Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Closes Preview Casino in Vallejo After Federal Decision

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians ended operations at its Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, late Sunday night in August 2026 after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe's trust parcel in the city. The move came because officials determined the land lacked sufficient historical connection to the tribe under federal Indian gaming standards. Operations at the temporary facility stopped immediately, leaving more than 100 employees without work while the tribe readies a federal lawsuit to challenge the decision.

Background on the Preview Casino Project

The Preview Casino served as a temporary gaming site designed to generate revenue ahead of a larger resort development. Tribe leaders had positioned the facility as an initial step toward economic growth for the Scotts Valley Band, which has pursued land-into-trust applications and gaming rights in the San Francisco Bay Area region for several years. The temporary location opened with a limited number of gaming machines and table games under a compact approved through state processes, yet its status always depended on continued federal recognition of the Vallejo parcel for Class III gaming activities.

The Department of the Interior Decision

Officials at the Department of the Interior reviewed the trust parcel and concluded that the land did not meet criteria for gaming eligibility because the tribe lacked a sufficient historical connection to the specific site. This determination reversed earlier expectations that had allowed the preview operation to proceed. Federal reviewers examined historical records, tribal presence documentation, and geographic ties before issuing the withdrawal notice. The action aligns with requirements under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which ties gaming rights on trust lands to demonstrated connections between tribes and specific parcels.

Once the eligibility was withdrawn, the tribe had no legal basis to continue gaming operations at the site. Staff received notice of the closure on the same day the federal decision took effect, resulting in an abrupt halt to all activities. The facility, which had operated with a modest footprint compared to full-scale resorts, employed workers in gaming, hospitality, security, and support roles. Those positions ended without advance transition periods because federal rules required immediate compliance once eligibility ended.

Immediate Effects on Employees and Operations

More than 100 workers lost their positions when the doors closed. Many had been hired locally in Vallejo and surrounding communities, creating direct economic ripples in an area already navigating shifts in employment patterns. The tribe issued statements confirming that final paychecks and benefit information would be processed according to state labor guidelines, while also noting plans to assist affected staff through job placement resources. Gaming equipment and other assets were secured on site pending further legal outcomes, and the property itself remains under tribal ownership as trust land.

Tribe's Planned Legal Challenge

The Scotts Valley Band announced it would file a new lawsuit in federal court under the Administrative Procedure Act to contest the Department of the Interior's withdrawal of gaming eligibility. Legal teams are preparing arguments that focus on procedural aspects of the review process and the sufficiency of historical evidence submitted during earlier stages. The suit will seek to restore the parcel's eligibility so that both the preview operation and the larger resort project can resume. Court filings are expected to include detailed documentation of the tribe's prior submissions and communications with federal agencies.

Observers familiar with Indian gaming litigation note that Administrative Procedure Act cases often center on whether agencies followed required steps and considered all relevant materials. The tribe has indicated it will present additional historical and anthropological evidence during the proceedings. While the lawsuit moves forward, the full resort project remains on hold, delaying construction timelines and associated economic projections that had been tied to the development.

Status of the Larger Resort Development

Plans for the permanent resort casino in Vallejo had advanced through design and permitting stages before the federal decision. Those efforts now pause while litigation determines whether gaming can proceed on the trust parcel. Project partners, contractors, and local government offices involved in approvals have received updates on the status change. The temporary preview facility had been intended to provide operating cash flow to support the larger build-out, so its closure removes that revenue stream until a resolution occurs.

Conclusion

The closure of the Preview Casino marks a significant turning point for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians' Vallejo gaming initiative. Federal withdrawal of eligibility on the trust parcel forced an immediate shutdown in August 2026, affecting over 100 jobs and halting progress on the broader resort. The tribe's upcoming lawsuit under the Administrative Procedure Act will test the decision through the federal court system, with outcomes that could shape the project's future direction. All developments remain subject to the results of that litigation and any subsequent administrative actions.