6 Aug 2026
Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Closes Vallejo Preview Casino After Federal Eligibility Reversal
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians shut down its Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, late on Sunday night spanning August 2 and 3, 2026, once the U.S. Department of the Interior revoked gaming eligibility for the tribe’s trust parcel there, and operations stopped right away because the federal notice cited a lack of sufficient historical ties to the location.
Details of the Immediate Closure
The temporary facility had run for a short period to show it could support a larger resort project, and it had employed more than 100 workers whose jobs ended with the halt, while the tribe prepared to challenge the reversal through a new federal lawsuit that would contest the Interior Department’s determination about the parcel’s eligibility for gaming activities.
Officials from the tribe issued statements confirming the shutdown took effect immediately after the notice arrived, and they explained that the Preview Casino served as a test site rather than a permanent operation, yet its brief run demonstrated local demand before the eligibility withdrawal forced the abrupt end.
Background on the Preview Casino Project
The Preview Casino opened as a limited demonstration venue on the Vallejo trust parcel, and it featured gaming machines along with basic amenities designed to attract visitors and generate data on potential viability for a full-scale resort that the tribe hoped to develop once federal approvals cleared the way, but the Interior Department’s action in early August 2026 blocked further progress on that plan.
Those involved with the project noted the facility operated under strict temporary guidelines that required ongoing federal review, and the short operational window allowed the tribe to collect performance metrics while awaiting a final determination on whether the land qualified for continued gaming under Indian gaming regulatory standards.
Federal Decision and Its Basis
The U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew the gaming eligibility after concluding that the Vallejo trust parcel lacked adequate historical connection to the Scotts Valley Band, and this determination reversed an earlier position that had permitted the preview operations to begin, which left the tribe without the legal foundation needed to keep the doors open beyond that Sunday night in August 2026.
According to the federal notice, historical records and tribal documentation did not establish the required nexus between the band and the specific Vallejo site, and this finding triggered the immediate suspension of all gaming activities at the location even though the preview phase had already begun to show operational results.
Tribe’s Planned Legal Response
The Scotts Valley Band announced its intention to file a new lawsuit in federal court that would seek to overturn the Interior Department’s reversal, and legal representatives for the tribe indicated the suit would present additional evidence of historical connections while arguing that the withdrawal came without sufficient procedural safeguards or opportunity for further review.
Observers familiar with similar tribal gaming disputes noted that such lawsuits often focus on administrative review processes and whether the federal agency applied consistent standards across different parcels, and the band’s filing is expected to request a stay or injunction that could allow limited operations to resume pending the outcome of the litigation.
Employment and Community Impact
More than 100 employees lost their positions when the Preview Casino closed at the end of that August weekend, and the sudden halt meant payroll and benefits ended without transition periods because the federal notice left no room for phased wind-down of activities at the Vallejo site.
Local suppliers and vendors who had contracted with the temporary facility also faced abrupt contract terminations, yet the tribe stated it would honor outstanding obligations where possible while focusing resources on the upcoming legal challenge that aims to restore eligibility for the trust parcel.
Conclusion
The closure of the Preview Casino marks a significant setback for the Scotts Valley Band’s development plans in Vallejo, and the tribe’s decision to pursue federal litigation keeps the matter open for potential future resolution even as the immediate operations remain suspended following the August 2026 eligibility withdrawal by the Department of the Interior. U.S. Department of the Interior records outline the regulatory framework that guided this action, while National Indian Gaming Commission guidelines continue to shape how tribes navigate similar eligibility reviews across trust lands.