Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Ends Vallejo Preview Casino Operations After Federal Review

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians closed its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, late on August 4 and into the early hours of August 5, 2026, after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe's trust parcel on the grounds of insufficient historical connection to the site, and the facility had operated briefly as a demonstration project that employed over 100 people before the federal notice triggered an immediate shutdown.

Observers note that the tribe had positioned the Preview Casino as an initial step toward a larger resort development, yet the withdrawal of eligibility halted all activity at the temporary location without delay once the decision reached the operators.

Details of the Federal Decision and Immediate Closure

The U.S. Department of the Interior's action centered on the trust parcel's eligibility for gaming under federal guidelines, and the agency cited a lack of demonstrated historical ties between the tribe and the specific Vallejo location as the basis for removing that eligibility, while the tribe had maintained operations through the demonstration phase until the notice arrived.

Staff at the Preview Casino received word of the change and completed the shutdown process overnight, which resulted in the facility going dark by early August 5, 2026, and all gaming activity ceased at that point in line with the federal determination.

Tribe's Planned Response Through Federal Court

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has indicated it will file a new federal lawsuit to challenge the Department of the Interior's withdrawal of gaming eligibility, and legal representatives for the tribe have begun preparing arguments that focus on the historical record and the parcel's status under trust provisions.

According to available reports, the lawsuit will seek to restore eligibility so that construction and opening of the full resort can move forward without further interruption, while the tribe continues to assert that the Vallejo site qualifies under applicable federal criteria despite the recent determination.

Those involved in the planning process note that the Preview Casino served as a temporary measure during the permitting and development stages, adn its closure does not alter the tribe's overall timeline once the legal matter is addressed in court.

Context of the Trust Parcel and Resort Plans

The trust parcel in Vallejo had been placed into federal trust for the benefit of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians, and the tribe had secured initial approvals for gaming use before the Department of the Interior conducted its review and reached the conclusion that historical connections were insufficient to support continued eligibility.

Project documentation shows that the larger resort was envisioned as a comprehensive entertainment and hospitality destination, and the Preview Casino functioned as the first visible component of that vision until operations stopped in early August 2026.

Further steps outlined by the tribe include pursuing the lawsuit while simultaneously preparing documentation that may support a renewed application or appeal, although no specific filing date has been announced at this stage.

Conclusion

The closure of the Preview Casino marks a distinct pause in the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians' Vallejo development, yet the tribe has reaffirmed its commitment to the full resort project once the federal eligibility question is settled through litigation. The events of August 4 and 5, 2026, followed directly from the Department of the Interior's decision, and the immediate shutdown reflected standard compliance with the withdrawal of gaming authority for the parcel. Legal proceedings now stand as the next defined action, with outcomes that will determine whether operations can resume at the site under the original trust framework.