Federal Ruling Triggers Sudden Closure of Scotts Valley Pomo Preview Casino in Vallejo
Quinn Jung · Aug 6, 2026
Federal Ruling Triggers Sudden Closure of Scotts Valley Pomo Preview Casino in Vallejo
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians shut down its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo late Sunday night after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe's Vallejo trust parcel, and the decision hinged on an assessment of insufficient historical connection to the land in question.
That reversal ended operations at the small-scale Class II facility which had run for only a brief period while employing over 100 workers, and the tribe immediately labeled the move unlawful before announcing plans to file a fresh federal lawsuit under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Shutdown
The Preview Casino opened as a limited operation on the Vallejo trust parcel to generate early revenue and test market conditions ahead of a much larger development, yet the Interior Department's action arrived without advance warning and forced the abrupt halt to all gaming activities on the site.
Officials from the tribe described the timing as disruptive to ongoing employment arrangements, and they noted that more than 100 staff members had already begun working at the facility when the eligibility withdrawal took effect in August 2026.
Details of the Federal Determination
The Department of the Interior based its reversal on a finding that the Vallejo trust parcel lacked sufficient historical ties to the Scotts Valley Band, and that determination directly affected the parcel's status for gaming purposes under federal regulations.
Tribal representatives stated that the ruling contradicted prior agency positions on the same land, and they indicated the decision would face challenge through litigation rather than through administrative reconsideration alone.
The tribe emphasized that the Preview Casino operated strictly as a Class II venue with electronic bingo and related games, and that format had complied with existing approvals until the eligibility change removed the legal foundation for continued activity.
Tribal Response and Legal Strategy
Leaders of the Scotts Valley Band issued statements calling the Interior Department's action unlawful, and they outlined intentions to pursue relief in federal court under the Administrative Procedure Act which governs challenges to agency decisions.
Those statements also clarified that the $700 million resort project planned for the same parcel remains delayed rather than canceled, and the tribe continues to view the larger development as viable once legal questions receive resolution.
Employment and Economic Effects
More than 100 workers lost positions at the Preview Casino when doors closed late Sunday night, and the sudden end to operations created immediate questions about severance arrangements and future hiring timelines tied to the bigger resort plan.
Local observers noted that the brief run of the facility had already introduced new economic activity to the Vallejo area, and the closure paused that activity while the tribe prepares its court filing and explores next steps with federal officials.
Status of the Larger Resort Development
The full $700 million resort project had been positioned as the long-term goal that would replace the temporary Preview Casino, yet the gaming eligibility reversal has pushed construction and financing schedules back without removing the project from active consideration.
Tribal spokespeople confirmed that design work, land-use planning, and partnership discussions continue in parallel with the planned lawsuit, and they expressed confidence that the core vision for the Vallejo site persists despite teh current delay.
Conclusion
The closure of the Preview Casino represents a direct consequence of the Interior Department's August 2026 determination on the Vallejo trust parcel, and the Scotts Valley Band's decision to pursue litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act sets the stage for further legal proceedings while the larger resort project stays on hold.
Employment impacts from the shutdown affect over 100 workers, and updates on both the lawsuit and the $700 million development will depend on outcomes in federal court along with any renewed agency reviews that may follow.