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California has extended the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians gaming compact through 2061, giving the tribe additional room for casino development. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2173 on September 14.
Good to Know
- AB 2173 allows up to 500 additional gaming devices.
- The amended compact runs through December 31, 2061.
- The law took effect immediately after clearing both legislative chambers without opposition.
Agua Caliente Gets More Gaming Capacity
Assemblymember Greg Wallis authored AB 2173 to ratify the compact amendment that California and Agua Caliente executed on July 13, 2026. Besides the longer term, the agreement revises payments to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, which supports tribes with little or no gaming activity.
The extra 500 gaming devices add flexibility to a framework that already permitted Agua Caliente to operate as many as 5,000 devices across no more than six gaming facilities. The 2016 compact allowed only two facilities to operate more than 500 devices.
Agua Caliente operates across the Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and Cathedral City area. Around 3,200 people work across tribal gaming and other businesses, placing the tribe among the larger employers in the Coachella Valley.
Wallis said:
“Agua Caliente has been a tremendous partner to the Coachella Valley for generations, working closely with our local governments and investing in the communities we call home.”
California Cardroom Fight Remains In Court
The compact extension arrives while California continues a separate legal fight over commercial cardroom rules.
The Department of Justice regulations covering blackjack style games and player dealer rotation took effect April 1, 2026. However, San Francisco Superior Court ruled in July that the Bureau of Gambling Control lacked statutory authority to issue the regulations and blocked enforcement.
Attorney General Rob Bonta appealed the ruling on July 17. Enforcement remains suspended while the case continues through the Court of Appeal.
The two issues operate under different legal structures. Tribal casinos conduct Class III gaming through state tribal compacts under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, while California cardrooms operate under state gambling law and cannot offer conventional house banked casino games.
FAQ
What does California AB 2173 do?
AB 2173 ratifies an amended gaming compact between California and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and extends it through December 31, 2061.
How many additional gaming devices can Agua Caliente add?
The amended compact provides flexibility for up to 500 additional gaming devices.
What is the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund?
The fund provides payments to California tribes with limited or no gaming operations.
What happened to the California cardroom regulations?
San Francisco Superior Court invalidated the blackjack and player dealer regulations in July 2026. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has appealed.
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