Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Shuts Preview Casino After Federal Ruling on Vallejo Parcel

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians closed its Preview Casino late on August 5 after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe's Vallejo trust parcel, and the decision cited insufficient historical connection to the site while affecting more than 100 employees at the temporary small-scale facility.

Operations halted immediately because the regulatory reversal removed the legal basis for gaming activities at that location, and the tribe has since paused construction planning along with related economic projects while preparing a new federal lawsuit to challenge the determination.

Background on the Preview Casino and Tribal Operations

The Preview Casino served as a temporary venue in Vallejo, California, where the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians launched limited gaming options to generate revenue and support community programs, and the facility operated under initial federal approvals that recognized the trust parcel for gaming purposes until the August 2026 reversal took effect.

Staff members at the site handled daily customer services, machine maintenance, and security protocols, yet the sudden closure left those workers without immediate employment options as the tribe evaluated next steps in response to the Department of the Interior action.

Details of the Federal Decision and Its Immediate Effects

The U.S. Department of the Interior based its withdrawal on findings that the Vallejo parcel lacked sufficient historical ties to the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, and this assessment reversed earlier eligibility determinations without pointing to any compliance violations by the tribe itself.

Because the ruling addressed eligibility rather than misconduct, the closure proceeded without enforcement actions or fines, though it still disrupted cash flow, vendor contracts, and planned expansions that had been tied to the trust land status.

Observers note that similar regulatory shifts have occurred in other tribal gaming contexts when historical connection criteria come under renewed review, and the Scotts Valley Band now moves forward with litigation that seeks to restore the prior eligibility finding for the Vallejo site.

Impact on Employees and Local Economy

More than 100 employees received notice of the closure on the same day operations ended, and those workers now face uncertainty regarding severance, reemployment assistance, or potential rehiring once the tribe resolves the federal court matter.

Local businesses that supplied the Preview Casino with goods and services also experienced an abrupt drop in orders, while the broader Vallejo area lost projected tax contributions and tourism activity that the temporary facility had begun to generate.

The tribe has communicated that it will prioritize support for affected staff during the transition period, and legal preparations for the new lawsuit continue alongside efforts to identify alternative revenue sources that do not rely on the disputed Vallejo parcel.

Legal Path Forward and Regulatory Context

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians intends to file suit in federal court to contest the Department of the Interior's August 2026 reversal, and attorneys for the tribe will argue that earlier determinations correctly established the parcel's eligibility under applicable Indian gaming statutes.

Regulatory reversals of this type typically trigger judicial review when tribes demonstrate that historical evidence meets statutory thresholds, and the outcome of the forthcoming case could influence how similar eligibility reviews proceed for other parcels in California.

Construction planning tied to permanent facilities remains on hold pending resolution, while the tribe maintains its existing operations at other locations that retain full gaming eligibility under current federal guidelines.

Conclusion

The closure of the Preview Casino marks a significant pause in the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians' Vallejo development strategy following the Department of the Interior decision, and the tribe's upcoming lawsuit will determine whether operations can resume at the trust parcel or whether new approaches become necessary. The situation continues to unfold as legal filings advance and employees seek clarity on their future roles.