Richard Milanovich, the chairman of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, has been lobbying California lawmakers in hopes of passing the tribe's new gaming compact.

The tribe negotiated a deal last year with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) to operate up to 5,000 slot machines and open a third casino. The current compact limits slot machines to 2,000.

The deal fell apart when Democrats, acting at the behest of labor unions, refused to ratify it. But with nearly three dozen new members of the Legislature, Milanovich spent three days this week at the Capitol this week and said a Democratic lawmaker would sponsor a bill to pass the tribe's compact..

The tribe is already expanding its gaming facilities but says the compact will bring even more benefits. A $205 million 15-story hotel at the Agua Caliente Casino near Rancho Mirage will be done in a year. The tribe also operates a casino in Palm Springs.

Four other tribes signed new compacts with Schwarzenegger. They are trying to find sponsors for their agreements.

Get the Story:
Agua Calientes anxious for a deal (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 1/25)
15-story Valley resort a year away from completion (KESQ 1/25)
Tribe reaching for sky with new hotel casino (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 1/26)