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As some Southern California casinos wrapped up multi-million dollar expansions throughout the year, others were just getting started with announcements of increased gaming space and new hotels and the debut of splashy new pool complexes.

As the new year gets underway, casino-goers will get to see some of the projects fully realized and others beginning to take shape.

Here’s a look back at some of the developments that have happened in the last year, and what’s looming on the horizon for the casinos.

The brand new Pivat Cigar Lounge, which offers guests cigars, top shelf spirits and small plates, opened its doors at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage for the first time this year (photo courtesy of Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa).

Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa 

The Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians announced plans for an expansion early last year by noting that it would be doing an environmental impact study that would look at how the resort complex in Rancho Mirage would be affected by the addition of 310 new hotel rooms, additional gaming space and new food, beverage and retail space. No formal plans have been announced nor has construction started.

In the meantime, the resort has been renovating and adding a number of amenities including a poker room with 90 player positions available,  the new Club Mezz inside The Show and Pivat, a new cigar lounge. It also introduced a new high-limit slots room and a renovated high-limit table game room.

In 2019, the casino is poised to open a new dining option and new bars. A portion of the buffet will be carved out to make space for The District, a new option that will offer Mexican, Chinese, and deli favorites. The buffet will be reimagined as well, according to an email from spokeswoman Mary Silverman.

Silverman said visitors can take their pick of one of two new bars. One is an oval-shaped bar with drink rails and 21 countertop slot machines and the other is a sports bar with comfortable seating, big screen TVs and a happy hour menu. The two bars are situated across from one another and are both near The Show entertainment venue.

Cahuilla Casino 

In October, the Cahuilla Band of Indians broke ground on a new complex to replace its existing casino on Highway 371 in Anza. 

The project will include a 57-room hotel, fitness center, a restaurant and bar, expanded parking lot and more slot machines and table games on its gaming floor. It is expected to be completed in late 2019.

Cahuilla officials have not revealed how big the new facility will be, how much it will cost, how many jobs it will create or what will happen to the old casino.

Casino Pauma

Casino Pauma overhauled its Pauma Pavillion entertainment venue by replacing a structure that had been built in 2008. The old pavilion held up to 815 people whereas the new structure has space for 1,160. The stage is larger in the new structure and it also has new sound and lighting systems.

Casino Pauma has not announced any projects for the new year.

Fantasy Springs Resort Casino 

Two resort lounges got a makeover this year: Twelve and Lit. The resort added a second high-limit area, and now has dedicated spaces for high-limit slots and table games. A new non-smoking gaming space was put in near the Bowling Alley.

No projects have been announced for 2019.

The original Casino Morongo was brought back to life this year with slots, a refurbished bar and a new restaurant (photo Courtesy Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa).

Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa 

The Morongo Band of Mission Indians revived the old Casino Morongo space, putting in slots, a refurbished bar with video poker and a new restaurant serving American favorites such as burgers, steaks and pastas.

In recent years the old casino property, adjacent to Morongo Casino, Resort and Spa in Cabazon had only been used for bowling, bingo and special events, but it was brought back to life when slots needed to be moved from the larger casino resort during its expansion. Casino officials decided to restore the old space in full and keep it as its own separate casino.

The larger property is still in the midst of its expansion that involves increasing the gaming floor by 30 percent by adding 65,000 square feet of gaming space and 800 new machines. It also involves overhauling several of the resort’s eateries and adding a free valet parking garage. The work is expected to be completed in spring 2020.

Morongo Chief Operating Officer John James wrote in an email that work is already underway to update first floor dining options. Construction on the 65,000-square foot expansion and parking garage will begin in the coming weeks.

Pala Casino, Spa and Resort 

Pala Casino Resort and Spa replaced its singular pool area was with a new complex that includes five pools, two hot tubs and more deck and cabana space as part of its expansion.

Other changes included doubling the size of restaurant Luis Rey’s and adding a large bar that is half indoors and half outdoors; adding a 10,000-square-foot gaming area centered by the upscale Marquise Bar and Lounge; and expanding the smoke free gaming space.

Though the Pala Band of Mission Indians’ early expansion plans included a new tower that would add 348 rooms to the property, that part of the project was put on hold. Bill Bemebenek, Pala’s chief executive officer, said earlier this year that the resort was waiting to see what the market would do in consideration of other casino expansions.

Pala has not yet announced plans for the new year.

Pechanga Resort and Casino 

Pechanga Resort and Casino capped off its $300 million expansion with the opening of its luxe pool complex, The Cove, which includes four pools, three hot tubs, two water slides and outdoor eatery Coveside Grill spread over 4.5 acres in the Temecula-area resort.

In late January, the resort’s new 68,000-square foot events center Pechanga Summit opened, hosting Asian singing group Grasshopper Passion as its first act. Other artists who have performed since include Adam Sandler and Steven Tyler.

Pechanga spokeswoman Ciara Green said guests can look forward to a new bar in 2019. The space — located directly across from the Pechanga Theater — was previously occupied by a gift shop.

Green said the casino is still finalizing details on the name for the bar, but it will have New Orleans feel with dark wood paneling, black tile and a glass overhang that radiates iridescent light throughout the space. It will offer southern spirits and craft cocktails devised by Pechanga’s new mixologist.

San Manuel Casino

In July, San Manuel Casino celebrated breaking ground on a $550 million multi-year expansion that will include a six-story parking garage; a 3,000-seat entertainment venue; and a multi-story hotel with a pool complex, spa, fitness center and several new restaurants. The new additions will add an estimated 750,000 square feet of additional space to the property in Highland.

Crews have already been at work on the new parking garage, which will have 2,400 stalls. That will likely be completed in 2019, with the entertainment complex and hotel being the second and final phases of construction, respectively.

San Manuel also opened the Blazing 7’s Blackjack arena, a giant blackjack table that can seat 36 players, in early August in the Rockin’ Casino area.

Tukut Lounge, one of the casino’s lounges that regularly offers free entertainment, recently underwent renovations in early November and reopened in late December.

The new Soboba Casino Resort in San Jacinto is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2019. (Courtesy of Soboba Casino)

Soboba Casino 

Soboba has spent much of the last year getting a new hotel and casino ready to open in the first quarter of 2019.

The new resort will be located about a mile from where the current casino sits in San Jacinto and will include a 140,000-square-foot casino; a 200-room hotel; restaurants; conference space; a swimming pool and garage parking. The food offerings will include a noodle restaurant, food court, 24-hour cafe and coffee shop.

According to a news release in November, the resort was adding headboards and bed frames to some of its hotel rooms and accepting deliveries of furniture, fixtures and equipment. Landscaping was being done in the parking lot area and around the pool.

An opening date for the new resort has not yet been revealed.

Spa Resort Casino 

Spa Resort Casino, the Palm Springs sister property to Agua Caliente, reopened its Oasis Buffet on Thanksgiving day following a lengthy renovation. The casino serves up such offerings as burgers, pizza, salads and Asian dishes. Additional renovations for Spa have not been announced.

Spotlight 29 

Spotlight 29 in Coachella turned its Blue Bar into En Vivo, which has more of a nightclub vibe. The renovated space has an $80,000 sound system, new decor and Latin bands playing every Friday and Saturday night.

Coachella is about as far away from the beach as you can get but Spotlight 29 brought a beachside feel to its food court with surfboards and pillars made to look like wooden pier posts. The food court opened three eateries: Sharkey’s Pizza, Mr. Weiner and Easy Rita’s Margaritas. A full service Mexican eatery, La Diabla Maria, opened nearby.

The casino has not announced any projects for the new year.