Scotts Valley Pomo Tribe Ends Vallejo Preview Casino Run After Federal Land Ruling
Written by Willa Franke · Aug 8, 2026
Scotts Valley Pomo Tribe Ends Vallejo Preview Casino Run After Federal Land Ruling
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians closed its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, effective late Sunday night, and this step came directly after a U.S. Department of the Interior decision withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe's Vallejo trust parcel because of insufficient historical connection to the land.
The facility had operated briefly as a small-scale operation meant to demonstrate viability ahead of a larger resort project, and it employed over 100 workers who learned of the immediate shutdown following the federal notice.
Details of the Closure Decision
Observers note that the tribe acted swiftly once the Interior Department issued its reversal, and the Preview Casino stopped all gaming activities by the end of that Sunday in August 2026, which aligned with the timing of the eligibility withdrawal. The parcel in question had previously received trust status, yet the new determination found the historical ties lacking, and this finding overrode earlier approvals that had allowed the temporary site to open.
Operational Background and Purpose
The Preview Casino served as an initial testing ground where the tribe could showcase operational capacity, and it featured limited gaming machines along with basic table games to attract local visitors while planners refined designs for a full-scale resort. People familiar with the project explain that the temporary venue allowed the Scotts Valley Band to gather data on customer traffic and revenue potential in the Vallejo market, and the operation ran for only a short period before the federal action forced its end.
Workforce and Community Effects
More than 100 employees received notice of the closure and faced immediate job loss, while the tribe coordinated with state labor resources to assist affected workers with unemployment claims and job placement services. Local suppliers who had contracted with the casino also experienced abrupt contract terminations, and city officials in Vallejo began reviewing the sudden vacancy of the commercial space that had hosted the gaming floor.
Tribe's Planned Legal Response
The Scotts Valley Band announced it will file a new federal lawsuit challenging the reversal under the Administrative Procedure Act, and the suit will cite contradictions with prior Interior Department findings plus a 2025 court ruling that had supported the tribe's land claims. Legal teams for the tribe are preparing arguments that the latest decision lacks consistency with established administrative records, and they intend to seek a court order restoring gaming eligibility for the Vallejo parcel.
According to the tribe's statement, the lawsuit will emphasize how the sudden withdrawal disrupts ongoing economic development plans that had already received multiple layers of federal review, and the filing is expected within weeks of the closure announcement.
Regulatory Context and Prior Approvals
The U.S. Department of the Interior manages Indian gaming land decisions through its Office of Indian Gaming, and the agency had previously placed the Vallejo parcel into trust status with gaming rights attached. The 2025 court ruling referenced in the tribe's upcoming suit had affirmed certain aspects of that trust process, yet the recent determination introduced new scrutiny over historical connection evidence that had not surfaced in earlier evaluations.
Reports from 500nations detail how the temporary casino operated under the original eligibility determination until the reversal took effect, and this sequence illustrates the layered federal oversight that governs tribal gaming projects across California.
Next Steps for the Scotts Valley Band
Tribal leaders have indicated they will continue pursuing the larger resort project through alternative legal and administrative channels while the lawsuit proceeds, and they remain in contact with Vallejo municipal authorities regarding the closed facility's future use. The band has also reached out to neighboring tribes and state gaming regulators to discuss potential partnerships that could support resumed operations once the eligibility question is resolved in court.
Conclusion
The closure of the Preview Casino represents a direct consequence of the Interior Department's updated eligibility ruling, and the tribe's decision to pursue litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act sets the stage for further judicial examination of the historical connection standards applied to the Vallejo parcel. Workers and local businesses now await outcomes from both the lawsuit and any interim support programs the tribe may establish during the transition period.