Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Ends Vallejo Preview Casino Operations After Interior Department Withdraws Gaming Eligibility

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians closed its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, effective late Sunday night on August 3 and into the early hours of August 4, 2026, and the decision followed a withdrawal of gaming eligibility for the tribe’s Vallejo trust parcel by the U.S. Department of the Interior; the federal agency cited insufficient historical connection to the site as the primary reason for the action, and observers note that the closure directly affects more than 100 employees who had been working at the facility.

The band had operated the Preview Casino as a temporary gaming site while pursuing permanent authorization, yet the reversal in eligibility status forced an abrupt end to all operations at the location, and the move came despite a 2025 federal court ruling that had initially favored the tribe’s position on related land and gaming matters.

Details of the Federal Decision and Immediate Effects

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s determination removed the legal foundation for gaming activities on the specific trust parcel in Vallejo, and the tribe responded by shutting down the casino rather than continuing operations without proper eligibility, while the closure timeline aligned with the agency’s formal notice that took effect over that August weekend in 2026.

Employees received notification ahead of the shutdown, and the loss of more than 100 positions represents a significant local workforce impact in Vallejo, whereas the tribe has indicated it will pursue additional legal avenues to challenge the eligibility withdrawal through new litigation filed under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Background on the 2025 Court Ruling and Subsequent Developments

A federal court issued a favorable ruling to the Scotts Valley Band in 2025 regarding aspects of the trust land and gaming rights, and that decision had allowed the Preview Casino to continue operating on a temporary basis while broader eligibility questions remained under review, yet the Interior Department’s later action effectively overrode the practical benefits of that earlier outcome by withdrawing the necessary gaming status for the parcel.

The tribe’s trust land in Vallejo had been acquired with the intent of establishing gaming operations, and the federal agency’s assessment focused on the lack of demonstrated historical ties to the specific location, which led directly to the eligibility revocation that prompted the August 2026 closure.

Planned Legal Response and Regulatory Context

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has stated its intention to initiate fresh litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act to contest the Interior Department’s withdrawal of gaming eligibility, and such a filing would seek judicial review of the agency’s decision-making process while the tribe works to address the cited concerns about historical connections to the site.

Regulatory requirements for tribal gaming on trust lands mandate clear evidence of historical ties in many cases, and the Vallejo parcel fell short according to the department’s evaluation, whereas the band maintains that its overall tribal history and prior legal victories support continued pursuit of gaming authorization at the location.

Conclusion

The closure of the Preview Casino marks a notable shift in the tribe’s temporary gaming efforts in Vallejo, and it sets the stage for upcoming litigation that will test the boundaries of federal eligibility determinations under the Administrative Procedure Act, while more than 100 workers navigate the immediate employment consequences of the August 2026 shutdown.