California Governor Signs Bills Ratifying Expanded Tribal Gaming Compacts

Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2173, AB 2539, SB 542, and SB 1235 ratifying California tribal gaming compacts. The bills extend the Agua Caliente agreement to 2061 with 500 additional machines, authorize 349 devices for the Yurok Tribe, and amend terms for Santa Ynez, Chukchansi, Pechanga, and Fort Mojave tribes.

SCCG Take — These ratifications deliver operational certainty and expansion room for tribal gaming, reinforcing compact-based growth under state oversight.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 2173, Assembly Bill 2539, Senate Bill 542, and Senate Bill 1235. Each bill ratifies tribal-state gaming compacts or amendments under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which mandates negotiated agreements subject to legislative approval in the state.

These measures deliver extended terms, added gaming capacity, and updated provisions for multiple tribes, as reported by GamblingNews. The actions reflect sustained state-tribal coordination on gaming matters without altering core compact frameworks.

Capacity Increases and Term Extensions for Agua Caliente and Yurok

Assembly Bill 2173 approves an amendment to the compact with the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. The updated agreement runs through December 31, 2061 and adds flexibility for the casino to acquire up to 500 more gambling machines.

Assemblymember Greg Wallis, R-Bermuda Dunes, authored the bill. The legislation recognizes the tribe’s longstanding role in the Coachella Valley, including respect for tribal sovereignty and support for local economic activity.

Assembly Bill 2539 ratifies a new compact with the Yurok Tribe, replacing the original from 1999. The tribe, with more than 5,000 enrolled members and the largest by membership in California, gains authority to operate up to 349 gaming devices across as many as three venues.

Amendments for Santa Ynez, Chukchansi, and Related Tribes

Senate Bill 542 ratifies changes to the compact with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. The amendments extend the compact term and revise provisions on tort liability.

Senate Bill 1235 provides the fifth compact amendment for the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians. It simultaneously creates a new compact with the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and delivers the first compact amendment for the Pechanga Band of Indians.

Newsom also approved Senate Bill 920 and Senate Bill 1526, which concern gambling fees and horse racing oversight but do not address tribal gaming directly. The ratified compacts supply defined pathways for tribal operators to plan facility growth and revenue activity inside established regulatory boundaries.

Reporting: GamblingNews

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