signature because it was enacted as an urgency statute, which under legislative records required a two-thirds majority vote in both houses to bypass the standard waiting period, according to LegiScan. The bill also addresses CEQA exemptions for certain actions related to the amended compact. Separately, the legislation amended Section 19819 of the Gambling Control Act, now requiring the California Gambling Control Commission to post a public record of every vote on its website within two business days of a meeting, LegiScan reports.
A Tribe With Deep Roots Across the Valley
The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is a federally recognized sovereign nation, according to the tribe. Its reservation covers 31,500 acres spanning Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, and unincorporated areas of Riverside County. The tribe currently owns and operates three casino properties in the region, Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage, Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, and Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City, according to the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum.
The Rancho Mirage property has recently hosted local events, including a Labor Day weekend Temptations concert covered in earlier Hoodline reporting.
Legal Framework Behind the Deal
Tribal gaming in California operates under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. California's legal framework also covers Class III tribal gaming compacts, slot machines, and banked card games.
According to the station's report, the amended agreement provides the tribe with additional flexibility for future growth while establishing a long-term framework for its gaming operations through 2061. The Agua Caliente Band operates gaming and non-gaming enterprises throughout the Coachella Valley and stands as one of the region's major employers, the outlet notes. Officials describe the amended agreement as a continuation of the longstanding relationship between the tribe and the state, one intended to support future economic development across the valley.
