Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Closes Preview Casino in Vallejo After Federal Gaming Eligibility Withdrawal
Written by Quinn Keller · Aug 6, 2026
Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Closes Preview Casino in Vallejo After Federal Gaming Eligibility Withdrawal
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians closed its Preview Casino late on August 5 following a U.S. Department of the Interior decision that withdrew gaming eligibility for the tribe's Vallejo trust parcel and this action came after regulators determined the site lacked sufficient historical connection to the tribe. The temporary small-scale facility in Vallejo, California, stopped operations as a direct result of the regulatory reversal and the closure paused all related activities including construction planning and associated economic efforts while more than 100 employees faced immediate job impacts. Observers note that the decision did not stem from any violation by the tribe but instead reflected a change in federal assessment of the parcel's eligibility status.
Details of the Closure and Regulatory Background
The Preview Casino operated as a temporary venue under the tribe's oversight and its shutdown occurred precisely because the Interior Department reversed an earlier determination that had allowed gaming on the trust land. According to reports from the period the parcel in Vallejo no longer qualified for gaming activities after the agency reviewed historical ties and found them insufficient to support continued eligibility. Those who've studied similar cases know that such reversals can halt projects mid-stream and in this instance the tribe responded by preparing a new federal lawsuit to challenge the withdrawal of eligibility. The facility's closure affected daily operations across the site and construction timelines for any permanent development were suspended pending resolution of the legal steps ahead.
Effects on Employees and Local Economic Activity
More than 100 employees lost their positions when the doors closed on August 5 and the sudden halt created ripple effects through the local economy in Vallejo as vendors and service providers connected to the casino also saw activity drop. Data from the event shows that the regulatory reversal alone triggered the pause in all related economic functions while the tribe organized its response through litigation. Experts have observed that temporary facilities like the Preview Casino often serve as initial testing grounds for larger tribal gaming plans and their closure interrupts both employment and planned growth phases. The tribe continues to manage the aftermath by focusing on the upcoming lawsuit rather than immediate reopening efforts.
Tribe's Legal Response and Next Steps
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians has moved forward with preparations for a fresh federal lawsuit that targets the Interior Department's August 2026 reversal determination on gaming eligibility for the Vallejo parcel and this legal action represents the primary avenue the tribe is pursuing to restore eligibility status. Court filings and statements indicate the tribe views the decision as reversible through judicial review and the process has already begun to take shape in the weeks following the closure. Observers note that similar disputes between tribes and federal agencies have historically involved extended litigation periods during which operations remain paused and economic activity stays on hold. The tribe's approach centers on documenting the historical connections that the Interior Department deemed insufficient while building arguments for reinstatement of gaming rights on the trust land.
Construction planning for any expanded facility tied to the Preview Casino site has also stopped and all related permits or development work now wait on the outcome of the lawsuit. The regulatory shift affected not only the temporary casino but broader economic projections that local leaders had associated with the project and the tribe has communicated that operations will not resume until eligibility questions receive final resolution through the courts.
Conclusion
The closure of the Preview Casino on August 5 stands as a clear example of how federal regulatory changes can directly impact tribal gaming operations and the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians now directs its resources toward litigation to address the withdrawal of eligibility for the Vallejo parcel. More than 100 employees experienced job losses while construction and economic activities linked to the site entered a holding pattern. The tribe's planned federal lawsuit focuses on reversing the Interior Department's determination and the situation remains centered on that legal process as of late August 2026.