Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Shuts Vallejo Preview Casino Following Federal Reversal

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians closed its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, effective late Sunday night on August 3 and 4, 2026, after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe’s Vallejo trust parcel; the decision cited insufficient historical connection to the site, and the move directly affected more than 100 employees while following a favorable 2025 federal court ruling that the band now seeks to build upon through new litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Details of the Closure and Federal Decision

Operations at the preview facility halted after the department issued its reversal notice, which stripped the parcel of the gaming eligibility previously recognized; the tribe responded by ending all gaming activities on the property that same weekend in early August 2026, and the closure came without any extended transition period because the federal action took immediate effect once eligibility ended. Those familiar with the timeline note that the band had operated the temporary site while pursuing permanent approvals, yet the Interior Department’s determination on historical ties overrode earlier progress and forced the sudden shutdown.

Background on the 2025 Court Ruling and Tribal Response

A federal court decision in 2025 had supported the tribe’s position regarding the Vallejo site, allowing continued operations while legal questions remained under review; that ruling created space for the preview casino to function, and observers note how the band used the intervening period to maintain employment and revenue streams. Now the group intends to file fresh claims under the Administrative Procedure Act, which provides a pathway to challenge agency decisions on procedural and substantive grounds, and the tribe’s legal team is preparing arguments that focus on the reversal process and the criteria used to assess historical connections.

The Administrative Procedure Act allows tribes and other parties to seek judicial review when federal agencies alter prior determinations, and experts have observed that such cases often hinge on whether the agency followed required steps in gathering evidence and applying consistent standards. In this instance the band plans to argue that the withdrawal of eligibility did not adequately account for the full record developed during the 2025 litigation, while the department maintains that new review revealed insufficient ties to the Vallejo parcel under established criteria for Indian gaming eligibility.

Impact on Employees and Local Operations

More than 100 workers lost positions when the casino doors closed, and the abrupt end left many seeking new opportunities in a region where gaming employment options remain limited; local officials have begun tracking the economic ripple effects, which include reduced spending at nearby businesses that had grown accustomed to casino traffic. The tribe has stated that it will explore support programs for affected staff, yet the scale of the workforce reduction highlights how federal eligibility decisions can reshape entire communities in a single weekend.

Community members in Vallejo watched the preview site evolve from an initial test operation into a steady employer, and the sudden closure reversed that momentum; reports indicate that payroll and vendor payments stopped alongside gaming activity, which in turn affected families who relied on those wages. Those who studied similar closures in other jurisdictions point out that rapid workforce transitions often require coordinated efforts between tribal governments, state agencies, and local workforce boards to mitigate longer-term hardship.

Next Steps in Litigation and Regulatory Context

The band’s upcoming Administrative Procedure Act challenge will likely examine how the Interior Department weighed evidence of historical connection, and attorneys expect the case to revisit documents and testimony presented in the 2025 proceeding. Because the 2026 reversal directly contradicted the earlier judicial outcome on key factual points, the litigation could clarify the weight courts assign to agency findings when they conflict with prior rulings. Observers note that the Administrative Procedure Act framework emphasizes review of the administrative record, so the tribe will focus on whether the department’s process met statutory requirements for notice, comment, and reasoned decision-making.

Indian gaming eligibility determinations rest on specific statutory and regulatory tests that evaluate tribal history, land status, and community ties, and the Vallejo parcel fell short under the department’s latest assessment; this outcome underscores how even temporary sites remain subject to ongoing federal scrutiny. The Scotts Valley Band continues to hold other gaming rights tied to parcels with stronger historical links, which may allow future operations elsewhere while the Vallejo matter proceeds through the courts.

Conclusion

The closure of the Preview Casino marks a clear turning point in the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ efforts to establish gaming in Vallejo, driven by the August 2026 federal eligibility withdrawal and the subsequent need for new legal action under the Administrative Procedure Act. With over 100 jobs affected and a 2025 court victory now requiring additional litigation to preserve, the case illustrates how shifts in federal interpretation can alter tribal economic development trajectories overnight. The band’s planned challenge will test the boundaries of agency discretion in gaming eligibility reviews, and the outcome may shape how similar disputes are handled in coming years.