Scotts Valley Band Ends Vallejo Preview Casino Operations Following Federal Decision
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians closed its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, late on August 3, 2026, and the facility remained shut through the following morning as operations halted completely.
That decision came after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe’s Vallejo trust parcel, and officials cited insufficient historical connection to the site as the key factor behind the reversal.
Background on the Closure
Closure took effect immediately once the federal action became known, and band leaders notified staff that gaming could not continue under the new eligibility status; more than 100 employees faced direct impacts from the sudden end of shifts and related positions.
The temporary casino had operated as a preview facility while the band pursued full development plans, yet the Department’s withdrawal removed the legal foundation required for continued gaming activities on that specific parcel.
Reports from the period show the band had relied on a 2025 federal court ruling that previously favored the tribe in related matters, and that earlier decision had supported ongoing operations up until the August 2026 reversal occurred.
Details of the Federal Reversal
The Department of the Interior examined historical ties to the Vallejo location and determined those connections did not meet required thresholds for gaming eligibility, and this determination directly triggered the closure notice delivered to the band.
Band representatives received the updated eligibility status and moved quickly to cease all gaming, which prevented any further activity once the federal position shifted in early August 2026.
Staff reductions began the same weekend, and payroll records later indicated that positions tied to table games, slots, security, and hospitality were among those affected by the sudden loss of operating authority.
Legal Steps Ahead
The Scotts Valley Band announced plans to file new litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act, and attorneys prepared challenges that would seek review of the Department’s withdrawal decision and its application to the trust parcel.
That approach follows standard procedures for contesting federal agency actions, and the band intends to argue that the prior 2025 court outcome should influence how the current eligibility question is resolved.
Documents filed in connection with the upcoming case reference the timeline of the trust parcel acquisition along with earlier approvals that had allowed the preview facility to open, and these materials form the basis for the band’s expected arguments in federal court.
Immediate Community Effects
Local suppliers and service providers who supported the Preview Casino also experienced reduced activity once doors closed, and economic ripple effects extended to nearby businesses that had counted on casino traffic during the facility’s operating period.
Employment data collected in the weeks after closure showed the loss of more than 100 positions, and workforce transition programs began offering assistance to affected employees seeking new opportunities in the region.
August 2026 marked the point where the federal eligibility change overrode the temporary operating arrangement, and this sequence illustrates how shifts in administrative determinations can alter the status of tribal gaming projects even after initial court support.
Conclusion
The closure of the Scotts Valley Band’s Preview Casino stands as a direct result of the Department of the Interior’s withdrawal of gaming eligibility for the Vallejo trust parcel, and the band’s planned litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act will address the reversal in coming months.
Over 100 employees faced immediate job impacts, while the 2025 court ruling that had favored the tribe provided context for the band’s next legal steps; the entire sequence unfolded in early August 2026 and remains the central element of this single development.