Scotts Valley Band Ends Vallejo Preview Casino Run After Federal Eligibility Withdrawal

The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians shut down its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, effective late Sunday night on August 3 and into August 4, 2026, and the move followed the U.S. Department of the Interior's decision to withdraw gaming eligibility for the tribe's Vallejo trust parcel because officials determined the site lacked sufficient historical connection to the band.

That withdrawal reversed an earlier position and left the temporary gaming operation without federal approval to continue, while the closure affected more than 100 employees who had worked at the site since its opening.

Timeline of the Federal Decision and Prior Court Action

The Department of the Interior issued the reversal notice in August 2026, and it directly impacted the trust parcel that the tribe had used for the Preview Casino; the action cited insufficient historical ties, and it came after a 2025 federal court ruling that had favored the tribe on related gaming matters.

Observers note the 2025 ruling had allowed continued operations up to that point, yet the new administrative step in 2026 changed the eligibility status and forced the immediate closure at the end of the first weekend in August.

Details of the Closure and Operational Impact

Staff at the Preview Casino received notice of the shutdown tied to the federal determination, and operations ceased late on August 3 into August 4, 2026; the temporary facility had served as a short-term gaming location while the band pursued longer-term plans, and the sudden end left the site inactive.

More than 100 employees faced immediate job loss from the closure, and the band coordinated final payroll and transition steps in the days following the August decision.

Planned Legal Response Under the Administrative Procedure Act

The Scotts Valley Band announced its intention to file new litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act to challenge the Department of the Interior's withdrawal of eligibility, and the action targets the August 2026 reversal that ended gaming operations at the Vallejo parcel.

Legal teams for the tribe prepared filings that reference both the recent federal notice and the earlier 2025 court outcome, while the band continues to seek a path that would restore eligibility for the site.

Context of the Trust Parcel and Gaming Eligibility Standards

Federal rules require a demonstrated historical connection for trust lands to qualify for gaming under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and the Department of the Interior applied that standard when it reversed eligibility for the Vallejo parcel in 2026; the decision highlighted the lack of sufficient ties to the Scotts Valley Band.

The temporary Preview Casino had operated under the prior favorable status that stemmed from the 2025 ruling, and the August withdrawal ended that window, prompting the shutdown at the start of the month.

Employee and Community Effects from the August Shutdown

Workers at the facility completed their shifts through the final hours of August 3, 2026, and the closure removed a local employment source that had supported more than 100 positions; community members in Vallejo noted the abrupt change in the local economy tied to the gaming site.

The band has worked to assist affected employees with transition resources while it pursues the planned Administrative Procedure Act challenge, and the litigation seeks to address the eligibility reversal that forced the end of operations.

Conclusion

The August 2026 closure of the Preview Casino stands as the direct result of the Department of the Interior's withdrawal of gaming eligibility for the Vallejo trust parcel, and the Scotts Valley Band now moves forward with new litigation under the Administrative Procedure Act to contest that determination while more than 100 employees navigate the immediate aftermath of the shutdown.