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

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians opened its temporary, invitation-only Preview Casino in Vallejo on July 25, 2026, and closed the operation exactly seven days later after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe’s trust parcel in the city, and the reversal cited the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s restored lands exception because the parcel lacked sufficient historical connection to the tribe.

Officials from the tribe confirmed the shutdown in early August 2026, noting that the decision from the Interior Department arrived shortly after the preview facility began serving invited guests, and the closure halted all gaming activity at the site while the larger development plans remain on hold.

Background on the Temporary Facility and Its Rapid Closure

Construction of the preview location allowed the Scotts Valley Band to test operations on a small scale before committing to the full $700 million resort that includes an eight-story casino, hotel components, and additional amenities, yet the federal action forced an immediate end to even the limited seven-day run, and tribal representatives stated they would pursue legal options to restore eligibility.

Staff at the Vallejo site prepared for the preview opening with limited access granted only to invited guests, and the short operational window provided minimal revenue before the Interior Department’s reversal took effect, prompting the tribe to secure the property and cease all gaming functions by the first week of August 2026.

The Interior Department Decision and Its Legal Basis

The U.S. Department of the Interior issued the reversal after reviewing the tribe’s application under the restored lands exception of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and the agency determined that the Vallejo trust parcel did not meet the historical connection requirements needed to authorize gaming, according to legal summaries of the decision available at the detailed regulatory analysis.

Observers familiar with the case point out that the tribe had previously received preliminary approval for the parcel, yet new review led to withdrawal of that eligibility, and the move directly impacted both the preview casino and the broader resort project that the Scotts Valley Band had advanced for several years.

Impact on the Planned $700 Million Resort Development

The full resort project encompasses an eight-story casino structure along with hotel rooms, dining venues, and entertainment spaces designed to serve the Vallejo market, yet the gaming eligibility reversal has placed all further construction and permitting steps in question, and tribal leaders have indicated they will challenge the Interior Department ruling in federal court to revive the development timeline.

Local economic projections tied to the resort included hundreds of construction and permanent jobs plus increased tourism revenue for Vallejo, and the sudden pause after only one week of preview operations leaves those benefits unrealized while the tribe prepares its legal response, according to statements released by the Scotts Valley Band.

Tribal Response and Next Steps in Federal Court

Representatives of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians described the Interior Department reversal as unexpected and announced plans to file suit in federal court seeking to overturn the decision, and the lawsuit is expected to focus on whether the restored lands exception was properly applied to the Vallejo parcel given the tribe’s historical presence in the broader region.

Legal teams working on behalf of the tribe have begun gathering documentation to support the challenge, and court filings are anticipated later in August 2026 as the band moves forward with its effort to reinstate gaming eligibility for the site, which would allow resumption of both preview activities and full-scale construction on the $700 million project.

Conclusion

The closure of the Vallejo Preview Casino after just seven days marks a significant setback for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians and its development partners, yet the tribe’s stated intention to contest the Interior Department ruling in federal court keeps the possibility of eventual reopening alive, and the outcome of that litigation will determine whether the larger resort project can proceed as originally envisioned.