The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, two of the most important Indian casino operators in California, will make a presentation this week to support their petition for new gambling compacts that would allow the two tribes to increase their slot machines by a total of 8,500.

According to studies conducted by industry experts, this growth in the number of slots in the Coachella Valley will be supported by the market, which already homes seven tribal casinos and over 9,100 slot machines. If legislators approve the new agreements, the number of slots in the Coachella Valley will be almost doubled.

Bill Edington, a gaming expert who recently visited the Valley casinos, said he was impressed. “They're at a quality level that compares them well against anything in northern Nevada or off the strip in Las Vegas,” Edington explained. “Overall, the market is "under-supplied'' and nowhere near saturation.”

Nancy Conrad, a spokeswoman for the Agua Caliente Band, informed that the tribe’s strategy is to let the market determine its rollout and has hired gambling experts to assist in the process. Other tribes will determine their expansion in accordance with their financial situation.