Newsom signs four bills ratifying gaming agreements with six California tribes
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sept. 28, 2026 - Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed four bills ratifying tribal-state gaming agreements with six California tribes, including provisions allowing additional slot machines, extending existing compacts and authorizing potential new casino development.
Newsom signed AB 2173, AB 2539, SB 542 and SB 1235 on Sept. 14. The measures involve the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Yurok Tribe, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and Pechanga Band of Indians.
#1 Choice of U.S. Players!Agua Caliente
AB 2173, authored by Assemblymember Greg Wallis, ratifies the first amendment to Agua Caliente's 2016 gaming compact.
The amendment extends the compact through Dec. 31, 2061, allows up to 500 additional gaming devices and restructures the tribe's contributions to California's Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, which supports non-gaming and limited-gaming tribes.
The agreement also revises provisions of the compact following the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' 2022 Chicken Ranch Rancheria of Me-Wuk Indians v. California decision, which addressed provisions states may negotiate through tribal gaming compacts.
Also, see Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage
Yurok Tribe
AB 2539, authored by Assemblymember James C. Ramos, ratifies a new 25-year compact with the Yurok Tribe.
The agreement authorizes up to 349 slot machines at no more than three gaming facilities on eligible Indian lands. The tribe will reimburse California for its proportional regulatory costs but is not required to contribute to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund or Tribal Nation Grant Fund.
The tribe currently operates Redwood Hotel Casino in Klamath, where the casino has 99 Class III gaming machines.
Also, see Redwood Hotel Casino
Santa Ynez Chumash
SB 542, authored by Sen. Monique Limon, ratifies the second amendment to the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians' gaming compact.
The amendment authorizes 500 additional slot machines and extends the compact by approximately 20 years in exchange for the tribe agreeing not to challenge its revenue provisions during the life of the agreement.
The tribe's 2015 compact authorized up to 2,500 slot machines at no more than two gaming facilities. The tribe operates Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Barbara County.
Also, see Chumash Casino Resort
Chukchansi
SB 1235, authored by Sen. Susan Rubio, ratifies three separate gaming agreements, including another extension of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians' 1999 compact.
The fifth amendment extends the Chukchansi compact for one year, through Dec. 31, 2027, allowing the tribe to continue operating under the terms of its original 1999 agreement.
Also, see Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino
Fort Mojave
SB 1235 also ratifies a new 25-year gaming compact with the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe.
The compact authorizes up to 1,200 slot machines at no more than two gaming facilities on eligible Indian lands. If the tribe operates 350 slot machines, it must contribute 0.5% of net win to an impact mitigation fund for affected non-tribal law enforcement, emergency services and other service agencies.
The tribe has considered developing a California casino on a 300-acre parcel less than three miles from Needles. The compact states the tribe chose to pursue that location rather than its California Village property, which is surrounded by homes, schools, churches and businesses.
Also, see Fort Mojave Tribe
Pechanga
The third agreement ratified by SB 1235 amends the Pechanga Band of Indians' 2016 gaming compact.
The amendment authorizes 1,000 additional gaming machines and extends the compact by approximately 20 years. Pechanga's existing compact authorized up to 5,500 slot machines at no more than two gaming facilities.
The agreement also increases Pechanga's contributions to its Local Community Credit Fund. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the tribe will contribute an additional $3 million, with the additional amount increasing by $2 million each year until total annual payments reach $32 million.
Also, see Pechanga Resort Casino
The four ratification bills were enacted as urgency measures.
