Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Suspends Vallejo Preview Casino After Federal Eligibility Withdrawal
Rosa Schröder · Aug 11, 2026
Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Suspends Vallejo Preview Casino After Federal Eligibility Withdrawal
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has closed its Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, immediately following a decision by the U.S. Department of the Interior to withdraw gaming eligibility for the tribe’s Vallejo trust parcel, and observers note that the action stems from a determination of insufficient historical connection to the site. The temporary facility, which had operated only briefly as a demonstration of viability ahead of a planned larger resort project, employed more than 100 workers, and operations ended late on a Sunday night after the federal notice arrived.
Details of the Federal Decision and Immediate Impact
Federal officials cited the lack of documented historical ties as the basis for reversing eligibility, which directly affected the parcel’s status under existing gaming regulations, while the tribe had positioned the Preview Casino as an initial step to prove operational capacity and community benefit. Workers at the site received notice of the shutdown through standard channels, and the facility transitioned to inactive status without further public operations as of that evening in August 2026.
Tribe’s Response and Legal Strategy
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has described the closure as a temporary delay rather than a permanent end to its Vallejo project, and the group intends to file a new federal lawsuit challenging the eligibility withdrawal under the Administrative Procedure Act. This approach references a favorable 2025 court ruling that addressed similar questions of tribal land eligibility, and tribal representatives have indicated the filing will seek to restore the prior determination through judicial review. Legal filings are expected to emphasize procedural aspects of the Department of the Interior’s decision-making process, and the tribe continues to maintain that the Vallejo parcel meets all applicable criteria despite the recent reversal.
Background on the Preview Casino Project
The Preview Casino represented an early phase in a broader development plan that included a full-scale resort with expanded gaming, lodging, and related amenities, and the short-term facility allowed the tribe to establish operational benchmarks while gathering data on local market demand. Employment at the site exceeded 100 positions, covering roles in gaming, hospitality, security, and administration, and the temporary operation had run for a limited period before the federal notice prompted the immediate halt. Project timelines had projected a transition from the preview phase to permanent construction once viability was confirmed, yet the eligibility withdrawal has paused those steps pending the outcome of the planned litigation.
Regulatory Context and Next Steps
Under federal Indian gaming regulations, trust parcels must demonstrate a sufficient historical connection to the tribe before gaming activities receive approval, and the Department of the Interior’s recent action applied that standard to the Vallejo location after earlier determinations had allowed limited operations. The tribe’s upcoming lawsuit will argue that the withdrawal did not follow proper administrative procedures, drawing on the precedent set by the 2025 ruling that upheld similar eligibility claims. Preparation for the legal challenge includes assembling documentation of historical ties and reviewing the administrative record, while the tribe has stated publicly that it remains committed to the Vallejo development once eligibility questions are resolved through the courts.
Employment and Community Considerations
More than 100 workers lost shifts at the Preview Casino once operations ceased, and the tribe has indicated it will explore options to support affected employees during the period of inactivity. Local economic activity tied to the facility included supplier contracts and visitor spending, yet the immediate focus remains on the legal path forward rather than any permanent project abandonment. The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians continues to operate other gaming facilities elsewhere, and those sites remain unaffected by the Vallejo-specific decision.
Conclusion
The closure of the Preview Casino marks a clear pause in the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ Vallejo plans, driven directly by the Department of the Interior’s eligibility withdrawal, and the tribe’s planned lawsuit under the Administrative Procedure Act will test the decision against the 2025 precedent. Operations ended late Sunday night, employment at the site has stopped for now, and the group frames the development as delayed rather than concluded. Further updates will depend on the filing and progress of the new federal case, which observers expect to proceed through standard administrative law channels in the coming months.