Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Shuts Down Vallejo Preview Casino After One Week

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians closed its temporary invitation-only Preview Casino in Vallejo, California after just seven days of operation that began on July 25, 2026, and the decision followed a reversal by the U.S. Department of the Interior that withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe’s Vallejo trust parcel because the land lacked sufficient historical connection under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act’s restored lands exception.

Observers note that the short-lived facility served as an early test for a much larger $700 million resort project that was to include an eight-story casino along with hotel elements and additional amenities, yet the federal action forced an immediate halt before those broader plans could advance.

Details of the Closure and Project Scope

The Preview Casino operated under strict invitation-only rules and featured limited gaming options that allowed the tribe to gather initial operational data, but the shutdown came abruptly once the Interior Department issued its updated determination in late July or early August 2026, and this reversal directly blocked continued use of the site for gaming purposes while the tribe prepares its response.

Construction crews had already begun site work on the full-scale development before the federal notice arrived, and the Preview Casino represented the first visible step toward realizing the complete resort vision that community leaders had outlined in earlier announcements.

The Federal Reversal and Its Legal Basis

The U.S. Department of the Interior reversed its earlier gaming approval for the Vallejo parcel after reviewing historical records and determining that the land did not meet the restored lands exception criteria established by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and this finding removed the legal foundation that had previously supported the Preview Casino’s opening.

Legal summaries from the firm at the Department of the Interior reverses gaming approval detail how the agency examined tribal connection evidence and concluded that additional documentation would be required before any gaming activities could resume on the site.

Those who have followed similar cases across California note that restored lands determinations often hinge on specific historical ties that must be demonstrated through archival evidence, and the Scotts Valley Band now faces the task of addressing those evidentiary gaps through the federal court system.

Tribe’s Planned Court Challenge

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has stated its intention to challenge the Interior Department’s decision in federal court, and this litigation route represents the standard next step when tribes seek to overturn eligibility rulings that affect trust land status, while attorneys prepare filings that will argue the original approval should stand.

Court documents are expected to focus on the historical connection arguments that the agency found insufficient, and the tribe will present additional records that community researchers have compiled over recent months in an effort to demonstrate the required ties to the Vallejo area.

Impact on the Larger Resort Development

The $700 million resort project that includes the eight-story casino structure, hotel components and supporting amenities now faces an indefinite delay because the core gaming eligibility issue must be resolved before construction permits and financing agreements can move forward, and project timelines that had been set for phased openings will require complete revision.

Contractors who had mobilized equipment for the Preview Casino phase have shifted resources to other sites while awaiting further legal developments, and suppliers who prepared materials for the full resort build have placed orders on hold pending clarity from the courts.

Conclusion

The closure of the Preview Casino after seven days marks a significant setback for the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians’ Vallejo development plans, yet the tribe’s decision to pursue federal court review keeps the possibility of eventual resumption open while regulators and legal teams examine the historical connection requirements under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.