Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Shuts Down Vallejo Preview Casino Following Federal Reversal on Gaming Rights

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, after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe’s Vallejo trust parcel because of insufficient historical connection to the site, and this action directly affected operations that had been running under a prior 2025 federal court ruling favorable to the tribe.

Details of the Closure and Immediate Effects

Operations at the Preview Casino stopped after the federal decision arrived, which removed teh legal basis for gaming on that specific parcel, and the closure affected more than 100 employees who had been working at the temporary facility while the band pursued longer-term development plans, yet the tribe has stated it intends to pursue new litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act to challenge the withdrawal of eligibility.

According to reports from 500nations, the band received notice of the reversal in August 2026, which overrode the earlier court outcome from 2025 that had supported the tribe’s position on the Vallejo property, and this sequence created a narrow window for continued operations before the shutdown took effect.

Background on the Trust Parcel and Federal Review

The Vallejo trust parcel had been placed into trust status for the Scotts Valley Band, which allowed the temporary casino to open as a preview location while the tribe worked toward a more permanent facility, but the Department of the Interior conducted a fresh review that determined the site lacked the required historical ties under federal Indian gaming standards, and that determination triggered the eligibility withdrawal.

Federal regulations governing Indian gaming require documented historical connections to land placed into trust for casino purposes, and the Interior Department applied those standards during its most recent evaluation of the Vallejo parcel, which led to the conclusion that the connection was insufficient to maintain eligibility despite the earlier court proceedings.

Legal History and Next Steps

A 2025 federal court ruling had previously favored the Scotts Valley Band in matters related to the Vallejo site, which had enabled the temporary casino to proceed, yet the new administrative decision in 2026 reversed the practical effect of that ruling by removing gaming eligibility, and the band’s announced plan to file suit under the Administrative Procedure Act targets the process and reasoning behind the Interior Department’s action.

Observers note that Administrative Procedure Act challenges often focus on whether an agency followed required procedures and considered all relevant evidence, and the Scotts Valley Band has indicated it will use that framework to contest the withdrawal of eligibility for the Vallejo trust parcel.

Workforce and Community Impact

More than 100 employees lost their positions at the Preview Casino once operations ended on August 3/4, 2026, and the sudden closure left those workers without immediate alternatives tied to the temporary facility while the tribe explores its legal options, although the band has not released further details on severance or transition support at this stage.

The temporary nature of the Preview Casino meant it served as both a revenue source and a proof-of-concept site, and its closure removes that economic activity from Vallejo until any future litigation or regulatory change restores eligibility.

Conclusion

The sequence of events surrounding the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ Preview Casino illustrates how federal administrative decisions can override prior court outcomes in Indian gaming matters, and the band’s planned Administrative Procedure Act litigation will determine whether the Vallejo trust parcel regains eligibility after the August 2026 withdrawal.