Vallejo Preview Casino Closure Marks New Chapter for Scotts Valley Pomo Gaming Efforts

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians ended operations at its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, late on the night of August 3 into August 4, 2026, after the U.S. Department of the Interior revoked gaming eligibility for the tribe’s trust parcel at that location, and the decision rested on a determination of insufficient historical connection to the site.

Observers note that this action followed a 2025 federal court ruling that had supported the tribe’s position on the parcel, yet the Interior Department’s withdrawal created an immediate requirement to cease all gaming activities, and the closure took effect without delay once the eligibility change was confirmed.

Details of the Federal Decision and Its Timing

The Interior Department’s notice addressed the specific trust parcel designated for the Preview Casino, and it concluded that the land lacked the necessary historical ties required under federal gaming standards, which prompted the tribe to comply by shutting down the temporary facility on that Sunday night in early August 2026, and the move aligned with the agency’s directive rather than any separate court order at that moment.

Those familiar with the timeline point out that the 2025 court outcome had previously opened a path forward, whereas teh August 2026 reversal shifted the regulatory landscape, and the band responded by halting operations to avoid any violation of the updated eligibility status.

Workforce and Operational Consequences

More than 100 employees faced direct effects from the closure, and the sudden end to shifts at the Preview Casino left staff members adjusting to the abrupt change in employment status, while the tribe coordinated final payroll and transition steps in the days immediately following the August shutdown.

Facility records indicate the Preview Casino had operated as a temporary venue while permanent plans advanced, and the eligibility withdrawal halted that interim phase without advance warning beyond the federal notice, which meant equipment and gaming floors were secured once the final night concluded.

Legal History and Next Steps Under the Administrative Procedure Act

The band’s earlier 2025 federal court victory had addressed challenges to the trust parcel’s status, yet the Interior Department’s subsequent action created grounds for fresh litigation, and the tribe announced plans to file a new case under the Administrative Procedure Act to contest the eligibility withdrawal.

Legal teams for the Scotts Valley Band prepared documents that would challenge the historical-connection findings, and court filings are expected to seek review of the agency’s decision-making process rather than an immediate reopening of the Preview Casino, which remains closed pending resolution.

Records from the 2025 ruling show the court had examined evidence presented by the tribe regarding land claims, whereas the August 2026 Interior determination introduced a different assessment that the band now intends to address through administrative procedures, and this sequence demonstrates how regulatory interpretations can evolve even after judicial review.

Context of the Trust Parcel and Gaming Eligibility Standards

Federal rules require documented historical connections for off-reservation trust lands to qualify for gaming, and the Interior Department applied those standards to the Vallejo parcel before issuing the reversal notice, which directly affected the temporary casino’s legal operating authority.

The Scotts Valley Band had secured the parcel through the trust process with the expectation that it would support gaming activities, and the Preview Casino served as an initial step toward broader development, yet the eligibility change in August 2026 required the tribe to pause those plans while pursuing further legal options.

Conclusion

The closure of the Preview Casino on August 3/4, 2026, illustrates the interplay between federal agency decisions and tribal gaming operations, and the Scotts Valley Band’s planned litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act will test the Interior Department’s findings on historical connections, while more than 100 employees navigate the immediate aftermath of the shutdown, and the 2025 court ruling provides background for the ongoing dispute without altering the current closed status of the Vallejo facility.