Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians Ends Operations at Preview Casino in Vallejo
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians closed its temporary Preview Casino in Vallejo, California, late on August 3 into early August 4, 2026, after the U.S. Department of the Interior withdrew gaming eligibility for the trust parcel, and the shutdown took effect immediately following receipt of the regulatory notice. The facility, which had employed over 100 workers, ceased all gaming activities without delay once the determination arrived, while the tribe described the move as inconsistent with earlier federal findings and a 2025 court ruling that had addressed similar eligibility questions.Details of the Regulatory Action
The Department of the Interior cited insufficient historical connection to the site as the basis for removing the parcel from gaming-eligible status, and this determination reversed prior approvals that had allowed the temporary casino to open. Observers note that the action occurred in early August 2026, which placed the closure squarely within the summer regulatory cycle for tribal gaming matters across California. The Preview Casino had operated under a temporary framework that relied on the trust parcel's status, yet the new finding eliminated that foundation and forced the abrupt end to business.
Immediate Effects on Employment and Operations
More than 100 workers lost their positions when the doors closed, and payroll records indicate that the majority of those jobs had supported roles in gaming floors, security, and guest services at the Vallejo location. The tribe coordinated an immediate wind-down of all machines and tables, while state and local officials received notification of the cessation through standard regulatory channels. Those who studied the timeline found that the shutdown aligned precisely with the receipt of the Interior Department notice, leaving no window for continued operations under the revoked eligibility.
Tribe's Position and Planned Legal Response
The Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians issued a statement asserting that the withdrawal contradicted both previous Interior Department determinations and the outcome of a 2025 federal court case that had upheld aspects of the parcel's eligibility. Tribal leaders announced plans to file a new lawsuit seeking to restore gaming rights, and they pointed to documentation from earlier reviews as evidence that historical ties had already received federal acknowledgment. The announcement emphasized that the tribe would pursue all available administrative and judicial avenues to challenge the August 2026 decision.
Background on the Trust Parcel and Gaming Eligibility
The trust parcel in question had been placed into federal trust status years earlier, and that designation had supported the temporary casino's launch under regulations that require demonstrated historical connections for gaming purposes. Federal records show that earlier eligibility findings had cleared the way for the Preview Casino to begin operations, yet the August 2026 review applied a stricter interpretation of historical ties. The tribe maintains that the parcel meets statutory requirements established under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, and it references the 2025 court ruling as confirmation that those connections were sufficient at the time of the decision.
Regulatory notices of this type typically trigger immediate compliance obligations, and the Preview Casino followed that pattern by halting all activity once the withdrawal took effect. Data from similar cases indicate that temporary facilities often face the steepest adjustments when eligibility changes, because their operations rest entirely on the trust status that has now been altered. The closure marks the end of the Vallejo site as a gaming venue for the foreseeable future, pending the outcome of any litigation the tribe chooses to pursue.
Context Within California Tribal Gaming Landscape
California hosts numerous tribal gaming facilities that operate under varying trust and eligibility arrangements, and the Scotts Valley Band's situation reflects the ongoing scrutiny that the Department of the Interior applies to new or temporary parcels. The August 2026 determination arrived after a review process that examined historical documentation, and the tribe has stated that its submitted evidence aligned with standards used in prior approvals. Observers who track tribal gaming note that reversals of this nature remain uncommon once operations have begun, which underscores the significance of the Preview Casino shutdown for the broader regulatory environment.
Conclusion
The closure of the Preview Casino on August 3 and 4, 2026, followed directly from the Interior Department's withdrawal of gaming eligibility, and the tribe's response centers on a planned lawsuit that will test the consistency of that action with earlier findings and the 2025 court ruling. Over 100 employees ended their work at the facility as a result, while the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians prepares its next legal steps to address the regulatory change. The event illustrates how federal determinations on trust parcels can produce rapid operational shifts for temporary tribal casinos in California.