Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Closes Preview Casino Following Federal Withdrawal of Gaming Rights

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians shut down its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, right after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe's trust parcel in August 2026, and the decision hinged on insufficient historical connection to the site according to federal reviewers. The small-scale operation had been positioned as a proof-of-concept venue meant to show viability ahead of a larger resort development, yet it ran for only a short period before operations ceased entirely.

Details of the Federal Decision

Officials at the Department of the Interior determined that the trust parcel lacked the required historical ties that would support gaming activities under existing regulations, which prompted the immediate withdrawal of eligibility and forced the tribe to halt all gaming at the Vallejo location. This action came without advance notice to tribal leaders, and the facility closed its doors within days of receiving the formal notification. The Preview Casino had employed more than 100 people during its brief run, and those positions ended abruptly once the federal determination took effect.

Impact on Operations and Staff

Workers at the site learned of the closure through tribal announcements that followed the Interior Department's ruling, and the sudden end left more than 100 employees without jobs in a region where casino employment often serves as a key economic driver. The facility had operated at a limited scale with basic table games and slot machines intended to test market response, while the tribe gathered data for its planned larger project. Observers note that such preview venues typically run for several months or longer before any shutdown occurs, yet this one lasted only weeks in total.

The tribe had secured the Vallejo site through a trust application process that previously received positive signals from federal agencies, and leaders pointed to those earlier assessments when describing the latest move as inconsistent. A 2025 federal court ruling had addressed related land and gaming eligibility questions for the same parcel, and the Scotts Valley Band maintains that the new decision conflicts with both prior administrative findings and that court outcome.

Tribe's Response and Legal Plans

Representatives for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians stated that the withdrawal ignored established historical evidence and contradicted the 2025 court determination, which had upheld certain aspects of the tribe's position on the trust land. The group announced plans to challenge the Interior Department's action through a new lawsuit filed under the Administrative Procedure Act, arguing that the agency failed to follow proper review standards when reversing its earlier stance. Legal teams are preparing filings that will seek to restore gaming eligibility while the case proceeds through federal courts.

Community members in Vallejo watched the quick transition from open gaming to full closure, and local business leaders noted the loss of temporary jobs that had supported nearby services during the casino's short operational window. The tribe emphasized that the Preview Casino served only as an interim step toward a full-scale resort, and the federal decision has now delayed those longer-term economic goals without resolving the underlying eligibility dispute.

Broader Context of the Dispute

Federal recognition of tribal gaming rights requires documented historical connections to specific parcels under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act framework, and the Department of the Interior cited gaps in that documentation for the Vallejo trust land when issuing its August 2026 determination. The Scotts Valley Band has maintained continuous efforts to strengthen its application through additional historical research and legal arguments, yet the latest ruling reversed prior momentum that included the 2025 court decision. Those involved in similar cases across California have tracked this development closely because eligibility reversals remain uncommon once initial approvals or court guidance appear in place.

The closure marks a significant setback for the tribe's economic development strategy in the Vallejo area, where the preview site had begun to establish a customer base before operations stopped. Tribal officials continue to review the full administrative record from the Interior Department while preparing the upcoming Administrative Procedure Act challenge, and they expect the litigation to address both the historical connection claims and the consistency with previous federal findings.

Conclusion

The sequence of events in August 2026 shows how a single federal eligibility ruling can halt an entire temporary gaming operation and affect over 100 jobs in one swift action. The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians now moves forward with plans for new litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act, seeking to reverse the withdrawal and resume progress toward its larger resort vision on the trust parcel. The outcome of that case will determine whether the Preview Casino can reopen or whether the tribe must pursue alternative paths for its gaming development goals.