Scotts Valley Band Closes Vallejo Preview Casino After Interior Department Withdraws Gaming Eligibility

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians closed its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, immediately after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe's trust parcel, and the action cited insufficient historical connection to the site as the primary reason for the change in status. The small-scale facility had been intended to demonstrate viability for a larger resort project, yet it had operated only briefly before the shutdown took effect in August 2026, and the closure affected more than 100 employees who had been working at the location. The Preview Casino represented an initial step in the tribe's broader development plans, and observers note that such temporary operations often serve to test market conditions while tribes await approvals for permanent facilities. The Interior Department's decision reversed earlier determinations that had allowed the site to open, and this reversal occurred despite the tribe's assertions that prior federal findings supported gaming eligibility at the parcel.

Details of the Federal Withdrawal and Its Timing

The U.S. Department of the Interior issued the withdrawal of gaming eligibility after reviewing the tribe's trust parcel, and the review concluded that historical ties to the land fell short of requirements under federal gaming regulations. The Preview Casino had opened only recently as a demonstration project, but operations ceased right away once the eligibility status changed, which left the facility dark and employees without immediate work assignments.

Those familiar with tribal gaming projects point out that eligibility determinations can shift when new reviews uncover gaps in documentation, and the Scotts Valley Band encountered such a shift despite having operated under previous approvals. The timing in August 2026 aligned with ongoing federal scrutiny of off-reservation gaming sites, and the tribe received notice that gaming activities must stop pending further resolution.

Operational Impact on the Temporary Facility

The shutdown ended a short period of activity at the Preview Casino, where staff had managed limited gaming options to showcase potential for a full-scale resort, and more than 100 workers faced job loss as a direct result of the closure. The facility had been positioned in Vallejo to serve regional customers while the tribe advanced plans for expanded development, yet the Interior Department's action halted those activities before they could gain momentum.

Employees at the site had been handling daily operations that included table games and slot machines under the temporary authorization, and the abrupt end to business left the tribe to manage workforce transitions without advance warning. The small operation had been structured to generate data on customer interest and revenue potential, yet those efforts stopped when eligibility was withdrawn, and the tribe now focuses on legal next steps instead of continued gaming.

Tribe's Position on Prior Findings and Court Rulings

The Scotts Valley Band described the Interior Department's action as inconsistent with earlier federal determinations that had supported the trust parcel's gaming eligibility, and the tribe also referenced a 2025 federal court ruling that appeared to affirm aspects of their position. Officials from the band stated that the withdrawal contradicted established records of tribal history and federal acknowledgments, and they expressed intent to challenge the decision through formal legal channels.

The tribe announced plans to file a new federal lawsuit under the Administrative Procedure Act, and this approach targets the process by which the Interior Department reached its eligibility conclusion. Legal representatives for the band indicated that the suit will seek to restore the prior eligibility status, and the filing is expected to argue that the withdrawal lacked sufficient justification based on the administrative record.

Next Steps in the Legal Process

Under the Administrative Procedure Act, the tribe can request judicial review of the federal agency's decision, and such cases often examine whether the Interior Department followed proper procedures during the eligibility review. The Scotts Valley Band has signaled that the lawsuit will present evidence of historical connections that the agency may have overlooked, and the outcome could determine whether the Preview Casino or a larger project can resume operations in the future.

The closure marks a pause in the tribe's Vallejo initiative, yet the planned litigation provides a pathway for potential reinstatement of gaming rights at the trust parcel. Federal courts have previously addressed similar disputes involving tribal land eligibility, and the Scotts Valley Band's case will add to that body of administrative law.

Conclusion

The sequence of events surrounding the Preview Casino closure illustrates how federal eligibility determinations can alter tribal gaming projects at short notice, and the Scotts Valley Band's response through an Administrative Procedure Act lawsuit sets the stage for further judicial examination of the Interior Department's decision. More than 100 employees experienced immediate effects from the shutdown in August 2026, while the tribe maintains that prior findings and a 2025 court ruling support continued eligibility for the Vallejo site. The outcome of the upcoming legal action will clarify the standards applied to historical connection requirements in future tribal gaming applications.